GARY, Ind. -- The Indiana University Northwest men's basketball team led 38-33 at halftime but were unable to hang on as the RedHawks dropped their Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference opener to Roosevelt Wednesday.

RECORDS
Roosevelt (2-1, 2-0 CCAC) | Indiana Northwest (2-2, 0-1 CCAC) 

IU NORTHWEST LEADERS
Points: Brian Hernandez (18), Jared Johnson (12)
Rebounds: Jared Johnson, Marshaud Watkins (9)
Assists: Jared Johnson (5)
Blocks: Brian Hernandez, Tromon Weston (1)
Steals: Jerron Tatum (2)

HALF BREAKDOWN
1st Half: IU Northwest 38, Roosevelt 33
2nd Half: Roosevelt 50, IU Northwest 36
Final Score: Roosevelt 83, IU Northwest 74

GAME RECAP
Damond Crosby and Ryan LaFollette opened up the game with back-to-back threes to make it 6-0 early on.  Jared Johnson quickly made it 8-0 with a layup then Roosevelt responded with seven straight points to make it a one-point game (8-7). 

Crosby ended the run with back-to-back layups which made it 12-7. Marshaud Watkins, Brian Hernandez and Larry Lynch all made layups to extend the lead to 18-10 with 12 minutes left to play in the half.

Roosevelt responded with an 11-2 run to grab their first lead (21-20) of the night with 10:18 remaining in the half. Jerron Tatum nailed a three-pointer to give the RedHawks back the lead. 

The Lakers had another quick run to regain the lead then Hernandez made one from downtown for a 28-27 lead. IU Northwest went into the break ahead 38-33 after Johnson scored the last three points.

Roosevelt opened up the second half with a 7-0 run to grab a 40-38 advantage. Johnson and Crosby responded with back-to-back layups to give the RedHawks back the lead. 

Both teams traded baskets the next 13 minutes which made the score 67-67 with 5:49 left in the contest. Roosevelt went on an 8-2 run to go ahead 75-69.  

Johnson got the RedHawks back within striking distance as the junior scored back-to-back layups to make it a one-possession game (75-73) with 2:35 left. The Lakers had the answer right away after making two consecutive baskets of their own and closed out the contest with a 9-1 run to grab the 83-74 victory.

UP NEXT
IU Northwest will look to bounce back Saturday, November 13 as the RedHawks host Judson University inside the Savannah Center starting at 1 p.m. CT.