GARY, Ind. – The second seeded Indiana University Northwest men's basketball team defeated Olivet Nazarene Friday night 78-64 to clinch a spot in Monday's CCAC Championship, which will be played inside the Savannah Center.
 
Seven minutes into the contest, the RedHawks were down 17-5, but a Trace Williams layup got the momentum shifted. IUN inched closer and got within five with six and half minutes left in the opening frame.
 
The RedHawks then were able to tie the contest up at 30 before intermission when Dannie Smith nailed a shot from beyond the three-point arc. Then following an ONU missed layup, Williams gave IUN its first lead of the day with a bucket in the paint moments before the clock it zero.
 
Early in the second half the Tigers and RedHawks each took turns with the lead, but under the half mark Williams put IUN up 50-48. The layup jumped started a 14-6 run, which gave the RedHawks their first double digit advantage.
 
Late in the game, Anthony Taylor gave IUN its largest lead of the evening at 16 when he closed out the scoring with a fast break dunk.
 
Williams and Taylor each finished the night with 19 points, while Smith had his eighth double-double of the season with 13 points and 13 rebounds.
 
Next on the schedule is a visit from IU South Bend on Monday at 7 p.m. for the CCAC Championship and an automatic bid into the NAIA Tournament on March 15.