CHARLESTON, W.Va. – IUP men's basketball was unable to close the gap, falling to Charleston 82-76 Saturday evening at the Wehrle Innovation Center to close out the weekend.
 
IUP got off to a strong start in the first half, with Kymani Merraro recording a steal after a missed jumper by Charleston. Tyler Grove quickly capitalized, hitting a three-pointer to give the Hawks an early lead, assisted by Christian Moore. Damir Brooks also made his presence felt, blocking a Charleston layup attempt.
 
After layups by Brooks and Moore put IUP ahead 7-4, the Hawks' lead slowly slipped away as Charleston began to find their rhythm. By the end of the first half, IUP trailed by 20, with the score sitting at 47-27 after several missed shooting opportunities.
 
In the second half, IUP made a push over the first eight minutes, taking advantage of Charleston's missed shots and trimming the deficit to just seven points. However, Charleston answered back, and the Hawks struggled to close the gap further. IUP ended the game with a steal from Ian Herring who made a layup.
 
Brooks led IUP with 23 points, shooting 10-16 from the field, and added nine rebounds, five assists, two blocks, and a steal. Moore was close behind with 19 points, five assists, and one steal. Herring contributed 16 points on an efficient 7-8 shooting, six rebounds, and a steal. The Hawks finished the game with a total of eight steals.
 
Up Next 
IUP travels to Ashland, Ohio to matchup against Tiffin Saturday, November 16 for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff.
 
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For up-to-date information, visit IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP men's basketball on X (Twitter) @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUP_MBB.