GREENSBURG, Pa. -
Fernando Salsamendi scored a career-high 24 points, but it wasn't enough as Seton Hill fell to NCAA Division II #6 Indiana University of Pennsylvania, 88-73, in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference men's basketball action Wednesday evening inside Salvitti Gymnasium.
With the win, IUP improves to 18-2 overall and 13-1 in the PSAC. Seton Hill falls to 8-10 overall and 5-9 in conference play.
After a tight start to the game, Seton Hill held a 7-5 lead with 17:04 showing on the clock. However, the Crimson Hawks would regain the lead and eventually push that lead to double-digits, 31-19, with 10:23 showing. Down 38-21 with 7:43, Seton Hill used a 16-10 run the rest of the first half to cut the lead to 11, 48-37, when
Manny Joshua scored on back-to-back lay-ups before halftime.
The Griffins built on that momentum in the second half, outscoring IUP, 12-2, over the first four minutes to make it 52-49 with 15:43 on the clock. Salsamendi got the Griffins started with a layup out of the gate. After an IUP bucket, Salsamendi's three cut the lead to 50-42.
Noah Davis and
Spencer Casson hit on layups in back-to-back possessions to further cut into the deficit. After Lombardi made good on a jumper, Salsamendi's three brought the lead to just three, 52-49 with 15:43 to go. However, the Griffin offense turned cold over the next two minutes and IUP went on to push their lead back to double-digits, 61-49, with 13:34.
Seton Hill looked poised to strike again just a few minutes later, managing the lead down the seven, 66-59, with 10:24 remaining. A jumper by Salsamendi followed by a layup by Joshua got the Griffins started. After Blake Danielak's three for IUP,
Spencer Casson was good on a layup and Salsamendi scored off an IUP turnover to make it 57-64. Danielak would hit a jumper on the ensuing possession, but Casson's layup after brought the down to seven, 66-59, with 10:47 to go. However, Danielak's dagger three-pointer on the other end gave IUP a 69-59 lead, and that was all the cushion that they would needed en route to the 88-73 win.
Salsamendi scored a team-high 24 points on 10-of-16 from the floor, including 4-of-7 from beyond the arc.
Spencer Casson registered his fourth double-double on the season, scoring 19 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Casson also came away with four blocks.
Noah Davis rounded out the double-digit scoring with 12 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the floor.
Trevor Lecuona dished seven assists.
Jacobo Diaz had a game-high 27 points and 12 rebounds for IUP. Blake Danielak came away with 21 points, 17 of which came in the second half of the game. Anthony Glover scored 21 points, while Dante Lombardi scored 11 and had 11 assists.
For the game, Seton Hill made 32-of-58 (55.2%) shots, including 6-for-18 (33.3%) from three-point land. Indiana made 33-of-63 (52.4%) attempted shots, and were 11-for-26 (42.3%) from long-range. Seton Hill was just 3-of-6 from the line, while IUP made 11-of-12 from the charity stripe. SHU outscored IUP, 42-32, in the paint, but IUP held a 24-13 advantage in points of off turnovers. The Crimson Hawk bench outscored SHU's bench by a 23-11 margin. The two teams tied in second chance points with 12 apiece. SHU committed 16 turnovers compared to IUP's 10.
Seton Hill looks to get back to their winning ways when they travel to Slippery Rock on Saturday, January 28th. Slippery Rock won the first meeting this season, 72-64, when the two teams played in Greensburg on December 30th. Tip-off for the second edition is schedule for 3:00 PM.
