Beating the Odds

IUP overcomes obstacles to beat Virginia Union for berth in regional championship game

ERIE — The odds kept stacking up against the IUP Crimson Hawks.

Three starters fouled out, possibly a first in coach Joe Lombardi’s 20 seasons at IUP.

The Hawks went nine minutes without a field goal and shot 30 percent from the field after the first half.

A goaltending call took away the go-ahead bucket with 40 seconds to go, and it was the last in a handful of calls or non-calls that left the Hawks feeling victimized.