GARY, Ind. — IU Northwest men's basketball went toe-to-toe with the top team in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference on Saturday afternoon, but a late push by No. 1 Olivet Nazarene University proved decisive as the RedHawks fell, 70–65, inside the Savannah Center.
IU Northwest opened the contest with strong energy and confidence, striking first behind Trey Steinhilber, who buried a three-pointer on the opening possession. The RedHawks defended well early, forcing turnovers and converting in transition as Caleb Jenkins and Antonio Phillips attacked the lane to keep IU Northwest within reach.
Olivet Nazarene answered midway through the first half with an efficient scoring stretch, capitalizing on second-chance opportunities to build separation. Despite the run, IU Northwest continued to battle, with Ladaion Barnes attacking off the dribble and finishing through contact late in the half. The RedHawks went into the break trailing 35–24 after Olivet closed the half a jumper.
IU Northwest responded coming out of halftime, picking up the pace offensively and tightening defensively. Barnes knocked down a pair of three-pointers early in the second half, while Phillips added a strong finish in the paint as the RedHawks chipped away at the deficit. A three-pointer from Romello Ali and timely buckets from Matthew Hoarde fueled a second-half surge that cut the gap to two possessions in the final minutes.
The RedHawks continued to apply pressure late, with Hoarde converting multiple baskets down the stretch and Barnes drilling a three-pointer with six seconds remaining to make it a one-possession game. Olivet Nazarene sealed the outcome at the free-throw line in the final seconds to secure the conference road win.
IU Northwest was led by Ladaion Barnes, who finished with 14 points and four assists, while Matthew Hoarde added 14 points off the bench with six rebounds. Romello Ali chipped in 12 points, and Antonio Phillips contributed nine points. Trey Steinhilber added five points and five assists, while Amarion Johnson anchored the defensive end with multiple blocks, continuing to climb into the top 10 of the RedHawks' seasonal record book.
IU Northwest continues its home stretch on Wednesday, Jan. 14, hosting Governors State University inside the Savannah Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
