CLARION, Pa. – The Concord University men's basketball team was unable to hold onto a five-point halftime lead as it lost to nationally-ranked, third-rated Indiana (Pa.) 77-60 Saturday afternoon in a non-conference game at Tippin Gymnasium.
After trailing early in the contest, CU (0-1) used a 7-2 spurt in the middle of the first half to take a 20-13 lead on the Crimson Hawks (1-0). IUP was able to tie the game on a couple of occasion, 21-21 and 25-25. However, eight straight points from graduate guard
Lual Daniel Rahama allowed Concord to build a 35-28 lead.
Indiana had an answer with a bucket before the halftime buzzer to trim the lead to 35-30 at the break.
IUP scored the first eight points of the second half before a three-point from senior guard
Ethan Heller restored a 42-40 lead with 16:28 remaining in the game. The Crimson Hawks had another 12-2 run to open up a 52-44 lead with 12 minutes left.
And the Mountain Lions were never able to get any closer than eight points for the remainder of the contest.
Driven by his strong finish to the first half, Rahama recorded 14 points to go with six rebounds. Junior guard
JJ Harper added 13 points and seven more rebounds. Heller went for 10 points.
The Mountain Lions held a decisive 50-37 edge in total rebounding, including 26 on the offensive end.
CU plays Clarion 3:00 p.m. Sunday on the road.
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