No. 22 IUP Crimson Hawks (5-1, 1-1) at Gannon Golden Knights (5-1, 1-1)
Saturday December 8, 2012 | 3:00 PM
Erie, PA | Hammermill Center

Complete Game Notes (.PDF)

LIVE COVERAGE
Listen: RedZoneMedia.com (WQMU 92.5 FM)
Watch: America One Video
Stats: GannonSports.com

AT A GLANCE
The Crimson Hawks wrap up their first road trip of the young season Saturday in Erie against a tough Gannon squad that is also 5-1 this year. IUP split its PSAC crossover double-dip last weekend, falling to Cheyney before bouncing back with an impressive win at West Chester. The Golden Knights won five straight to start the season but are coming off a loss to East Stroudsburg over the weekend.

LAST TIME OUT
Jr. G Mathis Keita (Thionville, France/Insep) scored a season-high 22 points and hauled in 8 rebounds as the Crimson Hawks cruised to a 71-52 win over West Chester Sunday. Jr. F Marcel Souberbielle (Montevideo, Uruguay/Uruguayan American School) chipped in 11 points and 2 rebounds, while Sr. G Scooter Renkin (Midlothian, VA/Blue Ridge) tallied 10 points and 3 dimes. As a team, IUP limited the Golden Rams to just 35.0% shooting from the field.

SPOT STARTER
A valuable contributor off the bench for the Crimson Hawks, Sr. C Dan Ayebo (Indiana/Indiana) made the  most of a pair of starts this weekend, averaging 8 ppg and 4.5 rpg. Ayebo netted eight points and grabbed six boards in the win over West Chester, and scored 8 in a season-high 31 minutes against Cheyney.

LOCK DOWN DEFENSE
IUP is up to its usual tricks on the defensive tricks this season, ranking 2nd in the conference in scoring defense. The Crimson Hawks allow just 60.0 points per game and are 2nd in the PSAC in field goal percentage defense, forcing opponents to shoot just 37.5% from the floor.

GRAND JOUEUR
Keita has continued his hot start to the season with a pair of strong performances a week ago. The transfer deposited 16 points and grabbed 5 rebounds against Cheyney before tallying a season-high 22 points and eight boards against West Chester. Keita is 10th in the PSAC in scoring this season at 16.8 ppg and fifth in assists with 4.3 apg.

NATIONAL POLLS
The Crimson Hawks have dropped seven spots and are ranked 22nd in the latest NABC Division II Coaches' Poll. IUP slipped dramatically in the polls following its first loss of the season to Cheyney on Saturday. The Crimson Hawks the only PSAC team to be featured in the rankings this week, while Atlantic Region foe West Liberty claims the top spot in the country and garners 12 first place votes.

THE HEAD COACH
Joe Lombardi (Youngstown State, '81) enters his seventh season as the head coach of the IUP men's basketball program after leading the Crimson Hawks to a third consecutive PSAC regular season title and an appearance in the NCAA tournament for a fourth straight season in 2011-12. Prior to his time with the Crimson Hawks, Lombardi served as an assistant coach at Saint Francis (PA), Lasalle, and the University of Pittsburgh.