NORTE DAME, Ind. -- The Indiana University Northwest men's basketball team held off a late surge by Holy Cross as the RedHawks defeated the Saints, 77-72, at the Pfeil Center Saturday. The victory puts IU Northwest in third place in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference standings with Roosevelt also losing. 

TEAM RECORDS 
IU Northwest (17-6, 11-5 CCAC) | Holy Cross (10-14, 5-11 CCAC)

QUARTER BREAKDOWN
1st Half: IU Northwest 44, Holy Cross 38
2nd Half: Holy Cross 34, IU Northwest 33
Final Score: IU Northwest 77, Holy Cross 72

IU NORTHWEST LEADERS
Points: Jared Johnson (22), VaShawn Sims (22)
Rebounds: Jared Johnson (9)
Assists: VaShawn Sims (4), Jerron Tatum (4)
Blocks: Tromon Weston (3)
Steals: Jared Johnson (2), Marshaud Watkins (2)

GAME RECAP
Tromon Weston hit a second chance basket, Jerron Tatum hit a three-pointer and VaShawn Sims made a bucket to make it 7-0 to start the contest. Holy Cross responded with one from downtown. 

Sims and Jared Johnson made baskets then Tatum hit another three-pointer to make it 14-3 early in the game. Holy Cross made it close and cut it to five (18-13). 

Johnson was able to make it back out to a eight-point lead (21-13) after making a three-pointer. The Saints made back-to-back buckets to make it 21-17 with with under 11 minutes left in the half. 

Jason Peace knocked down a pair at the line before HCC converted a three-point play to make it a 23-20 contest. Tromon Weston responded on the RedHawks end with a three-point play to extend the lead to 30-24 with 6:49 left. 

The Saints tied the game after making back-to-back threes. IU Northwest led 44-38 at the break after Sims beat the buzzer with a basket. 

Holy Cross started the second half with a three-pointer to cut it back down to three (44-41). After a basket by Sims, the Saints quickly tied it at 46-all moments later. 

The RedHawks would respond with 10 unanswered points finished off by baskets from Marshaud Watkins and Johnson to go up 56-46 with 14:31 left in the game.  HC responded with a four straight points then Tatum knocked one down from three-point land to keep it at nine. 

The Saints cut it back down to four points (59-55) then IU Northwest responded with back-to-back field goals by Brian Hernandez and Sims. Holy Cross cut it back to three (66-63) after a run. 

Hernandez made a jumper and Johnson made a three to extend the lead to 71-63. The Saints did not go away as HCC scored six straight to cut it down to two points then a few minutes later made it a one-point game (73-72) with with 1:38 to go. 

Sims hit a clutch basket with 18 seconds left to put the RedHawks ahead 75-72. The RedHawks got the stop they needed and Sims knocked down a pair at the free-throw line to capture the 77-72 victory.

UP NEXT
IU Northwest will be back in action Wednesday, February 2 as the RedHawks travel to Governors State University to take on the Jaguars starting at 7 p.m. CT.