GARY, Ind. – Behind a dominant second-half performance and a career night from Dannie Smith, Indiana Northwest pulled away for a 92-73 victory over St. Ambrose on Saturday afternoon at the Savannah Center.

Smith was nearly unstoppable, scoring a game-high 35 points on 11-of-13 shooting, including 4-of-6 from three-point range. The senior guard also went a perfect 9-for-9 from the free-throw line, helping the RedHawks (20-6, 14-4 CCAC) shake off a slow start and overpower the Fighting Bees (14-11, 7-11 CCAC) after halftime.

Indiana Northwest trailed by as many as four in the first half and entered the break down 45-41. But the RedHawks erupted in the second half, outscoring St. Ambrose 51-28 while shooting a blistering 57.6% from the field for the game. Smith's scoring was complemented by Demarius Splunge, who posted 17 points and seven rebounds, and Anthony Taylor, who added 13 points and five assists.

The game also marked a historic moment for Indiana Northwest, as Trace Williams set a new program record for most assists in a single season. The senior guard dished out six assists on the night, bringing his season total to 130 and counting. Williams also contributed 11 points, six rebounds, and two steals in a well-rounded effort.

St. Ambrose was led by Will Spriggs, who scored 16 points, while Guillermo Narbona and Ignacio Dacunda each finished with 15. The Fighting Bees shot 47.0% from the field but struggled from deep, connecting on just 6-of-20 (30.0%) three-point attempts. Indiana Northwest's defense tightened in the second half, holding St. Ambrose to just 36.4% shooting after the break.

Indiana Northwest will return to action on Wednesday, Feb. 19, when they travel to face Governors State. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CT.

Recap by PJ Katona

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