INDIANA, Pa. - IUP junior guard Armoni Foster had a game-to-be-remembered as he put up a triple-double in leading the ninth-ranked Crimson Hawks to a 97-45 blowout win over visiting Virginia State Saturday afternoon at the Kovalchick Complex. 

Foster finished with 22 points, a career-high 11 assists, and 10 rebounds in 37 minutes of action. 

This is IUP's first triple-double since Foster's old teammate Malik Miller went for 20 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in a win over Edinboro February 19, 2020. That performance came 25 years after Yancey Taylor had a triple-double in IUP's East Region Championship win over Cal U in 1995. 

Today's blowout was a statement victory for the IUP men's basketball program. The Crimson Hawks entered the week ranked No. 1 in the D2SIDA Atlantic Region Media Poll while Virginia State was ranked No. 7. 

IUP ends the first month of the season, and its non-conference schedule, with a 5-0 record. Virginia State fell to 3-2 with the loss.

How it happened
It was never in doubt for the Crimson Hawks, who scored 13 points before Virginia State got on the board. 

IUP built a 19-point lead at 29-10 on a Foster 3-pointer at the 9:22 mark of the first half but the Trojans responded with an 8-4 run, their most successful of the game. The Hawks led by as many as 22 points in the first half, shooting 60 percent (18-30) from the floor with four 3-pointers.

Foster scored 15 of his points in the game's first 20 minutes, adding six assists and four rebounds.

IUP opened the second half with a 21-5 run to get its lead up to 63-30 after a 3-pointer by junior guard Dave Morris. The lead hit 40 at 79-39 on a fastbreak layup by senior guard Shawndale Jones at 7:20, which was part of a 12-2 run midway through the half. IUP never let up, finishing the game on a 12-0 run. 

The Crimson Hawks shot a season-best 67.8 percent from the floor (40-59), made 11 3-pointers, and tallied assists on 28 of 40 made buckets. 

Who stood out
Foster shot 9-16 from the field, including 3-8 from 3-point range, and made his only free throw attempt. All 10 of his boards came on the defensive end where he also added three steals. His 22 points are a season-high.

Jones finished with 25 points on a blistering 11-14 field goal attempts and 2-2 from the charity stripe. He added three rebounds, three assists, a block and a steal in just 29 minutes. This was Jones' fourth straight 20-point performance and his most efficient shooting effort of his career. 

Sophomore forward Ethan Porterfield and fifth year forward Tommy Demogerontas also scored in double-figures. Porterfield finished with 15 points on 6-7 shooting, adding a career-high five blocks in 21 minutes. Demogerontas had 10 points on 4-6 shooting. 

Notes
IUP entered the game ranked No. 9 in the NABC Coaches and No. 3 in the D2SIDA Media Top 25 polls ... This was IUP's 22nd straight home victory dating back to the 2019-20 season and including two games played last spring ... This was IUP's 10th straight regular season non-conference win ... It was IUP's fourth straight 90-point outing, averaging 97.8 points during that span ... Foster now has a triple-double and two double-doubles in five games this season. 

Up next
The Hawks open conference play next weekend with a road trip east to face Kutztown Friday, December 3 and West Chester Saturday, December 4. Tipoff for both games is set for 7:30 p.m. 

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