CLARION, Pa. – The IUP men's basketball program pushed its winning streak to 25 straight games against Clarion, holding off a valiant Golden Eagle charge in the second half during a 78-72 triumph on Wednesday night at Tippin Gymnasium.
Leading by double figures for large stretches of the game, IUP (14-6, 11-3) resiliently answered each Clarion (6-14, 4-10) run in the second half. The disciplined Crimson Hawks committed nine turnovers on the night and forced Clarion into 18 turnovers.
The Golden Eagles held a 35-24 edge on the glass, chipping away in the second half before getting back to within two points at 70-68.
Ethan Porterfield surpassed Brandon Norfleet (1,678) for fourth on the school's all-scoring list with another outstanding shooting night. Posting 25 points (9-14), Porterfield added seven rebounds, two assists and two blocks while increasing his career scoring output to 1,683.
Garvin Clarke rode a dominant first half to a game-high 26 points on the night, adding eight rebounds and eight assists and three steals over 40 minutes.
Bryce Radford connected on four trey balls for 12 points, while
Jaylen Stewart added nine points (two dunks) in the opening half for the Hawks.
Porterfield and Clarke accounted for 51 of the team's 78 points on Wednesday, each going the distance. The Crimson Hawks scored eight of the game's final 11 points, knocking down five of six foul shots over the last 1:20 of the contest. IUP shot 53.4% from the floor for the game and converted nine triples
Clarion opened up an 11-3 lead to begin the contest before Radford helped IUP level the score at 13. Clarke converted his eighth point of the night, handing IUP a slim 15-13 lead in the opening half.
Damir Brooks provided a spark off the bench for the Hawks, which zoomed ahead 21-18.
The Hawks continued extending their margin before the Golden Eagles chipped away back within 29-28 following a trey from Gavin Cote. With both teams heating up from the floor, Clarke continued taking over for a 34-28 IUP margin. The Hawks forced eight Clarion turnovers over the initial 17 minutes of the first half, also attacking the paint.
Stewart converted a two-handed flush off a go-ahead feed from Radford for a 40-28 advantage, part of a 13-3 run over the final 4:28 of the half. Shooting 63.3% from the floor as a team, Clarke poured in 17 points (8-12) in the opening half for a 42-31 halftime margin.
The Hawks remained in control into the second half with Clarke racing ahead off a steal for a 56-47 advantage. The Golden Eagles continued chipping away, using a 10-2 run to get back within 56-54 at the 9:36 mark. IUP flipped the script in response, firing in the next eight points to regain a double-digit margin at 64-54.
Porterfield converted a trio of triples to go above the 20-point mark in the timely run for the Hawks. Radford added his third trey of the night before Jamari Hamilton-Brown answered from deep for the Golden Eagles. It helped Clarion stay within striking distance, eventually getting back within two.
With momentum in Clarion's favor, Clarke came up with a timely steal before dishing off to an open Radford, who spotted up and converted from the right wing that stretched the IUP cushion back to 73-68 with 2:54 remaining.
The Hawks were able to ice the game at the foul line and string together enough stops down the stretch to escape with the win.
Up Next
IUP returns to the floor next Wednesday, February 7 at Mercyhurst for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff.
Follow
For up-to-date information, visit IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP women's basketball on X (Twitter) @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUP_MBB.
