INDIANA, Pa. – Despite bettering Shippensburg in nearly every statistical category, 12th-ranked IUP men's basketball dropped its first game of the season, an 87-80 decision to the Raiders on Saturday afternoon at the Kovalchick Complex.
 
The Crimson Hawks outshot Shippensburg (6-0, 3-0 PSAC) 47.8 percent to 43.8 percent, made 12 three-pointers to the Raiders nine, and held a 31-29 rebounding advantage. However, Shippensburg got to the line frequently, making 36-of-40 free throws compared to IUP's 4-of-8, and was the deciding factor in the contest.
 
IUP (7-1, 2-1 PSAC) had four players score in double-figures, led by sophomore forward Jacobo Diaz (Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain/CBA Gran Canaria) and his 17 points. Diaz shot 8-of-12 from the floor, grabbed eight rebounds, dished out five assists, and had two assists in 34 minutes.
 
Sophomore guard Dante Lombardi (Indiana, Pa./The Kiski School) scored 16 points, junior guard Anthony Glover (Toledo, Ohio/St. John's Jesuit) added 16, and redshirt senior forward Devon Cottrell (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Gateway) finished with 11.
 
Shippensburg led 47-31 at halftime, but the Crimson Hawks used a 20-3 run in the second half to take a 74-73 lead on a pair of free throws by Lombardi with 4:41 to play. That would be the last lead for IUP, as the Raiders made 12 free throws in the final 1:38 to seal the victory.
 
Cottrell ties IUP record
With two blocks on Saturday, Cottrell ran his career blocked shots total to 162, tying Darryl Webb (2007-11) for the most all-time in IUP history. The veteran has 11 blocks in six games this season.
 
Up next
The Crimson Hawks host eighth-ranked Kutztown (6-0, 3-0) on Sunday at the KCAC. Tipoff is 3 p.m.
 
Follow
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP Men's Basketball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPMens_Bball.