JOLIET, Ill. -- A career day for senior forward Aitor Anabitarte lifted the University of St. Francis men's basketball team to a tight 74-73 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference victory over Indiana University Northwest on Saturday at the Pat Sullivan Center.  Not only did Anabitarte score a career-high 37 points, but he also knocked down a pair of clutch free throws with eight seconds remaining to give the Fighting Saints the decisive one-point final advantage.  The win, the 10th in a row for St. Francis, improves its record to 17-2 overall and 11-1 in the league standings.

Anabitarte was a force for the Saints, netting exactly half of USF's total points with a 9-of-16 showing from the floor, including one three-pointer, and a record-setting 18-for-18 worksheet from the free-throw line.  His 18 total free throws tied a program record with Dave Shea, who netted the same amount versus Adrian College (Mich.) in 1983, while his perfect 18-for-18 performance surpassed Ilya Ilyayev's 14-for-14 showing against Roosevelt University in 2015.  The team leader in rebounding on the season, Anabitarte also contributed on the glass with five boards.

Don Joachim finished scoring in double figures, as well, for the Saints, tying a career-high in the process.  The senior netted 13 points and made five of his six shot attempts, while also coming up with a big blocked shot late in the second half.

Leading the way Saturday in the rebounding department was Merrick Small, who grabbed a team-high six rebounds and provided seven points. 

After falling behind 22-6 at the start, the Saints countered with an 18-11 run to cut the deficit to single digits (33-24) with 2:13 remaining in the half.  Indiana Northwest, however, was able to restore the double-figure lead (39-26) at the intermission.

IUN's first-half advantage was aided by a 50 percent shooting effort from both the floor (14-of-28) and the three-point arc (7-for-14).  St. Francis finished the first half with just one three-point basket in 10 attempts and a doleful 9-of-29 success rate from the field (31 pct.).

Down by as many as 14 points after the first four minutes of the second half, head coach Ryan Marks' squad began to march its way back into the game.  Outscoring the RedHawks 48-34 in the second half, USF would go on a 16-2 run – started by an Anabitarte dunk and capped by a Joachim jumper – to tie the score at 51-51 with 12:20 remaining.  The game would stay within five points over the next nine minutes before the Saints surged forward in taking their first lead of the afternoon (68-66) on a long-range three-pointer from Anabitarte at the 3:22 mark.

The game would showcase six lead changes and four tied scores over the remaining three minutes with IUN's Trace Williams connecting for a successful layup to give the RedHawks a 73-72 lead with 17 seconds on the clock.  Choosing to drive the lane on its next possession, Anabitarte was able to draw a foul from the guests on his way to the basket, setting up the opportunity for USF to take the 74-73 lead.  With eight seconds to go, Indiana Northwest (15-5, 9-3) opted for the same strategy in driving towards the basket, but the Saints' defense remained disciplined, resulting in a missed final attempt from the RedHawks.

The Saints finished the game shooting under 40 percent (38.6 pct., 22-of-57) for just the third time this season.  However, they produced their best showing from the charity stripe this year with a 92.9 percent conversion rate (26-of-28).  USF also held a slight advantage on the boards, out-rebounding IUN 34-32, with 10 offensive boards compared to the RedHawks' six.  IUN's 11 turnovers turned into eight vital points for the Saints, with St. Francis committing a season-low five turnovers on the day.

Dannie Smith scored a team-high 19 points for the RedHawks.  Williams added 14 points, while Anthony Taylor and Caleb Jenkins each contributed 12 markers.

Up Next
The Saints will take the court again on Wednesday (Jan. 29) when they host Indiana University South Bend in a 7 pm CCAC contest at the Pat Sullivan Center.

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