INDIANA, Pa. – Top-ranked IUP men's basketball shot 61.3% from the floor in the second half and received a spirited performance from Tomiwa Sulaiman in a 70-60 win against Pitt-Johnstown on Wednesday night.
 
IUP (22-1, 17-1) bounced back in a big way from its initial setback of the season, outscoring Pitt-Johnstown (17-6, 13-4) by a 45-38 margin to secure the double-digit win. Sulaiman electrified the large crowd with 24 points and 15 rebounds, just two points shy of matching his career-high scoring output.
 
Ethan Porterfield dropped in 19 points in 37 minutes despite not being at full strength, pulling down eight rebounds while going 8-for-12 from the floor. Dave Morris added 16 points, converting four triples with four steals. Shawndale Jones had a quiet night scoring with five points, but facilitated with six assists and a steal for the Hawks.
 
IUP held a decisive 43-24 advantage on the glass, thanks in large part to Sulaiman's career-high 15 boards. Porterfield added eight rebounds (four offensive), while Morris and Jones pulled in five rebounds each.
 
Pitt-Johnstown (17-6, 13-4) held the lead until around midway into the second half. Morris responded back in a big way for IUP, which did not trail over the final 10:51 of the contest. John Paul Kromka dropped in 21 points despite limited action in the first half, while Joe Batt and Ryan Smith chipped in 10 points apiece.
 
Morris' avalanche of triples turned a three-point deficit into a six-point lead at the 8:39 mark of the half. From there, Sulaiman provided the offense for the Hawks, which mounted a double digit lead with under six minutes remaining.
 
IUP led despite some sluggish play in the opening half, shooting just 28.6% from the field and going 1-for-11 from deep with a 25-22 lead. Ethan Porterfield posted nine points in 18 minutes of action, while IUP kept itself in front on the defensive end.
 
IUP held a big edge on the glass with an impressive effort from Suliaman, who held in 11 boards over the opening 20 minutes.
 
Going back and forth early, Porterfield lifted IUP ahead 9-6 with an and-one foul shot. The lead expanded to seven points at 11:43 on a tipin from Damir Brooks in traffic near the rim, an advantage the Hawks later pushed to 10.
 
Both sides went through some scoreless offensive stretches in the first half. Porterfield pushed IUP ahead 25-16 with consecutive baskets before the Mountain Cats countered with consecutive triples, both from Ryan Smith.
 
Porterfield pushed the Hawks to their largest lead of the night at 68-52 with a triple at 1:53. UPJ had its four-game winning streak snapped with the setback to IUP, which has won 27 consecutive outings at the KCAC.
 
Up Next
IUP visits Clarion on Saturday, February 11 for a 3:00 p.m. tipoff at Tippin Gymnasium.
 
Follow
For up-to-date information, visit IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP Men's Basketball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUP_MBB.
 

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