IUP men’s basketball
IUP 80, Concord 73
Jack Benedict’s recap
From IUP Sports Information
No. 11 Crimson Hawks wrap up perfect opening weekend with 80-73 win over Concord
INDIANA, Pa. – Forward Tommy Demogerontas scored 21 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to help lead the 11th-ranked IUP men’s basketball team to an 80-73 win over visiting Concord Saturday night at the Kovalchick Convention & Athletic Complex.
Demogerontas shot 8-of-19 from the field, including four 3-pointers, and helped IUP finish +9 on the glass as the Crimson Hawks finished off a 2-0 season opening weekend in the IRMC/Hilton Garden Inn Classic.
Guard Malik Miller also finished with 21 points, as he led IUP offensively in the early going with 16 first half points.
Guard Shawndale Jones also had a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds in 33 minutes off the bench.
IUP led nearly the entire way, although the score remained tight throughout. The Crimson Hawks did trail 12-9 early but a 15-6 run erased that deficit quickly in the first half. Concord battled back to tie the score and then take a brief lead before free throws by Armoni Foster right before the half gave IUP a 34-32 lead heading to the locker room.
The first half featured 11 ties although just three combined lead changes.
Once again tied in the second half, this time at 42-42 less than four minutes in, the Crimson Hawks responded with a 15-4 run to take a commanding 11-point lead. Jones hit a 3-pointer to jumpstart the run while Demogerontas scored eight straight points, including back-to-back 3-pointers.
Concord brought the IUP lead down to three midway through the half but the Crimson Hawks kept them at arm’s length the rest of the way to get the win.
IUP got the job done from the charity stripe, going 14-of-18 for the game including 9-of-10 in the second half. The Crimson Hawks also made five of their eight 3-pointers in the second half.
Up next
The Crimson Hawks return to action next Friday as they head to New York to face Le Moyne (0-1). Tipoff on November 15 is 7:30 p.m.
IUP women’s basketball
IUP 81, Davis & Elkins 52
From IUP Sports Information
Senior Guard Natalie Myers scored a game high 21 points to help lead the 9th-ranked IUP women’s basketball team to an 81-52 opening day victory over Davis & Elkins College on Saturday afternoon at the Memorial Field House.
It was the first game of the season-opening PSAC/MEC Challenge for the Crimson Hawks.
The Crimson Hawks got out to a flying start on Saturday, taking a 9-0 lead to open the game. The Crimson Hawks would continue to build on that lead as the first quarter progressed, taking a commanding 23-7 advantage into the start of quarter number two.
The Crimson Hawks would continue to build on their lead in the second quarter, extending their cushion to 31 points by halftime. IUP went into the halftime break up 49-18 and in firm command of the game.
Myers would play a key role in building that halftime lead after going 5-of-7 from the field and 3-of-4 from three point range for a total of 13 points in the first half. Guard Courtney Alexander would be the other high scorer for IUP in the first part of the game contributing 9 points in the half to go along with two steals, and one assist.
The Crimson Hawks shot an impressive 58 percent from the field as a team in the first half while holding their opponents to a mere 27.3 shooting percentage. The Crimson Hawks also held a distinct advantage in the turnover battle, after forcing 13 turnovers while committing just three of their own.
IUP picked up scoring in the third quarter right where they had left off, and went into the final period of play up 71 to 31. The fourth quarter was a slightly lower scoring affair for the Crimson Hawks, with the team going 4-of-15 from the floor. Despite the slightly lower offensive output in the final period of the game, the Crimson Hawks maintained their stingy defense, holding the Senators to a shooting percentage of 28.6, while also out rebounding their opponents 12 to 6.
The Crimson Hawks shot lights out as a team throughout the game on Saturday, going 30-of-61 from the floor to shoot just under 50 percent in the game. Seven members of the IUP women’s basketball team shot 50 percent or better individually against Davis & Elkins, highlighted by Myers going 8-of-12 overall on the day en route to her 22 point outburst.
In total, 12 members of the IUP women’s basketball team got on the scoreboard on Saturday, with other notable contributors including Justina Mascaro who added 9 points to IUP cause, as well as forwards Lexi Griggs and Maura D’Anna also added 8 points apiece.
The Crimson Hawks defense was at its’ stifling best throughout the game. In addition to holding the Senators to shooting just 32 percent from the floor overall, the Crimson Hawks also forced 18 turnovers, which they converted into 31 points. The IUP defense also notched 10 steals in the game, led by Myers with four takeaways.
After having her season cut short due to injury last year, Maura D’Anna led the way on the boards for IUP, snagging a team high 8 rebounds for the Crimson Hawks, while also adding 3 assists. D’Anna was one of five Crimson Hawks to notch at least three assists in the game. As a team the Crimson Hawks registered an impressive 26 assists on Saturday.
Up next
The Crimson Hawks wrap up their season-opening weekend Sunday afternoon against West Virginia Wesleyan at 4 p.m. The Bobcats defeated Mansfield 71-61 in Saturday night’s second game.
