CHICAGO – Dannie Smith scored a team-high 23 points off the bench for the Indiana University Northwest men's basketball team, but Saint Xavier was a 77-68 winner Saturday evening in CCAC play.
 
After a timeout a minute into the game, the RedHawks regrouped and charged forward with a 7-0 run that was highlighted by Kionne Layne, who nailed a shot from long range. The Cougars, however, answered back with a 16-3 run.
 
SXU would continue its hot shooting for the remainder of the opening half and would go up by 18 late. Right before the buzzer Jaylen Jennings scored two of his six points, but the bucket would not carry over the momentum.
 
At the 17:45 mark in the second half the Cougars were up 49-27, but for the next five minutes the RedHawks would fight back. IUN used precision shooting and a 15-3 run to get within 10 following one of Anthony Taylor's free throws.
 
Later in the game Brian Hernandez would hit from deep and Smith scored down low, which got IUN's deficit down to eight. The RedHawks though could not finish the comeback as SXU put the game away with a free throw and dunk with seconds remaining.
 
Next up for IUN is a Wednesday, Dec. 20 matinee against in-state foe IU Kokomo with tip-off slated for 3 p.m.

 
--TheRedHawkWay--