Box Score

BLOOMSBURG—Despite the Huskies' early lead and a 14-point contribution by Lorenzo Christmas (Norristown, Norristown), the Bloomsburg University men's basketball team fell, 66-54, to Indiana University of Pennsylvania in non-division Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) action Monday evening.

The Huskies (3-6) denied the Crimson Hawks (7-2) early, blocking IUP's first three field goal attempts. Both defenses kept points off the board, leaving the game deadlocked at 4-4 after the first five minutes.

Christmas built momentum by connecting on two three-point attempts just moments after entering the game. A layup by Larry Webster (Hagerstown, MD/Elkton) III (Elkton, MD, Elkton) extended the Huskies' lead to eight, but it would not be enough to subdue the 2010 national finalists.

IUP mounted an 8-0 run of its own to tie the game at 12-12. A three-pointer by Julian Sanders, who scored 11 total, gave the Crimson Hawks their first edge at 15-14, and IUP would never relinquish the lead.

The second half began with IUP leading 35-25, and the visitors' advantage grew to 17 at its largest. In the final minutes, Bloomsburg went on a hot streak for another 8-0 run, diminishing the lead to seven at 59-52 with just under 90 seconds to play. Indiana's Ashton Smith made six straight free throws to ice the game, as IUP walked away with the 66-54 victory.

Christmas made 4 of 4 from the foul line and 2 of 4 three pointers to rack-up his team-high 14 points. Trevon Johnson (Snow Hill, MD, Snow Hill) also broke into double digits by scoring 13. John Schwarz (Delta, Perry Hall)had a game-high eight rebounds but was limited to six points. Six different Huskies registered a block, led by Webster with three; the 6'7” junior previously averaged 17.9 points per game but was held to just four in the game.

For IUP, Smith managed only 3 of 11 shooting from the field, but racked up a game-high 18 points with an impressive 12-of-15 performance from the foul line. Darryl Webb followed with 15 points and game-highs of three blocks and four steals.

Bloomsburg will take to the Nelson Field House court again Tuesday evening when the Huskies host California (Pa.) in another PSAC cross-over game. Tipoff is slated for 7:30 p.m.