No. 21 IUP Crimson Hawks (9-2, 5-2)
vs Shippensburg Raiders (2-9, 0-7) & Millersville Marauders (9-4, 5-2)
Friday & Saturday, January 11 & 12, 2013 | 7:30 PM
Kovalchick Complex | Indiana, PA
Complete Game Notes (.PDF)
LIVE COVERAGE
Watch (Ship):
NMTVSports.com (IUP-TV)
Watch (Mill):
NMTVSports.com (IUP-TV)
Listen:
RedZoneMedia.com (WQMU 92.5 FM)
Stats:
IUPathletics.com
AT A GLANCE
The Crimson Hawks return home after a split on the road last weekend to host a pair of tough PSAC East opponents in Shippensburg and Millersville. IUP boasts a West-leading conference record of 5-2, while the Marauders sit in second in the East at 5-2 as well. The Raiders have struggled early in the season, but a big conference win on the road could spark a turnaround.
LAST TIME OUT
Jr. F
Marcel Souberbielle (Montevideo, Uruguay/Uruguayan American School) scored a career-high 23 points to lead the Crimson Hawks to a 70-62 win at Kutztown Saturday night. Sr. G
Scooter Renkin (Midlothian, VA/Blue Ridge) chipped in 13 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists, while So. G
Devante Chance (Philadelphia, Pa. /Electrical & Technology Charter) added 9 points. IUP took excellent care of the ball all evening, committing a season-low 6 turnovers.
MEN IN THE MIDDLE
The Crimson Hawks have called on a trio of big men to contribute this season, as Jr. C
Blake Vedder (Chesterland, OH/West Geauga), Sr. C
Dan Ayebo (Indiana/Indiana) and Sr. C
Josh Wiegand (Whiteford, MD/John Carroll) have all impressed in the post. Wiegand returned to the starting lineup Saturday and scored 4 points, while Vedder averages 6.5 points and 3.5 rebounds per game off the bench. Ayebo did an excellent job as a spot starter, averaging 6 points per game in 6 games.
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 58.2 points per game and are 3rd in the PSAC in defensive rebounding, pulling down defensive boards per contest.
SOUB'S BEEN SUPER
Souberbielle notched his best performance in a Crimson Hawks uniform Saturday, going 8-of-12 from the floor and 4-of-5 from behind the arc for his 23 points. The junior also added 6 rebounds in 36 minutes of action. Souberbielle is third on the team in scoring this season, tallying 10.8 points per game and over 11 in his last four.
NATIONAL POLLS
Going 3-1 since the last poll was released, the Crimson Hawks have fallen five spots to No. 21 in the latest NABC Division II Coaches' Poll. IUP remains the only PSAC team featured in the rankings this week, while Atlantic Region rival West Liberty garners the top spot.
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.
