Point Park tops first-place IU East in KIAC MBB Game of the Week
Point Park tops first-place IU East in KIAC MBB Game of the Week
STATS / HIGHLIGHTS
(Story by Point Park sports information)
WEST MIFFLIN, Pa. -- Fousseini Konate had a career-best game of 21 points and 11 rebounds and preserved a 70-68 victory over first-place IU East with a big blocked shot in the final seconds of the KIAC Men's Basketball Game of the Week Saturday at CCAC-South Gym.
Moments before Konate's big block, which came on IU East's Vasha Davis in the lane to protect the two-point lead, Point Park's Jerah'me Williams had hit the eventual game-winning basket with 17 seconds left for two of his 12 points.
Point Park (11-9, 4-6 KIAC) picked up its biggest win of the year over the Red Wolves (13-9, 7-1 KIAC), who had been undefeated in conference games and 8-0 all-time versus the Pioneers since the series started in 2012-13.
Although Point Park had never beaten IU East until Saturday, many of the games were close battles with six of the now nine meetings being decided by five points or less. It was only a matter of time before a close game went the way of the Pioneers in the matchup.
It looked like another win for IU East in the early going when the Red Wolves came out with scorching shooting, making six of their first eight 3-point field goals for a 26-12 lead at the 11:35 mark of the first half.
But the hot shooting did not last. The Red Wolves made only 4 of 15 treys the rest of the way and shot only 38 percent the second half to leave the door open for a Point Park comeback.
The Pioneers took advantage and had a 23-9 run to draw even at 35-35 late in the first half. It was a 3-pointer from Kelvin Goodwin that evened the score. He carried the Pioneers in the first half with 12 of his 14 points coming the first 20 minutes. He also grabbed 10 rebounds.
In the second half, it was Konate and Williams who carried the Pioneers. The pair comebined for 26 of the Pioneers' 35 second-half points. Konate put up 14 the second half, and Williams had all 12 of his after halftime.
IU East did come out strong with a 51-42 lead early in the second half. But it couldn't put away the Pioneers. Sa'iid Allen finished with 11 points and three treys, one of which put the Pioneers in front, 60-57, with 6:28 to go.
A big 3-pointer by IU East's Parker Salinas built a 66-61 lead with 3:51 left. The Pioneers later drew even at 68-68 on Williams' big trey with 57 seconds remaining.
Point Park came up with a defensive stop on the ensuing Red Wolves possession. Williams then hit the eventual game-winner on a runner coming down the left sideline.
Looking for the tying basket, IU East set up Davis in the lane, but Konate was there with the rejection. The ball released out toward midcourt, where Allen ran it down then dribbled out the clock.
Lucas Huffman led IU East with 22 points, and Parker Salinas added 15 as the double-figure scorers for the Red Wolves.
Point Park's next game is Tuesday at Ohio Christian at 8 p.m. IU East returns to action Tuesday at home versus Cincinnati Christian.