GARY, Ind. — Indiana Northwest wrapped up its regular season in dominant fashion, using a powerful second-half surge to defeat Viterbo 90-77 on Saturday afternoon at the Savannah Center. The RedHawks, who trailed by four at halftime, outscored the V-Hawks 57-40 in the final 20 minutes to secure their sixth straight victory.
Anthony Taylor led the way for Indiana Northwest (22-6, 16-4 CCAC), finishing with 19 points while going 13-of-14 from the free-throw line. Dannie Smith contributed 17 points and eight rebounds, while Trace Williams stuffed the stat sheet with 14 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists. Ladaion Barnes provided a major lift off the bench, pouring in 17 points on an efficient 7-of-9 shooting.
The RedHawks struggled to find their rhythm early, shooting just 39.3% from the field in the first half while Viterbo (9-18, 7-13 CCAC) capitalized with strong perimeter shooting. The V-Hawks hit five three-pointers in the opening period and led by as many as five points in the first half before taking a 37-33 lead into the break.
Indiana Northwest wasted little time regaining control in the second half, opening with a 16-4 run to seize momentum. The RedHawks' offense was relentless down the stretch, shooting 58.1% from the field and knocking down 16 of 19 free throws in the second half. They also stepped up defensively, forcing 13 Viterbo turnovers and converting them into 21 points.
Braden Crubel led Viterbo with 18 points off the bench, while Cole Crubel added 17 points on 6-of-13 shooting. Landon Thousand chipped in 12 points and four assists, but the V-Hawks struggled to slow down Indiana Northwest's balanced attack.
With the win, Indiana Northwest secured at least a top-two finish in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference standings. The RedHawks will now turn their focus to the postseason, where they will host a CCAC Tournament quarterfinal game at the Savannah Center on Tuesday, Feb. 25. The opponent and game time are yet to be determined.
Recap by PJ Katona
Keep up with all the latest updates on Indiana Northwest Athletics by following @IUNRedHawks on X and Instagram.
