Nationally ranked Indiana University of Pennsylvania led from the opening tip and cruised to a 101-82 win over Lincoln University in the opening round of the S & T Bank Atlantic Region Challenge, Friday night at IUP's Memorial Fieldhouse.
 
The game was the season opener for both men's program's and marked the coaching debut for Lincoln's Doug Overton. 
 
Khayyir Laws (Chester, Pa./Delaware County Community College) turned in a stellar performance off the bench for the Lions, connecting on 70% (7-10) of his shots for 17 points in 17 minutes of action.  Laws led four Lion players in double figures.  Jordan Watson (Philadelphia, Pa./Springside Chestnut Hill Academy) had 16 points (6-12 FG), also off the bench.  Josh Davis chipped in 13 bench points (7-7 FT) and Vernon Young (Chicago, Ill./University of St. Mary) had13 and a team high seven rebounds.  Young was the only starter to reach double figures. 
 
The Crimson Hawks turned in a balanced effort with six players reaching double figures, led by Blake Danielak's 18 points.  Devon Cottrell registered a double-double with 14 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.  IUP also had plenty of support from Dante Lombardi (16 points); Anthony Glover (14), Malik Miller (14) and Jacobo Diaz (10). Glover dished out a game-high seven assists.
 
IUP opened the game with an 18-4 run in the first six minutes of action.  Fouls plagued the Lions as two of their starters Antonio Depina and Carlton Allen (Trenton, N.J./Manhattan College) picked up two in the first four minutes and IUP was already in the bonus with 16:10 left in the period.  A 12-5 spurt by the Lions, capped by a Malachi Seney (Philadelphia, Pa./Harford Community College) three-pointer cut the lead in half at 23-16 with 8:00 minutes left.  Carl Lane (Easthampton, N.J/Southeastern Community College) connected on a 'three' with 2:16 left to make the score 39-30 before IUP went on a 9-2 spurt over the final two minutes to take a 48-32 lead at the half.
 
The Crimson Hawks scored the first six points of the second half, extending their run to 15-2 and their lead to 54-32 with 16:09 remaining.  Lincoln would close the gap to 14 points 66-52 at the 11:25 mark but this would be as close as the Lions would get as the Crimson Hawk offense maintained their double-digit lead the rest of the way cruised to the 19-point win 101-82.
 
IUP was more efficient in their shooting, connecting on 46.9% (30-64) of their shots to Lincoln's 40% (28-70).  The Crimson Hawks also held an 11-6 advantage in three point field goals.  Both teams shot well from the free throw line with IUP making 30 of 37 (81.1%) and Lincoln 83.3% (20-24).  IUP held the advantage of the glass and turned in a nifty 18/16 assist turnover mark (LU 6/16).