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PrintIUP came on strong in the final 89 seconds Saturday night to defeat Fairmont State, 71-67, and advance to the semifinals of the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region.
The Crimson Hawks (30-2) trailed, 65-63, after Terrence Green made a jumper for Fairmont State (22-9) with 1:29 left to play at IUP's Memorial Field House. But Julian Sanders connected on a 3-pointer at 1:17 to put IUP back in front.
IUP will play West Virginia State at 7 p.m. today at Memorial Field House. The winner will advance to the Atlantic Region final scheduled for Tuesday.
Thomas Young's two free throws with 28 seconds remaining gave IUP a 68-65 lead. Fairmont closed to within a point, 68-67, on a pair of free throws by Isaac Thornton with 18 seconds left. But two free throws by IUP's Kevin Stewart 5 seconds later all but secured the victory. Fairmont State's Mike Henderson missed a 3-point attempt with 5 seconds left and Darryl Webb grabbed the rebound for IUP.
Young paced IUP with 17 points and Webb had a double-double of 11 points and 14 rebounds. Ashton Smith added 15 points.
Akida McLain, a 6-foot-9 senior and a Penn Hills High graduate, came off the bench and scored seven points with four rebounds for the Crimson Hawks, who are undefeated at home this season. He had missed IUP's past two games with a broken bone in his right (non-shooting) wrist.
• Millersville 74, California 63: Millersville (25-5) made 20 of 34 free throws, while California (24-8) was 15 of 27 at the line in an Atlantic Region semifinal at the Vulcans' Hamer Hall. Millersville advances to play Gannon in the region final at 7 p.m. Monday. Brooque Williams paced California with 22 points and had five steals.
• Gannon 80, Seton Hill 60: The Knights (35-0) outrebounded Seton Hill (23-8), 44-29 and had five players score in double figures in winning the semifinal at Gannon. Jordan Burkes lead Seton Hill with 19 points.
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