INDIANA, Pa. – The Thiel College men's basketball team dropped its season opener to Indiana University of Pennsylvania, 73-43, at Memorial Field House on Saturday night.

The Tomcats managed to keep the contest close early on, but a 17-0 run by the Division II Crimson Hawks in the first half put the game out of reach.

Thiel was ice-cold from the floor in the first half shooting just 29 percent, but warmed up in the second half to shoot 42 percent. In the end, IUP's 31 points of off 25 Thiel turnovers proved too much to overcome.

Junior #Nick Sefscik (Allison Park/Shaler)# (Allison Park, Pa./Shaler ) and sophomore #Tommy Hall (Youngstown, Ohio/Campbell)# (Youngstown, Ohio/Campbell) led Thiel offensively with 10 points apiece. Sefscik pulled down a team-high six rebounds for the Tomcats.

IUP's Thomas Young led all scorers with 22 points.

Thiel returns to action on Nov. 21 when they participate in the La Roche Crons Classic.