INDIANA, Pa. – A late run by the Concord University men's basketball team came up short as it lost, 80-73, to nationally-ranked Indiana (Pa.) Saturday night as part of the IRMC/Hilton Garden Inn Classic at the Kovalchick Center.
The first half featured 11 ties and three lead changes with neither team holding more than a six-point advantage in the first 20 minutes. IUP (2-0) was up two points at halftime, 34-32, and briefly took a five-point lead early in the second half before senior forward
Simun Kovac made a layup and sophomore guard
Brandon Kennedy connected on a three-pointer to tie the score 42-42, for the 12
th and final time.
From there, the Crimson Hawks went on a 15-4 run to open up its largest advantage of the game, 11 points, with 12:20 remaining in the game. Concord (1-1) responded with seven straight points to get within 57-53. However, the closest CU got in the next few minutes was three points.
Down eight, 74-66, with 1:27 left to go in the game, junior forward
Liam Evans made two free throws and junior guard/forward
Malik Johnson hit a three-pointer on Concord's next possession to draw within three points. But, IUP made all four foul shots down the stretch to hold the Mountain Lions off.
Freshman guard
Ethan Heller went for 18 points while Johnson tallied 15 points.
Senior forward
Simun Kovac recorded his sixth career double-double with 13 points and 16 rebounds. Senior guard
Trey Brisco added 10 points.
The Mountain Lions travel to county rival Bluefield State 8:00 p.m. Tuesday.
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