SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Sophomore Jacobo Diaz (Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain/CBA Gran Canaria) recorded a career-high 16 rebounds while classmate Dante Lombardi (Indiana, Pa./The Kiski School) scored 19 points as No. 16 IUP recorded a 65-50 victory at Slippery Rock in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play at Morrow Fieldhouse on Friday night.

With the win the Crimson Hawks improve to 12-2 overall and 7-1 in PSAC play. Meanwhile The Rock falls to 9-5 overall behind a 5-3 mark in conference competition.

Diaz nearly recorded his seventh double-double of the season as he finished with eight points to go along with his 16 rebounds. His 16 rebounds are the most in a single-game since Darryl Webb totaled 16 rebounds in the Atlantic Region championship game at West Liberty on March 15, 2011.

Lombardi's 19 points were one shy of tying his career-high which he set earlier this season. He added five assists and three steals. Redshirt junior Blake Danielak (Georgetown, Tex./Liberty Hill) scored 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc and added three rebounds and one assist. Junior Anthony Glover (Toledo, Ohio/St. John's Jesuit) added eight points while freshman Malik Miller (Farrell, Pa./Farrell) totaled seven points.

Slippery Rock jumped out to an early 5-4 lead in the first half before IUP responded with a 13-9 run to take a 17-12 lead at the 10:06 mark on a three-pointer from Danielak. The Rock cut the lead to 21-20 on a Jordan Marrow layup with just over five-minutes left in the half. Marrow then highlighted an 8-4 Slippery Rock run with a three-pointer which gave The Rock a 26-25 lead at the 2:45-mark. The Crimson Hawks regained the lead after a pair of free-throws from Lombardi which propelled IUP to a 7-2 run to close the first half.

In the second half, the Crimson Hawks used a 10-6 run to take 42-34 lead at the 14:09-mark on a layup from Diaz. IUP then quickly pushed the lead back into double-digits minutes later with a three-pointer from Danielak. The Rock cut the lead back to nine points at 55-46 on a Merdic Green jumper at the 6:06-mark. The Crimson Hawks countered with a 10-4 run to take their largest lead of the game at 17 (65-48) with just over one-minute to play.

Slippery Rock was led by a team-high 16 points from Naquil Jones while Green added 13 points.

IUP shot at a 41.7 percent (20-of-48) clip while Slippery Rock connected on just 37.0 percent (17-of-46) from the field. Both teams totaled 30 rebounds while the Crimson Hawks held a 28-10 edge in points off the bench.

Up Next
The Crimson Hawks continue PSAC West play on Monday, January 9 when they travel to Mercyhurst for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off.

Follow
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP Men's Basketball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPMens_Bball.