GARY, Ind. – Behind a dominant defensive effort and clutch free-throw shooting down the stretch, Indiana University Northwest overpowered Calumet College of St. Joseph 79-60 Monday night at the Savannah Center, completing a season sweep of their conference rival in front of an electric home crowd.
The RedHawks (10-16, 7-10 conference) controlled the game from the opening minutes, building a commanding 44-27 halftime lead and never looking back. IU Northwest shot a blistering 54.5 percent from the field in the first half while holding Calumet to just 26.7 percent, setting the tone.
The RedHawks wasted no time asserting themselves. After Calumet opened the scoring with an early layup, IU Northwest responded with authority. Caleb Jenkins drilled a three-pointer assisted by Barnes to give the RedHawks a lead they would never relinquish.
The RedHawks forced 13 first-half turnovers and converted them into easy transition opportunities. Barnes was everywhere – grabbing seven defensive rebounds, dishing out two assists, and scoring 16 of his 20 points before intermission.
The turning point came midway through the first half when IU Northwest embarked on a 15-4 run that stretched their lead to double digits. Antonio Phillips converted a three-point play, Amarion Johnson powered through contact for consecutive layups, and Jenkins knocked down another three-pointer to push the advantage to 28-12.
By halftime, the RedHawks had built a 44-27 cushion, shooting 54.5 percent from the field while limiting Calumet to just eight made baskets.
The Crimson Wave (11-14, 7-11) showed fight early in the second half, cutting the deficit to 14 points on multiple occasions/ They tried to spark a comeback, but the RedHawks had an answer every time.
IU Northwest's interior presence proved decisive and outrebounded Calumet 48-25, including a staggering 35-18 advantage on the defensive glass. Johnson controlled the paint with eight rebounds and altered countless shots with two blocks, while Jenkins matched his output with nine boards of his own.
When Calumet threatened to make it interesting midway through the second half, trailing 53-70, the RedHawks responded with a back-breaking 9-2 run. Phillips, who finished with 13 points and seven rebounds, threw down a thunderous dunk in transition that brought the crowd to its feet. Romello Ali followed with a three-pointer, and suddenly the lead ballooned back to 24 points.
Calumet never found their shooting rhythm, finishing at just 35.1 percent from the field and 26.3 percent from three-point range. The Crimson Wave were plagued by turnovers, coughing the ball up 25 times compared to IU Northwest's 20. The RedHawks capitalized on those mistakes, scoring 26 points off turnovers while allowing just 12.
IU Northwest shot 49.1 percent from the field and outscored Calumet 34-30 in the paint while the bench provided an 18-7 advantage. Barnes led all scorers with 20 points, nine rebounds, four steals and two blocks. Phillips added 13 points and seven rebounds, Jenkins contributed 12 points and nine boards, Johnson anchored the defense with 10 points, eight rebounds and two blocks, while Ali sparked the second unit with 11 points and five steals.
The RedHawks now turn their attention to the final home game of the 2026 season, hosting IU South Bend on Wednesday night at the Savannah Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
