WHITING, Ind. — IU Northwest opened Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference play with a statement Friday night, holding off Calumet College of St. Joseph 73–70 in front of an energetic crowd at the Rittenmeyer Center. The win marks the RedHawks' third straight victory and their first CCAC win of the season.

The RedHawks (3–1, 1–0 CCAC) survived a back-and-forth matchup that featured six ties and multiple momentum swings. After entering halftime knotted at 30–30, IU Northwest delivered a poised, physical second-half effort led by Amarion Johnson's dominant stretch in the lane. Johnson poured in 13 of his 21 points after the break, sparking a 10–2 run that flipped the game's energy and ignited the IU Northwest bench.

Calumet (0–4, 0–1) continued to counter, using perimeter shot-making from Tylon Toliver and J. Caleb Slawinski to regain the lead with just under nine minutes left. But the RedHawks responded with their most decisive push of the night — a sequence highlighted by back-to-back buckets from Johnson, a transition finish from Ladaion Barnes, and a composed drive from Caleb Jenkins to put IUN back in front, 58–56.

From there, IU Northwest leaned on defensive toughness and late-game composure. Jenkins knocked down two key jumpers, and Barnes sealed the outcome at the free-throw line in the final minute as the RedHawks closed out the program's first CCAC victory of the 2025 season.

IU Northwest shot 40.6 percent from the floor and held Calumet to 37.1 percent while winning the rebounding battle 36–33. Johnson (21), Jenkins (14), Hoarde (11), and Steinhilber (11) all reached double figures for the RedHawks.

The RedHawks return to action on Wednesday, traveling to IU South Bend for a 6:30 p.m. tip.