EDINBORO, Pa. – The top-ranked IUP men's basketball team once again used an impressive second half to knock off Edinboro by a 79-61 margin on Monday night in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action at McComb Fieldhouse.
 
Jaylen Stewart provided a big boost for IUP (18-0, 12-0), posting 17 of the Hawks' 33 opening half points, adding four rebounds, an assist, and a steal in 12 minutes off the bench. He finished with a game-high 22 points on 7-of-8 shooting, continuing to become a key part of the rotation for IUP.
 
Ethan Porterfield logged his first double-double of the season with 19 points and 14 rebounds, matching a career high in the rebounding department. IUP, which matched last season's 17-game winning streak on Saturday, posted the program's 18th in a row to start the 2022-23 campaign. Shawndale Jones fired in a discreet 20 points with eight rebounds and a game-high five assists in a strong effort.
 
IUP extended its regular season winning streak to 29 straight, dating back to last year. The Hawks have won 26 of the last 28 meetings with Edinboro (5-12, 3-9), particularly successful on the road against the Fighting Scots.
 
Kierell Grenn logged a double-double with 18 and 11, while Naim Miller added 14 points and seven rebounds. Dom Keyes, the league's leading rebounder, grabbed eight boards in 30 minutes. IUP shot 46.3%, holding the Scots to 38.6% for the game.  
 
Edinboro recorded its final lead of the game at 23-20. Both sides started a bit slow as IUP led 4-3 about four minutes into the game. The poor shooting continued for both teams as IUP worked its lead to 7-6 following a trey from Stewart at 14:17.
 
Jones, the league's leading scorer, drilled a three for a 10-8 advantage. On the next trip up the floor, Dave Morris stole a ball and laid ahead a fastbreak pass to Stewart, who finished with a dunk for a 12-8 IUP lead.  
 
Stewart converted from beyond the arc again at 11:01 to expand the IUP lead in a sluggish start for both teams. The Hawks missed their initial seven foul shots, but led 15-11 midway through the first half. Morris did not score in the first half, but collected three steals with three assists. Dallis Dillard added four steals in the first half, finishing with six for the game.
 
Keyes countered back for the Fighting Scots with consecutive buckets, trimming the deficit to 17-15 at the under-eight media timeout. Both sides ensured a delay coming out of the timeout with repairs to the paint area underneath the IUP basket at McComb Fieldhouse.
 
Out of the delay, Porterfield converted a long two-point shot for a 19-15 advantage. The Scots eventually knotted the score at 19 with a trey from Green at 6:18 before moving in front on a stepback jumper. Green scored 14 of Edinboro's first 21 points, taking a narrow lead with under five minutes remaining in the first half.
 
Porterfield converted a much-needed three before Stewart continued his strong half with a pull-up shot to push IUP back ahead at 25-23. It was all part of a quick 9-0 scoring spurt over two minutes late in the first half, helping the Crimson Hawks gain some separation at 29-23.
 
Porterfield tracked down the loose ball and scored with about one second left in the half, providing the Hawks a 33-25 edge at the intermission. IUP closed the opening half on a 13-2 spurt, holding Edinboro to just one field goal over the final 3:14.
 
The Hawks stretched their lead to 48-35 about seven minutes into the second half, using an 8-2 surge to build the advantage. IUP continued to use balanced scoring and strong defense for a 55-38 lead at the under-12 media timeout. Morris drew a charge, while Porterfield picked up a double-double in the strong stretch.
 
Damir Brooks extended an 11-2 scoring spurt with a two-handed flush at the 10:38, expanding the IUP lead to 21 points. Tomiwa Sulaiman used a slick move in the paint for his second basket of the night before Morris banked in a long three for a 64-43 edge at the 9:08 mark.
 
Sulaimain's stickback and Stewart's smooth delivery from beyond the arc handed IUP a 20-point lead on each occasion at 5:34 and 4:09. The Hawks held on down the stretch over the final few minutes to stay unbeaten.
                                                 
Up Next
IUP returns to road action on Wednesday, January 25 for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff at Slippery Rock.
 
Follow
For up-to-date information, visit IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP women's basketball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUP_WBB.

 

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