Gary, Ind. -- The Indiana University Northwest Men's Basketball team held off a pesky Aquinas College team for their first victory of the season in their opener Saturday. 

The RedHawks (1-0) defeated the Saints (0-3), 77-73, at the Savannah Center, Saturday.

IUN had their first lead of the game after Martellian Gibson (Mattoon, Ill.) hit a jumper to give the RedHawks a 12-11 advantage at the 13:01 mark in the first half. 

Aquinas went up 17-16 after that, the RedHawks went on a 7-0 run after back-to-back baskets by Rashad Richardson (Lafayette, Ind./Lafayette Jeff) including a three-pointer and a jumper by Chris Robinson (Indianapolis, Ind./Pike) made it 23-17.

The Saints responded with a basket but then IUN went on another 9-0 run capped off by back-to-back jumpers by Nick Passino (Churubusco, Ind.) and Gibson extending the lead to 31-19 with 2:53 left in the half.

Looking to come back was Aquinas who scored the next six points in the next minute and a half. Jason Peace (Indianapolis, Ind.) put the end to that rally with a huge three-pointer which helped the RedHawks go into the break ahead 34-27.

IUN led 49-42 with 13:26 left in the game after a basket by Korey Joyner (Fort Wayne, Ind.). Aquinas would not give up as the Saints took a 51-49 lead with nine unanswered points in the next two and a half minutes. 

The RedHawks regained the lead for a short amount of time before the Saints took the 54-53 advantage. Gibson nailed a huge trifecta with 8:47 left in the game to give IUN a 56-54 lead. 

The Saints never gave up as AU went up 66-65 after a pair of free throws with 4:15 left. IUN captured the lead again before Aquinas nailed a huge three with 39 ticks left. 

With the score tied 72-72, IUN was able to get a huge shot by Robinson with 20 seconds left which helped the RedHawks close out the game on a 5-1 run to win 77-73. 

Richardson led the RedHawks with scoring as the senior added 24 points. Gibson recorded a double-double for IUN, picking up 17 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. 

Robinson added 16 points to round out the IUN scorers. Tremon Weston (St. Louis, Mo.) had a huge game defensively with three blocked shots. 

IUN returns to action Wednesday, November 6 for their Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference opener as the RedHakws travel to the University of St. Francis (Ill.) to take on the Fighting Saints starting at 7:30 p.m. CT.