Chicago, Ill. -- The Indiana University Northwest men's basketball team picked up a big gritty victory against Roosevelt Wednesday. The RedHawks (10-4, 6-2 CCAC) defeated the Roosevelt (2-12, 2-6 CCAC), 79-64, at the Goodman Center, Wednesday.

Both teams traded leads most of the first half.  Roosevelt led 24-23 with 4:09 left to go in the half.

IUN was able to score the last eight points of the opening half and played stellar defense as the RedHawks held the Lakers off the scoreboard. Rashad Richardson (Lafayette, Ind./Lafayette Jeff) hit a jumper and a three-pointer towards the end of the half to put the RedHawks ahead 31-24 at the break.

Roosevelt did not go away as the Lakers scored the first six points to open up the half to cut it to one (31-30). Marshaud Watkins (Harvey, Ill.) hit a huge three-pointer which ended that rally to make it 34-30.

The RedHawks had control most of the second half after Roosevelt hit a big three of their own. Later in the half, Watkins nailed a huge trifecta in the corner to make it 54-47 with 7:39 remaining in the game.

The game was far from over as Roosevelt closed in on a two-point deficit with 3:47 to go. Tromon Weston (St. Louis, Mo.) sparked a huge rally with a big bucket at the 3:31 mark which paved way for the rest of the game. 

The RedHawks outscored the Lakers 18-5 the final three minutes of the game. IUN sealed the game with back-to-back dunks by Martellian Gibson (Rantoul, Ill.) and Richardson as the RedHawks recorded the 79-64 victory.

Richardson led the RedHawks with yet another double-double as the senior recorded 29 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Gibson scored 13 points and pulled down nine rebounds. 

Watkins also picked up double figures for IUN as the junior scored 19 points and pulled down eight rebounds. Weston had a big night on the glass with 10 rebounds.

IUN returns to action Friday, December 20 to take on fellow IU campus No. 13 Indiana Kokomo for their final game before Christmas Break starting at 6 p.m. CT.