Complete Game Notes (PDF) / PSAC Weekly Release

No. 13 IUP (17-4, 14-3) vs. Mercyhurst (15-6, 13-4)
Saturday, February 11, 2012 / 7:30 p.m.
Kovalchick Complex / Indiana, PA

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AT A GLANCE
The top two teams in the PSAC West square off at the Kovalchick Center when the Crimson Hawks take on a deep Mercyhurst squad. IUP saw its four game win streak come to an end at the hands of Cal Wednesday, and is looking to maintain its spot at the top of the West standings, while the Lakers hope to pull even with the Crimson Hawks and earn their first season sweep of IUP since joining the PSAC.

LAST TIME OUT
Sr. G Julian Sanders (Medford, NJ/Shawnee) nailed five three-pointers en route to a game-high 23 points but the Crimson Hawks shot just 28% from the floor, falling to rival Cal by a score of 65-54 at the Convocation Center Wednesday night.

Cal would take its first lead since the game's opening minutes early in the the second and not look back, scoring 42 second half points. Sanders would keep the fight alive for IUP with a late three to cut the deficit to just seven, but back-to-back Vulcans dunks would end the threat and seal the win for Cal.

Jr. G Anthony Wells (Cleveland, OH/Shaker Heights) tallied seven points, six rebounds and six assists for IUP, while Sr. G Ashton Smith (Scarborough, ON/West Hill Collegiate) added 10 points, but struggled from the floor, shooting just 3-of-19 in the game.

NATIONAL POLLS
The Crimson Hawks remain in the 13th spot in the latest National Association of Basketball Coaches/Division II Men's Basketball Poll. IUP swept a pair of PSAC West games last week to maintain their spot in the rankings, while Bellarmine (KY) holds the top spot in the polls.

THE HEAD COACH
Joe Lombardi (Youngstown State, '81) is in his sixth season as the head coach of the IUP men's basketball program and is coming off yet another successful season in leading the Crimson Hawks to their second straight PSAC title and to the NCAA Atlantic Regional Championship game last year.

Lombardi has compiled a record of 117-57 during his tenure with the Crimson Hawks and has the fourth-highest winning percentage in IUP history. Prior to his time with the Crimson Hawks, Lombardi served as an assistant coach at Saint Francis (PA), Lasalle, and the University of Pittsburgh.

THE ALL-TIME LEADER
At 311 for his career, Sr. G Julian Sanders (Medford, NJ/Shawnee) holds the record for career three-pointers made in IUP history. He passed Jason Bullock (92-96) for first place on the all-time list earlier this season, and  is averaging over three long-balls per game this year.

THE IUP ASSISTS CHART
Sr. G Ashton Smith (Scarborough, ON/West Hill Collegiate) is now in sole possession of second place on the IUP all-time assists chart after passing Eddie Peterson (02-06) on Wednesday. Smith dished assist No. 426 at Cal to pass Peterson, and now sets his sights on Mont Mattocks' (66-70) IUP record of 450.

CLIMBING THE CHARTS
Both Smith and Sanders are also making their way up the IUP all-time scoring list. Sanders is now in 6th place on the chart with 1,516 career points after passing Joe DeLise (50-51, 55-58) on Wednesday. Smith in 8th place on the list with 1,490 points, just 20 shy of DeLise. Derrick Freeman (1993-96) is in 5th place with 1535 points for his career, while Darryl Webb (Elkridge, Md./Long Reach) (07-11) is IUP's all-time leading scorer with 1949 career points.

HOME AWAY FROM HOME
The Crimson Hawks have been excellent on the road this season, compiling a 7-1 record away from Indiana. IUP was 5-0 on the road before falling to Mercyhurst in Erie three weeks ago. Wednesday will be IUP's first chance to play in the brand new Convocation Center on the Cal campus.

WINNING WITH DEFENSE
The IUP defense has stifled opponents this year, allowing just 60.7 ppg, which is tops in the PSAC. The Crimson Hawks have been oustanding at forcing opposing teams into bad shots, holding opponents to just 40.8% shooting from the field.

FROM DOWNTOWN
The Crimson Hawks are a terrific three-point shooting team this season, making 35.3% of their attempts. Individually, Sanders (42.5%) and Smith (40.0%) both rank in the top 10 in the conference in 3PT%.

JUST MARCEL
So. F Marcel Souberbielle (Montevideo, Uruguay/Uruguayan American School) has flourished in his first year as a starter for the Crimson Hawks, averaging 6.2 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. Souberbielle had the go-ahead putback with :04.2 left in a 66-65 win over East Stroudsburg, a netted a career-high 14 points against Gannon.

TOP FROSH
The smallest player on the IUP roster, Fr. G Devante Chance (Philadelphia, Pa. /Electrical & Technology Charter) has made a big impact on the Crimson Hawks this season. He is tied for 5th on the team in scoring (5.5 ppg) and is 3rd in assists (2.6 apg). Chance also leads the team in steals, averaging 1.5 per game this year.

STAT STUFFER
Jr. G Anthony Wells (Cleveland, OH/Shaker Heights) has done it all for the Crimson Hawks this season, filling up his individual stat line each night. He leads the team in assists (3.5 apg) and is 2nd in rebounding, pulling down 4.3 boards per game. Wells also chips in 5.8 ppg and is 3rd on the team with 24 steals this season.

THE BIG MAN
Jr. C Josh Wiegand (Whiteford, MD/John Carroll) has been a force on the glass for IUP this season, ripping down a team-high 4.8 rebounds per game. He is tied for 5th on the team in scoring at 5.5 points per game and has recorded a team-high 15 blocks.

OFF THE BENCH
IUP boasts a trio of players in Chance, Jr. C Danny Ayebo and So. F Kevin Jones (Washington, DC/Bishop O'Connell) who have helped the Crimson Hawks bench to outscore opponents 339-280 this season, including a 27-point output by the bench against Lock Haven. Ayebo was the hero of the Crimson Hawks' win over Slippery Rock with his go-ahead tip-in in the game's closing seconds.

REGIONAL RANKINGS PREVIEW
The NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Rankings will be released on February 15, 2012. The nation's 2nd-ranked team, West Liberty (WV), is expected to hold the top spot, while the Crimson Hawks, Shaw (NC) and Bowie State all figure to garner recognition in the poll.