ERIE, Pa. – Fairmont State men’s basketball season came to an end on Saturday inside the Highmark Events Center. The Falcons fell to IUP, 89-83, in the first matchup of the day at the NCAA Atlantic Regional.
 
Fairmont State, which was the MEC Regular season and Tournament runner-up, finished the season at 26-6.
 
In the first half the Falcons and Crimson Hawks would battle back and forth with neither team having a larger lead than six points. However, Fairmont State’s Tyheil Peterson would drill a three-pointer at the end of the half as we headed into the break knotted up at 37 all.
 
In the second, Fairmont State would go on a 15-9 run to take a six-point lead at 52-46 with under 13:30 to play.
 
But IUP would respond with a run of their own, 16-11, tieing the game up at 63 at the 7:42 minute mark.
 
Again, the Falcons and Crimson Hawks would trade blows and find themselves tied up again this time at 79 all with under 2:00 minutes to play.
 
However, IUP would end the game on a 10-4 run as Fairmont State fell by six, 89-83.
 
Drey Carter led the Falcons with a team-high 24 points and six rebounds. Miguel Martinez scored 16 points, had three rebounds, and two assists. David Jolinder chipped in with 11 points and three rebounds.
 
Fairmont State shot 43 percent from the field and 34 percent from deep while IUP shot 48 percent from the floor and 32 percent from behind the arc. IUP forced Fairmont State into 15 turnovers and scored 24 points off them. IUP also scored 20 second chance points to Fairmont State’s 10.
 
The Falcons also got outscored in the paint by 10, 38-28.
 
Dallis Dillard scored a game-high 29 points to go along with five rebounds, and six steals. Christian Moore chipped in with 16 points.