INDIANA, Pa. – Forward Tommy Demogerontas scored 21 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to help lead the 11th-ranked IUP men's basketball team to an 80-73 win over visiting Concord Saturday night at the Kovalchick Convention & Athletic Complex.
 
Demogerontas shot 8-of-19 from the field, including four 3-pointers, and helped IUP finish +9 on the glass as the Crimson Hawks finished off a 2-0 season opening weekend in the IRMC/Hilton Garden Inn Classic.
 
Guard Malik Miller also finished with 21 points, as he led IUP offensively in the early going with 16 first half points.
 
Guard Shawndale Jones also had a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds in 33 minutes off the bench.
 
IUP led nearly the entire way, although the score remained tight throughout. The Crimson Hawks did trail 12-9 early but a 15-6 run erased that deficit quickly in the first half. Concord battled back to tie the score and then take a brief lead before free throws by Armoni Foster right before the half gave IUP a 34-32 lead heading to the locker room.
 
The first half featured 11 ties although just three combined lead changes.
 
Once again tied in the second half, this time at 42-42 less than four minutes in, the Crimson Hawks responded with a 15-4 run to take a commanding 11-point lead. Jones hit a 3-pointer to jumpstart the run while Demogerontas scored eight straight points, including back-to-back 3-pointers.
 
Concord brought the IUP lead down to three midway through the half but the Crimson Hawks kept them at arm's length the rest of the way to get the win.
 
IUP got the job done from the charity stripe, going 14-of-18 for the game including 9-of-10 in the second half. The Crimson Hawks also made five of their eight 3-pointers in the second half.
 
Up next
The Crimson Hawks return to action next Friday as they head to New York to face Le Moyne (0-1). Tipoff on November 15 is 7:30 p.m.
 
Follow
For up-to-date game information, visit IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP Men's Basketball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUP_MBB.