Joliet, Ill. -- The Indiana University Northwest men's basketball team, who was recieving votes in the NAIA Preseason Poll, lost their Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference opener to No. 19 University of St. Francis, 78-74, Wednesday.

IUN jumped out the gate with back-to-back threes by Marshaud Watkins (Oak Forest, Ill.) and Richard Robertson (Fort Wayne, Ind./Northrop) to make it 6-0.

USF tried to make a come back but IUN had the answer to pull away extending the lead to 11 after a jumper by Martellian Gibson (Mattoon, Ill.). The RedHawks built out a lead through the next few minutes before USF made their run to tie it at 24-all at the 7:12 mark in the first half.

Rashad Richardson (Lafayette, Ind./Lafayette Jeff) hit a huge three-pointer to give IUN a 27-24 lead. A few minutes later, the Fighting Saints responded with another run and made a three to grab a 34-33 lead with 3:25 left in the half.

The RedHawks grabbed the lead back after back-to-back buckets by Gibson to make it 37-34. 

After the Fighting Saints tied up the game again with 1:19 left, Jason Peace (Indianapolis, Ind.) hit a huge three to give IUN a lead going into the break. The RedHawks led 40-39 at the half. 

USF opened the half regaining the lead for a short time making it 49-46 with 15:13 left in the game. IUN went on a 7-0 run after a pair of free throws by Tremon Weston (St. Louis, Mo.), a jumper by Robertson and a three-pointer by Gibson made it 53-49 IUN.  

Later on in the half, Nick Passino (Churbusco, Ind.) hit a jumper to make it 57-51 with 11:23 remaining for IUN's biggest lead of the second half. 

Peace knocked down a pair of free throws to make it 61-57 IUN with 8:25 on the clock. USF then scored seven in a row to pull ahead 64-61 with 6:49.

Both teams would trade baskets before the Fighting Saints tied briefly before Korey Joyner (Fort Wayne, Ind.) gave IUN their last lead of the night 69-67 with 4:11 left in the game. USF outscored the RedHawks 11-5 the last four minutes to win the game 78-74.

IUN returns to action Saturday, November 9 as the RedHawks travel to another ranked team, this time at No. 9 Madonna with game time starting at 2 p.m. CT.