SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Indiana Northwest claimed an important conference victory on Saturday afternoon, defeating Indiana South Bend 65-59 in a tightly contested battle at the Student Activities Center. With the win, the RedHawks improved to 14-4 overall and 8-2 in CCAC play.

The RedHawks leaned on a balanced offensive attack and timely defensive stops to edge out the Titans in a game that saw multiple lead changes and momentum swings. Senior forward Dannie Smith was a standout for Indiana Northwest, delivering 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting while grabbing eight rebounds. Smith's ability to finish around the rim and sink clutch free throws—going 5-of-6 from the line—proved vital, especially in the closing minutes.

Joining Smith in double figures were Trace Williams and Demarius Splunge. Williams stuffed the stat sheet with 14 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and four steals, showing his versatility on both ends of the court. Splunge contributed an efficient 12 points, hitting 5-of-6 shots from the floor and providing a spark with his energy and physicality.

Anthony Taylor added eight points and three rebounds, while Caleb Jenkins chipped in seven points and four rebounds, including a three-pointer in the first half that helped keep Indiana Northwest within striking distance. Off the bench, Jaylen Jennings provided three points and two rebounds in 11 minutes, and Ladaion Barnes battled on the glass with six rebounds, playing a key role in limiting second-chance opportunities for Indiana South Bend.

Indiana Northwest gained the upper hand in the second half, shooting 48.1% from the field after the break compared to 36.7% in the first half. The RedHawks outscored the Titans 35-30 in the final 20 minutes, relying heavily on their ability to attack the paint. The team dominated inside, scoring 40 points in the paint, which proved to be the difference against an Indiana South Bend team that managed just 24 points in the lane.

On the defensive end, the RedHawks limited the Titans to 38.9% shooting from the field and forced 11 turnovers, converting those into eight points. The Titans struggled from the free-throw line, connecting on only 12-of-22 attempts (54.5%), which hindered their chances to reclaim the lead in the game's critical moments.

Indiana South Bend was led by Quentez Columbus, who paced the Titans with 19 points on an impressive 8-of-11 shooting performance, including 2-of-2 from beyond the arc. Columbus also contributed two rebounds and two steals. Collin Schmidt added 13 points, hitting a pair of three-pointers and going 5-of-6 at the free-throw line. However, the Titans' supporting cast struggled to find consistency, with Jylen Petty scoring nine points on 3-of-14 shooting and no other player reaching double figures.

Despite Indiana South Bend's strong rebounding effort—winning the battle on the boards 35-34 and collecting 11 offensive rebounds—the RedHawks' ability to execute in key moments gave them the edge. The game featured four ties and three lead changes, with Indiana Northwest's largest lead of eight points coming midway through the second half.

The win marks the RedHawks' second straight conference victory as they continue to build momentum in CCAC play. They'll look to keep their strong form going when they return to the Savannah Center on Wednesday, Jan. 22, to host Calumet St. Joseph. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.

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