CALIFORNIA, Pa. – Redshirt sophomore guard Armoni Foster scored 24 points and IUP used a 23-9 late game run as the ninth-ranked Crimson Hawks posted a 79-70 divisional road victory over Cal U Wednesday night at the Convention Center.
 
Trailing 61-56 midway through the second half, the Crimson Hawks kept Cal U scoreless for more than four minutes to go on top 65-61. Foster started the 9-0 run with a 3-pointer while Dave Morris scored four points over a 22-second span.
 
The Vulcans later cut their deficit to one before Chucky Humphries buried a 3-pointer from the corner. Shawndale Jones followed with a pair of free throws and Ethan Porterfield added another trey as IUP took a 73-67 lead with 3:15 left.
 
Cal U then missed its next four shots while Jones and Morris knocked down clutch free throws in the final minute to give the Crimson Hawks the road win.
 
The Crimson Hawks improved to 20-2 overall and 15-2 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC).
 
IUP led for nearly the entire first half, using a 19-8 run to grab a 23-16 advantage midway through the half. Foster was the highlight of the opening half, scoring 12 points over a four minute span and had 17 points in the opening 20 minutes.
 
The Vulcans came back to take a 32-31 lead after the under-4 media timeout but Foster gave IUP a 42-38 lead after a pair of free throws before the half.
 
Cal U owned the early part of the second half, scoring the first five points while going on a 16-7 run to take a 54-49 lead. IUP later tied the game at 56-all before its late game fireworks.
 
Led by Humphries, the Crimson Hawks outrebounded Cal U 43-33, including 14 offensive rebounds. IUP also kept the hot hand from the free throw line by going 20-of-27.
 
Who stood out
This was Foster's 11th 20-point game of the year and his fourth in the last five outings. He shot 8-of-20 from the floor with three 3-pointers and went 5-of-6 from the foul line. Foster played all 40 minutes and added four rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal.
 
Humphries posted his first double-double of the season with 10 points and a career-high 16 rebounds. Playing in his second game back from injury, he went 4-of-7 from the field with a pair of 3-pointers, and added three steals and a block in 35 minutes off the bench. Nine of his 16 rebounds were on the offensive end.
 
Porterfield scored 14 points and grabbed six rebounds while Jones and Morris each had 13 points.
 
Notes
The Crimson Hawks entered the game ranked No. 9 in the NABC Top 25 and No. 6 in the D2SIDA Media Top 25 polls … IUP swept the regular season series with the Vulcans, including an 86-69 win at home in January … It marks the sixth straight season sweep of Cal U and 10th in 14 seasons under head coach Joe Lombardi … A Pitt-Johnstown loss to Slippery Rock tonight gives IUP a three-game lead over the Mountain Cats in the PSAC West standings with five games left to play.
 
Up next
The Crimson Hawks return home this weekend to host playoff bound Gannon (12-10, 11-7 PSAC) Saturday at the KCAC. Tipoff 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.