IUP’s postseason run will continue into the Division II Final Four.
The Crimson Hawks downed Azusa Pacific, 69-65, Wednesday evening to secure their spot in the national semifinals.
IUP’s Devante Chance made two free throws with 6:08 left in the game to take a lead that the Crimson Hawks never surrendered down the stretch for the victory.
IUP controlled most of the game, leading for 27:45 of the contest including that last 6:08 stretch, but the story of the game came from the Crimson Hawks’ ability to score the ball inside. IUP outscored Azusa Pacific, 32-20, in points in the paint for the game, those points seeming to come as the result of 14 offensive rebounds for IUP.
Most of those points, however, didn’t come from IUP’s big men but rather their slashing guards.
Chance led IUP with 17 points while both Shawn Dyer and Brandon Norfleet added 12 and 13, respectively. Chance also dished out six assists, keeping up with his usual season average. Forward Jeremy Jeffers did manage to score 12 points for IUP, also.
It was a nip-and-tuck game for the entire first half with no team really gaining any separation. Azusa Pacific took a slim two point lead into the locker room after Troy Leaf drained a 3-pointer with just 0:03 showing on the clock. Leaf went on to finish the game with a game-high 29 points.
The second half was much of the same but IUP managed to take a seven point lead about halfway through the second half after a Tevin Hanner layup. But APU rattled off eight straight points to regain the lead briefly.
After Chance’s free throws, it was smooth sailing for IUP the rest of the way.
The win puts IUP in the Final Four for the first time since 2010. The Crimson Hawks will face Tarleton State Thursday at 7 p.m.
Photo Credit: IUP Athletics
