No. 8 IUP Crimson Hawks (15-2, 11-2) at Lock Haven Bald Eagles (5-11, 3-10)
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 | 8:00 PM
Thomas Fieldhouse | Lock Haven, PA

Complete Game Notes (.PDF)

LIVE COVERAGE
Listen: RedZoneMedia.com (WQMU 92.5 FM)
Watch: LHUP.edu
Stats: GoLHU.com

AT A GLANCE
IUP hits the road in search of its eighth consecutive victory Wednesday night against a Lock Haven team that has improved dramatically on the offensive end. The Bald Eagles young core will look for a signature win over the Crimson Hawks, who are now in sole possession of first place in the PSAC West.

LAST TIME OUT
For the fourth time in five games the Crimson Hawks coughed up a double-digit second half lead, but a late bucket and a pair of free throws from Sr. G Scooter Renkin (Midlothian, VA/Blue Ridge) secured a 57-54 win over Mercyhurst Saturday night. Renkin finished with 15 points, while Sr. G Anthony Wells (Cleveland, OH/Shaker Heights) chipped in 12 points and three steals.

HOME SWEET HOME
IUP has been dominant inside the friendly confines of the Kovalchick Complex, posting a record of 23-1 since the building opened in 2011. The Crimson Hawks are 10-0 at the KCAC this season, with their only loss coming in December of 2011 against West Virginia Wesleyan.

LOCK DOWN DEFENSE
IUP is up to its usual tricks on the defensive end this season, ranking 2nd in the conference in scoring defense. The Crimson Hawks allow just 58.3 points per game and are 3rd in the PSAC in forced turnovers, tallying 16.7 takeaways per contest. IUP will be tested against a high powered Lock Haven offense that averages 76.2 points per game and shoots 46.7% from the floor as a team this season.

BACKCOURT MATES
Wells and Renkin have shouldered the scoring load for the Crimson Hawks in recent weeks, averaging  14.8 and 10.5 points per game over their last six, respectively. Both players average 2.9 assists per contest this season and have been tenacious on the defensive end, tallying over 20 steals apiece.

NATIONAL POLLS
The Crimson Hawks jumped another spot in the latest NABC Division II Poll this week, moving  up to 8th after winning their seventh straight game Saturday. The ranking is IUP's highest ranking since March 6, 2012, when the Crimson Hawks were ranked 10th. IUP and rival East Stroudsburg are the only PSAC teams to be featured in the polls, while undefeated Metro State claims the top spot in the rankings for the second consecutive week.

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. Lombardi has a career record of 138-61 at IUP.