INDIANA, Pa. – IUP used a stingy defense and the Mercyhurst College offense sputtered as the Lakers dropped a 59-48 decision at IUP in front of 1,245 fans at Memorial Field House. 

The win improves the Crimson Hawks record to 13-2 overall, 2-0 in the PSAC West, while Mercyhurst drops their second-straight to move to 12-3 overall, 0-2 in the PSAC West, after winning their first 11 games. 

Both teams turned up the defensive intensity as IUP hit 36.8 percent from the field (21-of-57) while the Lakers shot just 30.4 percent (14-of-46) from field for the game. Of Mercyhurt's 46 field goal attempts, 29 came from behind the 3-point line where the Lakers converted just six times. 

The tight defense led to 16 Mercyhurst turnovers, which IUP converted into 14 points while committing just seven turnovers of its own. The Crimson Hawks also won the battle in the paint, chipping in 28 tallies to the Lakers 14 points. 

A low-scoring first half saw the Crimson Hawks take a 25-17 lead at intermission before the Lakers made a 13-7 run in the second half to cut IUP's lead to one, 32-31, at the 15:34 mark. 

However, the Lakers went almost 10 minutes without a field goal, making just six free throws during that stretch and IUP was able to increase its lead to 14 before an Elliot Engelmann 3-pointer snapped the scoring cold spell and help close a 19-11 run by the Hawks with 5:20 remaining.

Jordan Armstrong posted his fourth double-double of the year with a game-high 18 points and 13 rebounds. The team's leading scorer, Brian McTear, was held to 10 points while Jeremiah Wise added nine markers. Engelmann finished with seven tallies and Nnamdi Nnadili added four markers to round out the scorers.

IUP leaders included Darryl Webb with 16 points and 15 rebounds while Ashton Smith added 12 points.
Mercyhurst is next in action on Wednesday, Jan. 21 when the Lakers travel to Edinboro for a 7:30 matchup. The Lakers then conclude their three-game road swing at Lock Haven on Saturday, Jan. 24.