From my observations at the game, the poor foul shooting was the reason IUP lost. I was expecting Gannon to dominate the game. They didn't. IUP loss was a disappointment but the fact that they held their own was impressive.
Being the eternal pessimist when it comes to IUP basketball, I thought they might lose by 30, given some recent performances. IUP played well offensively in the second half but played no defense. The free throw shooting was terrible and two sequences added up to a potential 10-point swing. If they shoot 75 percent, 16-for-21 with seven more makes, it's a different game. Even if they go 1-for-2 in each instance, that's four more points in a game where you can't leave points on the court. If they make just three or four more of the wide-open shots they got in the first half (and all season) and shoot 45 percent instead of 34, it's a different game. I don't know if you remember, but with the game tied late in the first half, Herring fouled a 3-point shooter in the right corner. Gannon made all three free throws, made trips to the line on the next two possessions and went 6-for-7 for a 6-0 run and a six-point lead that stood at halftime. That just stole their momentum. Both teams probably should have shot more free throws. I don't think the game was well-officiated, and I'm not a fan of double fouls, which cost IUP a possession. I think the pressing team always gets an advantage when it comes to fouls. Maybe the refs just can't keep an eye on all the scrambling. I was not impressed by Gannon. The big kid was kind of soft and the second five didn't do anything and didn't play their usual minutes because they were ineffective. Shelton (4) is really good. Sakasi (2), the freshman, probably played the best he'll play all year, but a lot of guys do against IUP's defense. But Gannon will be hard to beat up there and IUP might need to go to Erie twice.
From my observations at the game, the poor foul shooting was the reason IUP lost. I was expecting Gannon to dominate the game. They didn't. IUP loss was a disappointment but the fact that they held their own was impressive.
Being the eternal pessimist when it comes to IUP basketball, I thought they might lose by 30, given some recent performances. IUP played well offensively in the second half but played no defense. The free throw shooting was terrible and two sequences added up to a potential 10-point swing. If they shoot 75 percent, 16-for-21 with seven more makes, it's a different game. Even if they go 1-for-2 in each instance, that's four more points in a game where you can't leave points on the court. If they make just three or four more of the wide-open shots they got in the first half (and all season) and shoot 45 percent instead of 34, it's a different game. I don't know if you remember, but with the game tied late in the first half, Herring fouled a 3-point shooter in the right corner. Gannon made all three free throws, made trips to the line on the next two possessions and went 6-for-7 for a 6-0 run and a six-point lead that stood at halftime. That just stole their momentum. Both teams probably should have shot more free throws. I don't think the game was well-officiated, and I'm not a fan of double fouls, which cost IUP a possession. I think the pressing team always gets an advantage when it comes to fouls. Maybe the refs just can't keep an eye on all the scrambling. I was not impressed by Gannon. The big kid was kind of soft and the second five didn't do anything and didn't play their usual minutes because they were ineffective. Shelton (4) is really good. Sakasi (2), the freshman, probably played the best he'll play all year, but a lot of guys do against IUP's defense. But Gannon will be hard to beat up there and IUP might need to go to Erie twice.