Edinboro, Pa. – The Edinboro men's basketball team fell 73-63 to visiting IUP on Saturday in PSAC West action inside McComb Fieldhouse.
 
IUP came out of the gate fast taking a 6-3 lead on a Kymani Merraro jumper at the 18:14 mark. Bryce Baez cut the lead to 6-5 with a layup with 17:52 on the clock. IUP went on a 16-4 run a 22-9 lead at the 11:02 mark of the first half after a Dallis Dillard layup.
 
The Crimson Hawks held a 27-15 lead at the 6:04 mark after another Dillard bucket before the Scots answered with a 10-2 run capped by a Mekhi Reynolds 3-pointer and keyed by five points Ibrahim Abdulmateen-Robinson to trim the lead to 29-25 with 2:15 left in the opening half. Merrro and Evan Berger each hit 3-pointers to send the teams to the break with the Crimson Hawks holding a 32-28 advantage.
 
It was the Scots that came out fast in the second half going on a 6-2 spurt knotting the score 34-34 on a Rowan Carmichael layup with 17:25 on the clock. Dillard scored the next four points for IUP to retake the lead 38-34 at the 16:24 mark. Baez connected on a triple as did Amaan Sandhu to put the Edinboro up 40-38 with 15:01 left.
 
IUP scored the next six points to take a 45-40 lead with 13:13 remaining. The Scots closed the gap to 51-50 with a 10-6 spurt capped by a Reynold trey at the 9:32 mark. The Crimson Hawks went on a 10-2 run of their own to extend the lead to 61-52 with 3:07 to play. The Scots closed the gap to six, 67-61 after a Reynolds jumper, but IUP was able to close the game out going 6-for-6 at the free throw line to secure the win.
 
Baez led the Scots with a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds. Reynolds chipped in in 14 points and seven assists. Carmichael finished with 10 points and three steals.
 
Dillard led the Crimson Hawks with 30 points and 12 boards. Christian Moore finished with 16 points and Merraro added 14.  
 
The Scots return to action on Wednesday when they travel to Gannon. Tip off is slated for 7:30 p.m.