IUP Claims First PSAC Men's Basketball Championship Since 2004
IUP - 2009-10 PSAC Men's Basketball champions

IUP Claims First PSAC Men's Basketball Championship Since 2004

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Box Score

East Stroudsburg, Pa. - Tournament MVP Thomas Young scored a game-high 25 points, including 18 in the second half, and Willi Estrella, filling in for the injured Akida McLain, recorded a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds on 7-of-10 shooting from the floor as IUP pulled away at the end in a close game to defeat Kutztown 84-73 and win its first PSAC men's basketball championship since 2004.

IUP led for much of the first half but did not lead by more than seven and Kutztown took the lead at halftime when Julius Gray hit a fadeaway three from the corner with just three second half to give the Golden Bears a 35-33 lead at the break. The Crimson Hawks would get the lead back just a few minutes into the third quarter but were unable to pull away until late. Ryan Washington's layup with 8:29 remaining tied the at 56-56, the seventh and final tie of the game. But from that point, IUP went on a 12-3 run to take a 68-59 lead with 4:03 left.

The Golden Bears would get it back to within four at 71-67 on a layup by Jon DeShields with 2:45 remaining as they were able to take advantage of a couple of missed free throws by IUP but the Crimson Hawks would then close the game on a 13-6 run that included making 11-of-14 free throws in the final 2:13.

Darryl Webb added 12 points for IUP in just 23 minutes as he was plagued by foul trouble and fouled out with over five minutes left in the game. Julian Sanders and Ashton Smith each had 10 points for IUP, which went 21-for-27 from the free throw line. Stephen Dennis and Gray each had 22 points for Kutztown, which also got double-doubles from Ryan Washington with 14 points and 11 rebounds, and Tamir Johnson, who had 10 points and 15 boards. Kutztown was able to outrebound IUP by one, 44-43, and had a six-board advantage on the offensive end.

IUP clinches the automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament. The NCAA field will be announced tomorrow night, Sunday, March 7 on on NCAA.org.