Complete Game Notes (PDF) / PSAC Weekly Release

No. 13 IUP (16-3, 13-2) vs. Clarion (14-7, 10-5)
Saturday, February 4, 2012 / 7:30 p.m.
Kovalchick Complex / Indiana, PA

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AT A GLANCE
The IUP men's basketball team returns home this Saturday as they begin the second half of their Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West schedule against Clarion. The Crimson Hawks are riding a three-game win streak and have won nine of their last 10 games. The Golden Eagles are coming off of an 88-75 win over Slippery Rock this week and find themselves right in the thick of the playoff race in the Western Division.

LAST TIME OUT
IUP's defense was on full display Wednesday night as the Crimson Hawks went on the road and defeated PSAC West foe Gannon by a score of 59-48.

The Golden Knights would keep the game close early in the game, but IUP's senior leaders would take over in the second half. Sr. G Ashton Smith (Scarborough, ON/West Hill Collegiate) nailed back-to-back jumpers to tie the game, and Sr. G Julian Sanders (Medford, NJ/Shawnee) drained a three to give the Crimson Hawks a 37-34 lead with 10:56 to play in the game.

IUP would not look back from there, extending its lead to seven over the next five minutes thanks to four more points from Smith and a layup by Jr. C Danny Ayebo. The IUP defense was magnificent again Wednesday, limiting Gannon to just 38.3% shooting from the field and a season-low 48 points.

Smith led the way for the Crimson Hawks with 17 points, four rebounds and two assists. So. F Marcel Souberbielle (Montevideo, Uruguay/Uruguayan American School) chipped in 14 points and three boards, while Ayebo added 11 points and five rebounds.

NATIONAL POLLS
The Crimson Hawks have jumped three spots to 13th in the latest National Association of Basketball Coaches/Division II Men's Basketball Poll. IUP made the jump from 16th after sweeping a pair of conference games last week.

THE ALL-TIME LEADER
At 304 for his career, Sr. G Julian Sanders (Medford, NJ/Shawnee) is the only player in IUP history to have eclipsed 300 three-pointers made in a career. He passed Jason Bullock (92-96) for first place on the all-time three-pointers made list earlier this season, and  is averaging over 3 long-balls per game this year.

THE IUP ASSISTS CHART
Sr. G Ashton Smith (Scarborough, ON/West Hill Collegiate) is in 3rd place on the IUP all-time assists chart with 419 for his career. Smith is just 6 dimes away from passing Eddie Peterson (02-06) for 2nd place on the list, while Mont Mattocks' (66-70) career mark of 450 is the most in program history.

CLIMBING THE CHARTS
Both Smith and Sanders are also making their way up the IUP all-time scoring list. Sanders is in 7th place on the chart with 1,475 career points, while Smith is right behind in 8th place on the list with 1,466 points. Joe DeLise (50-51, 55-58) is in 6th place with 1510 points for his career, while Darryl Webb (Elkridge, Md./Long Reach) (07-11) is IUP's all-time leading scorer with 1949 career points.

OFF THE BENCH
IUP boasts a trio of players in Fr. G Devante Chance (Philadelphia, Pa. /Electrical & Technology Charter), Jr. C Danny Ayebo and So. F Kevin Jones (Washington, DC/Bishop O'Connell) who have helped the Crimson Hawks bench to outscore opponents 321-248 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.

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 two weeks ago.

WINNING WITH DEFENSE
The IUP defense has stifled opponents this year, allowing just 60.1 ppg, which best in the PSAC. The Crimson Hawks have been oustanding at forcing opposing teams into bad shots, holding opponents to just 40.2% shooting from the field.

TOP FROSH
The smallest player on the IUP roster, Chance has made a big impact on the Crimson Hawks this season. He is 4th on the team in scoring (5.9 ppg) and is also 3rd in assists (2.6 apg). Chance also leads the team in steals, averaging 1.6 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 (3.4 apg) and is 2nd in rebounding, pulling down 4.3 boards per game. Wells also chips in 5.5 ppg and is 3rd on the team with 20 steals this
season.

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 6.5 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.

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. Wiegand is 5th on the team in scoring (5.5 ppg) and has been excellent at protecting the rim on the defensive end of the floor, recording a team-high 14 blocks.

FROM DOWNTOWN
The Crimson Hawks are a terrific three-point shooting team this season, making 36.8% of their attempts. Individually, Smith is 3rd in the PSAC in 3PT% (43.7), while Sanders is right behind in fourth (43.6). IUP makes just under six three's per game as a team.