The second night of the Hilton Garden Inn tipoff classic at the KCAC on the campus of Indiana (PA_) saw the Notre Dame College Falcons take on the host IUP Crimson Hawks. NDC made a late push to get to within three (66-63) with 4:05 to go but ultimately would fall 75-67. Both teams are now 1-1 on the season after the Falcons win over Pitt-Johnstown last night and the #4 Crimson Hawks being stunned by Concord in the nightcap on Friday.
Gbolahan Adio would get NDC on the board first with a 3-pointer at the 18:53 mark of the first stanza. The Crimson Hawks would tie it on a 3-ball bay Garvin Clarke. Ethan Porterfield would give IUP the lead with a traditional three-point play with 17:46 in the opening half. NDC would go on a quick 5-0 spurt as Andre Harris hit a pair of free throws and then after a Kaleb Torrence offensive rebound Devin Haid would knock down a triple to give the Falcons a 8-6 lead. The teams would go back and forth until another Adio 3-pointer put the Falcons up 17-16 with 12:59 until halftime. The Crimson Hawks would then go on a 8-0 run to take a 24-17 lead with 8:06 until halftime. Robbie Cass would knock down a 3-pointer for NDC to trim that lead to four (24-20.) Yup would then open up a double digit lead as Dallas Dillard made it 35-24 in favor of the home team. It would be an 11 point lead (41-30) for the Crimson Hawks at the half.
Harris had eight points and six rebounds, Adio also added eight, and Haid tallied seven in the first 20 minutes of action. NDC shot 28 percent from the field, 33 percent (4-12) from the 3-point line, and 86 percent (6-7) from the free throw line in the opening stanza. They had four assists and three turnovers in the first 20 minutes.
IUP was paced by Dillard who had all 13 of his points in the first half, while Clarke and Stewart both had eight. IUP shot 45 percent from the floor and 40 percent (6-15) from the 3-point line along with 54 percent (7-13) at the free throw line in the first half. The Crimson Hawks had 11 assists and four turnovers in the first half. Both teams also secured 24 rebounds in the first stanza.
NDC come out energized in the second half. The opening possession of the half saw the Falcons get a bucket from Harris after an offensive rebound. After an Adio steal RJ Ogom knocked down a pair of free throws to pull the Falcons within seven (41-34.) That lead was stretched back to double digits quickly. Down 49-36 with 16:33 to go NDC stepped up the intensity at both ends. Harris would score the next four points as he hit the offensive glass once again. Cass would then hit back to back triples and then Harris with a hoop would make it a 12-0 NDC run that made it a 49-48 game with 13:50 on the clock. NDC got a pair of RJ Ogom free throws to make it 52-51 Crimson Hawks with 10:15 remaining. Porterfield went on a personal 7-0 run to make it a seven point game but the Falcons would not go away. Torrence hit a 3-pointer and then an offensive rebound by Cass that led to a Ogom layup made it a two point game (58-56) once again with 7:48 to go. Clarke hit a 3-pointer and a bucket by Porterfield made it a seven point game once again with 6:34 left. Ogom converted a traditional three-point play but Petteno responded with a 3-ball of his own. Harris would score the next four points to get NDC within three but that is as close as they would get. A 6-0 run by the Crimson Hawks all but put this one away as they would go on to the eight point win.
Harris led the Falcons with 20 points and 14 rebounds, Haid had 11 to go along with six rebounds and a pair of steals while Adio scored 10 of his own. NDC shot 31 percent from the field, 26 percent (7-27) from the 3-point line, and 88 percent (14-16) at the free throw line. The Falcons won the rebounding battle 50-46. They had 10 assists and seven turnovers in the contest.
IUP was paced by Poirterfield who had 21 points and 11 rebounds, Clarke added 14 points, six rebounds, and six assists, Dillard scored 13 and grabbed six boards, while Petteno netted 12. The Crimson Hawks shot 38 percent as a team, 34 percent (11-32) from the 3-point line, and 62 percent (18-29) from the free throw line. They had 17 assists and nine turnovers as a team.
"Just gotta get back to work. Overall I think we are moving in the right direction as a team," Adio explained.
NDC will be back in action on Saturday 11/18 when they host the Wheeling University Cardinals at Murphy Gym. Tip time for the home opener is set for 4 PM.
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