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Jan. 16, 2010
Thomas Young scored 21 points including a layup midway through the second half that capped a 19-2 run, carrying IUP to a 76-54 victory over Mercyhurst in the opener of a three-game PSAC West road trip for the Crimson Hawks. IUP improved to 13-1 and 2-0 in the PSAC West with its fourth straight win over Mercyhurst (10-5, 0-2) and third in the past two years since the Lakers joined the conference. Four other players reached double figures for IUP, ranked No. 12 in the latest National Association of Basketball Coaches poll. Julian Sanders broke out of a rare shooting slump with three 3-pointers and 15 points, followed by Ashton Smith with 12 points and Akida McLain and Kevin Stewart with 11. Darryl Webb, IUP's leading scorer and rebounder, was held to four points and six rebounds after getting into early foul trouble. But the Crimson Hawks didn't need him on a day in which they shot 54.9 percent from the field and 63.6 percent in the second half while holding a 38-23 advantage on the boards, including a team-high eight by Sanders. Christian Cornelius was the only Laker in double figures with 12 points. Young followed up his career-high 26-point performance versus Clarion on Wednesday by making 9 of 14 from the field and adding two assists and two steals. Sanders was only 10 of 41 from 3-point distance in the last five games before making 3 of 6 versus Mercyhurst. Stewart had a game-high five assists. IUP never trailed in the game and was ahead 37-23 at halftime, its biggest lead of the opening 20 minutes. Young opened the second half scoring with a jumper to make it a 16-point game before the Lakers used a 13-4 run to get back in contention. A 3-pointer by Jeremiah Wise brought Mercyhurst within 43-36 with 14:35 remaining but that was as close as the Lakers would get. IUP scored the next five points on layups by Sanders and McLain and a free throw by Young. Webb provided a defensive lift when he rejected a dunk attempt by Jordan Armstrong. Cornelius temporarily stopped the run with a layup but IUP ran off the next 14 points to finish the 19-2 surge that put the game out of reach. Six Crimson Hawks scored during the run, and IUP later built a lead of 27 minutes twice in the final six minutes. IUP continues on the road with games at Lock Haven on Wednesday and a return trip to Erie next Saturday to face Gannon. The Crimson Hawks are back home January 27 for a 7:30 game versus California. |
