Box Score BLOOMSBURG, Pa. – The third-ranked IUP men's basketball team breezed past Bloomsburg in a 69-49 win on Saturday night.
IUP (7-0, 2-0) used another lockdown defensive showing to secure a sweep in the opening weekend of Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) crossover action. Limiting Bloomsburg (0-5, 0-2 PSAC) to 28.8% shooting on the night, the Crimson Hawks held a decisive 27-10 edge in points off turnovers.
Shawndale Jones surpassed the 20-point plateau for the sixth time in seven games, finishing with 22 points points on 7-of-16 shooting.
Ethan Porterfield was also in double figures with 15 points, a team-high nine rebounds and two blocks, part of a balanced scoring output for the Crimson Hawks.
Damir Brooks added seven points, including some highlight reel dunks in the second half.
The duo of Ash Kemble and Jake Nelson paced the Huskies on a tough shooting night with 10 points each. The Huskies narrowed the gap over the final few minutes of the game with IUP working in players from the bench. The Crimson Hawks collected 14 steals, forcing 18 Bloomsburg turnovers on the night.
IUP held Bloomsburg scoreless over the final 1:51 of the opening half, maintaining that defensive intensity over the final 20 minutes. Leading 35-23 at the half, IUP held a 9-0 edge in fastbreak points through the initial 20 minutes.
With the score knotted early, IUP opened up an 11-3 scoring spurt to surge ahead near the midway point of the half. Jones dropped in a triple for a 15-7 edge before the Huskies slowly battled back.
Kyle Polce lined up a three-point basket from the right corner, stretching the IUP lead to 27-15.
The Hawks methodically built up a double figure lead at the end of the opening half with three foul shots over the last 26 seconds of the stanza.
Off a chaotic sequence in the second half, Jones patiently drilled a three with under 16 minutes remaining in the second half, opening up a 42-26 edge for the Hawks. Out of the media timeout, Porterfield drove inside for an easy basket before
Dallis Dillard dropped in an uncontested triple from the left wing.
The Hawks used an 8-0 run, holding the Huskies scoreless for over four minutes, part of a larger 22-5 spurt that put the contest away near the midway point of the second half. Off a steal and missed transition layup,
Tomiwa Sulaiman was there for the putback and a 56-30 advantage.
Moments later, Brooks showcased his explosiveness on a two-handed dunk following a baseline feed from
Jaheim Bethea. Following a Bethea steal, Brooks gathered the ball at midcourt and soared down for another slam, pushing all momentum in favor of the visitors. Bethea finished with four assists and three steals in 18 minutes of action off the bench.
IUP slowed the pace as the clock ticked under five minutes, remaining ahead comfortably. Working in some of the bench, IUP closed out the victory as time melted away. Bloomsburg closed the game out on a 13-2 run over the final five minutes, but it was not enough with the game well in hand.
Up Next
IUP returns home to the KCAC on Sunday, December 11 for a clash with Penn State Altoona at 4:00 p.m.
Follow
For up-to-date information, visit IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP Men's Basketball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUP_MBB.
