ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. — The IU Northwest RedHawks led from start to finish Saturday, and they needed every bit of that cushion. Rochester Christian charged back from 22 down, but the RedHawks hung on for an 87-84 win at Garth Pleasant Arena.
Amarion Johnson scored the game's first basket on a layup and added a free throw for a 3-0 lead, and IU Northwest (3-3) never trailed. Tommy Snyder's layup off a Trey Steinhilber assist made it 5-2, and Romello Ali's layup and a Snyder 3-pointer pushed the lead to 10-5. Zach Greene scored on back-to-back layups for a 14-5 edge, and Antonio Phillips then stole the ball and finished with a dunk to make it 16-7.
Taray Howell turned the first half into a rout. He scored 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting off the bench, including a stretch in which he scored on a jumper, two 3-pointers, a layup and a free throw to make it 31-19. Jelani McGregor added a layup off a Braeden Walters assist. Greene hit a 3-pointer and Johnson threw down a dunk off a Jamie Hodges Jr. feed, making it 41-21. Greene's layup stretched the margin to 43-21, the RedHawks' largest lead of the day at 23 points. They went to the break up 49-33 and shot 52.6 percent in the first half.
IU Northwest kept the pressure on after halftime. Snyder knocked down a 3-pointer, and Ali stole the ball and finished with a dunk for a 56-35 lead. Free throws from Amauri Moore and Howell, plus a McGregor layup, made it 70-48 with 10:42 to play.
Then the game turned. Rochester Christian ripped off 15 straight points over the next four-plus minutes while the RedHawks went scoreless and turned it over four times. Terrell scored six points in the run, and Jerell Taylor's 3-pointer cut it to 70-63 with 7:51 left.
Greene snapped the drought with a layup, and the RedHawks traded baskets with the hosts the rest of the way. Mason Parker hit three 3-pointers in the final five minutes, but Snyder answered with a layup and a 3-pointer off an Ali assist for an 83-76 lead. Daris Sijaric hit a 3-pointer, Steinhilber answered with a layup, and Lucas Brannen scored on the other end to make it 85-81.
Parker's 3-pointer with 20 seconds left cut it to 85-84. Steinhilber calmly made two free throws with 14 seconds left, and Parker's 3-point try at the buzzer missed. Ali grabbed the rebound to seal the win.
Greene and Snyder each scored 17 points to lead IU Northwest. Greene shot 8-of-13 and Snyder went 7-of-12, including 3-of-4 from deep. Howell added 15 points in just 12 minutes, and Johnson finished with 11 points, six rebounds and four blocks. Phillips had five points and six rebounds in 16 minutes, and Steinhilber handed out three assists.
IU Northwest outscored Rochester Christian 52-28 in the paint and 26-19 on fast breaks, and it won the rebounding battle 41-31. The RedHawks also benefited from Rochester Christian's struggles at the line, where the hosts went 9-of-21 and missed all three second-half attempts.
IU Northwest returns home to host Indiana Tech (RV) on Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 7 p.m. The game begins the annual Toys for Tots donation drive. Fans who bring a new, unwrapped toy will receive free admission.
