No. 7 IUP Repeats as PSAC Men’s Basketball Champions
CHAMPIONSHIP HUB
BOX SCORE
SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. --- No. 7 IUP Crimson Hawks has claimed the 2020 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Championship with a 77-59 win against Shippensburg at Heiges Field House in Shippensburg, Pa.
IUP won its second straight PSAC title, its fifth in 11 years.
IUP improved to 28-2 and entered the week at No. 1 in the Atlantic Region. The Crimson Hawks improved their likelihood of hosting the Atlantic Regional.
The Raiders fell to 24-7 and were led by John Castello’s game-high 13 points.
IUP’s defense held the Raiders to 27.7 % from the field.
IUP junior Shawndale Jones was named the Most Valuable Player after posting six defensive rebounds and shooting 10-of-14 from the field to push the Crimson Hawks past the Raiders for the title.
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Shawndale Jones, IUP
Both teams struggled from long range while combining to go 12-for-47.
With 14:17 remaining in the first half, IUP regained the lead and never looked back.
PSAC West Athlete of the Year, Malik Miller closed out the first half with 16 points, shooting 50.0 percent from the field for IUP.
The Raiders were within four at the 16:38 mark in the second half but was unable to contain the IUP offense powered by Jones and sophomore guard Armoni Foster. Jones posted a 20-point second half alongside Fosters 11-point second half efforts to seal the win for the Crimson Hawks.
The NCAA DII Men’s Basketball Selection Show will take place at 10:30 PM Sunday.