INDIANA, Pa. – Behind a dominant performance from Ian Herring and an impressive display of perimeter shooting, the IUP men's basketball team opened its 2026-27 campaign with an 89-54 victory over Concord on Friday evening at the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex (KCAC) in the Hilton Garden Inn Classic.
Herring led the Crimson Hawks (1-0) with a game-high 28 points and 10 rebounds, recording a double-double while adding five steals, three assists and a blocked shot. The junior connected on 11 of his 22 field goal attempts, including four shots from beyond the arc.
Bautista Rodriguez provided a spark from the perimeter, finishing with 18 points on a perfect 6-for-6 performance from three-point range. Rodriguez also collected five rebounds and added a blocked shot in 23 minutes of action.
Two-time All-PSAC guard Kymani Merraro contributed 14 points and a game-high nine assists, narrowly missing a double-double of his own. Griffin Straub added 12 points and five rebounds off the bench, giving IUP four players in double figures.
The Crimson Hawks were efficient offensively throughout the contest, shooting 53.3% from the field while connecting on 15 of their 30 attempts from beyond the arc. IUP maintained its shooting touch in both halves, converting exactly 50% of its three-point attempts in each period.
IUP's defense also played a significant role in the season-opening victory, limiting Concord (1-1) to 33.3% shooting from the field and just 26.9% from three-point range.
The Crimson Hawks recorded 10 steals and five blocked shots while forcing 14 Concord turnovers, converting those opportunities into 16 points.
After a competitive opening stretch that featured four lead changes, IUP established control during the first half behind its efficient perimeter offense.
The Crimson Hawks knocked down nine three-pointers in the opening 20 minutes, shooting 51.6% from the field to build a 45-32 advantage at halftime.
IUP continued to pull away after the break, outscoring Concord 44-22 in the second half while holding the Mountain Lions to just 24.2% shooting over the final 20 minutes.
The Crimson Hawks remained consistent offensively, shooting 55.2% from the field in the second half and connecting on six additional three-pointers to put the contest out of reach.
IUP finished with 19 assists on 32 made field goals, demonstrating its ability to move the basketball and create quality scoring opportunities.
Herring anchored the defensive effort with five steals, while Straub added three. Amaree Gonzalez contributed five points and two steals off the bench, helping the Crimson Hawks maintain their defensive intensity throughout the contest.
Concord was led by Nile Atwater Jr., who scored 19 points off the bench on 8-of-14 shooting. Kody Frey added 12 points and eight rebounds, while Thomas Morgan finished with nine points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
The Crimson Hawks also limited Concord's Kam Bender, who entered the contest following a 22-point performance against Fayetteville State, to just two points on 0-for-8 shooting from the field.
The victory gives IUP a 1-0 start to the season as the Crimson Hawks look to build on last year's run to the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional championship game.
Up Next: IUP concludes the Hilton Garden Inn Classic on Saturday evening against Point Park at 7:30 p.m. The contest will be played at Memorial Field House due to the PSAC Women's Volleyball Championships taking place at the KCAC.
