Chicago, Ill. -- The Indiana University Northwest men's basketball team was able to force overtime against Saint Xavier but the Cougars were able to come out on top, 94-88, at the Shannon Center Saturday.

IUN led 7-2 in the early stages after Rashad Richardson (Lafayette, Ind./Lafayette Jeff) hit a jumpshot. SXU went on a 11-5 run to grab a 13-12 lead. 

The Cougars went on another run for a 23-16 advantage with 7:25 left in the half. The RedHawks got back within one score after Jason Peace (Indianapolis, Ind.) knocked one down from behind the arc and Martellian Gibson (Rantoul, Ill.) hit a pair of free throws. 

Richardson gave the RedHawks a 36-35 lead late in the first half. SXU responded right back with a three-pointer to go into the half 38-36.

After an opening bucket by the Cougars in the second half, IUN went on a 12-2 run capped off by back-to-back threes by Gibson and Marshaud Watkins (Harvey, Ill.) to put the RedHawks ahead 48-42. 

SXU was about to tie it up at 50-all then Gibson hit another three to make it 53-50 with 15:21 left in the game. A couple minutes later, Watkins gave IUN their biggest lead of the half with another three-pointer which made it 58-52.

The Cougars went ahead with a 10-2 run then both teams went back-and-forth most of the second half. Richardson and Peace nailed a pair from three-point land to make it 78-74 with 3:47 left in the game.

The next six points went to Saint Xavier to go ahead 80-78 with 1:54 remaining in the game. With four seconds left, IUN had the ball down by two then Richardson was able to hit a clutch layup as time expired to force overtime.

Both teams traded leads in the first four minutes of overtime. IUN was ahead 88-87 with 50 seconds left but SXU locked down on defense and scored the last seven points of the game to win the contest 94-88.

The RedHawks had four players reach double figures in scoring. Richardson led in scoring and on the glass as the senior recorded 29 points and grabbed nine boards.  

Gibson also had a huge game as the junior recorded 20 points. Watkins pitched in 18 points while Robinson added 13 points in the setback.

IUN returns to action Tuesday, November 26 as the RedHawks host rival Calumet College of St. Joseph starting at 7:30 p.m. CT at the Savannah Canter.