INDIANA, Pa. – Junior guard Malik Miller scored a career-high 26 points to help lead the third-ranked IUP men's basketball team to a 78-57 win over visiting Gannon Wednesday night at the Kovalchick Complex.
 
It was the division opener for both teams as the Crimson Hawks improved to 12-0 overall and 5-0 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) play. Gannon fell to 3-9 overall and 1-5 in the league.
 
Miller eclipsed his previous high of 24 points, going 8-of-13 from the field including a career-best 6-of-9 performance from 3-point range. He added six assists in 33 minutes of play.
 
Senior forward Jacobo Diaz scored 21 points, going 9-of-16 from the field with three 3-pointers on the night. He chipped in a pair of blocks and three steals.
 
The Crimson Hawks overcame a season-worst 21 turnovers with consistent shooting, finishing 27-of-51 (52.9 percent) from the field. They also made 12 3-pointers and finished 12-of-16 from the foul line.
 
The IUP defense did its part, forcing Gannon into 23 turnovers while limiting the Golden Knights to 36.7 percent shooting.
 
The start of the game did not follow that script, as Gannon used a 7-0 run to take a 15-13 lead midway through the first half. The teams traded buckets before the Crimson Hawks exploded for a 12-1 run to quickly get their lead up to double-figures at 33-21.
 
Four different Crimson Hawks combined on the run, with Miller and senior guard Greg Bearer each knocking down a 3-pointer.
 
IUP kept the lead at double-digits with three straight made 3-point buckets to end the half, including one by Miller at the buzzer that looked awkward as he was trying to draw a foul.
 
Fouls and several stoppages slowed play down in the second half, but IUP remained hot with a 13-0 run and led by as many as 29 points down the stretch.
 
Redshirt freshman Armoni Foster came off the bench to score 10 points. Gannon's DeAnte Cisero had a team-high 17 points.
 
Notes
The Crimson Hawks are No. 3 in the NABC and D2SIDA Media Top 25 polls … IUP head coach Joe Lombardi has won six of his last seven games against Gannon to improve to 15-10 all-time against the Golden Knights … The 21-point win by IUP was its third this season by more than 20 points and first since defeated USciences by 33 back in November … The 78 points is the most given up by Gannon this year … The Golden Knights entered the matchup ranked second in the PSAC in scoring defense (63.7 ppg) … Lombardi is now 11-2 all-time in divisional openers … The 12-game win streak by the Crimson Hawks to open the year is the program's best since starting 14-0 in 2013-14 … This is the seventh win streak of at least 12 games in the Lombardi era, with the longest an 18-game win streak in 2016-17.
 
Up next
It'll be a battle of the top two teams in the PSAC Saturday night as the Crimson Hawks host Pitt-Johnstown (9-3, 4-1 PSAC). Tipoff is 7:30 p.m. UPJ has won four straight, including a 71-70 home win over Clarion Wednesday.
 
Follow
For up-to-date information, visit IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP Men's Basketball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUP_MBB.