GARY, Ind. -- Junior Jared Johnson (Chicago Heights, Ill.) hit a huge three-pointer as time was winding down as the Indiana University Northwest Men's Basketball Team defeated St. Xavier, 70-67, Wednesday.

IU NORTHWEST STATS LEADERS
Points:  Jared Johnson (23)
Rebounds: Jared Johnson (12)
Assists: Marshaud Watkins (3)
Blocks: Jared Johnson (2)
Steals: Martrellian Gibson (4)

HALF BREAKDOWN
FIRST HALF (IU Northwest 34, St. Xavier 32)

• IU Northwest went ahead 8-0 after making the first four baskets of the game in the opening minutes.
• St. Xavier responded with an 7-3 run to cut it to four points at the 13:32 mark in the first half. 
• Martrellian Gibson ended the spurt with a basket to get the RedHawks back on track.
• After the Cougars responded, the RedHawks scored seven points in a row to pull ahead 21-9 after a three-pointer by Marshaud Watkins. 
• Later in the half, SXU cut it to 30-26 with five minutes left but then Watkins made back-to-back baskets to extend the lead to eight (34-26).
• The Cougars ended the first half with the last six points to make it 34-32 IUN at the half time break.

SECOND HALF (IU Northwest 36, St. Xavier 35)

• Both teams traded baskets to start the second half then Watkins hit back-to-back threes to make it an eight-point game again. 
• SXU cut it back to two points again (50-48) with 10:23 left to go in the game. 
• Jared Johnson and Larry Lynch nailed back-to-back buckets to stretch it back up six at the 9:01 mark in the game.
• Moments later, Johnson hit a three-pointer which made it 63-56 with under five minutes to play.
• The Cougars bounced back with five points in a row to cut it back to two points (63-61). 
• Jason Peace hit a huge basket to make it 67-64 with 2:45 to play. 
• SXU tied the contest with 29 seconds remaining with a three-pointer. 
• IU Northwest had the ball with one last possession with the score tied then Johnson hit his biggest shot in an IU Northwest uniform so far with a three-pointer from down town.

FINAL SCORE (IU Northwest 34-36-70, St. Xavier 32-35-67)

UP NEXT
IU Northwest Men's Basketball returns to action Saturday, December 12 as the RedHawks travel to Elgin, Illinois to take on Judson University starting at 3 p.m. CT. Please monitor our website and social media for schedule updates.