No. 16 IUP Crimson Hawks (8-1, 4-1)
at East Stroudsburg Warriors (7-2, 4-1) & Kutztown Golden Bears (3-8, 2-3)
Friday & Saturday, January 4 & 5 2013 | 7:30 PM
East Stroudsburg, PA | Kutztown, PA
Complete Game Notes (.PDF)
LIVE COVERAGE
Listen:
RedZoneMedia.com (WQMU 92.5 FM)
ESU Stats:
ESUWarriors.com
Kutztown Stats:
KUBears.com
AT A GLANCE
The Crimson Hawks kick off the new year with a pair of tough PSAC crossover games against Kutztown and defending champion East Stroudsburg this weekend. IUP's resolution will be to stay firmly atop the Western Division, while the Golden Bears look to gain ground on the Warriors in the East.
LAST TIME OUT
Four players scored in double-figures as the Crimson Hawks coasted to an easy 79-50 win over Mansfield before the holiday break. Sr. G
Scooter Renkin (Midlothian, VA/Blue Ridge) tallied 15 points, while Sr. G
Anthony Wells (Cleveland, OH/Shaker Heights) and Jr. C
Blake Vedder (Chesterland, OH/West Geauga) chipped in 10 points apiece.
MEN IN THE MIDDLE
The Crimson Hawks have called on a trio of big men to contribute this season, as Vedder, Sr. C
Dan Ayebo (Indiana/Indiana) and Sr. C
Josh Wiegand (Whiteford, MD/John Carroll) have all impressed in the post. Ayebo has averaged nearly 7 ppg since assuming a starting role over the last five games, while Vedder has added 7.3 ppg off the bench.
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 57.4 points per game and lead the PSAC in field goal percentage defense, forcing opponents to shoot just 37.9% from the floor.
GRAND JOUEUR
Jr. G
Mathis Keita (Thionville, France/Insep) has been one of the best players in the PSAC this season, ranking in the top 15 in scoring (15.4 ppg), field goal percentage and assists. Keita's 4.6 helpers per game are good for 3rd in the conference, and his 53.2% shooting from the floor is a big reason the Crimson Hawks are 3rd the PSAC in field goal percentage as a team (47.2%).
NATIONAL POLLS
The Crimson Hawks have climbed two more spots and are ranked 16th in the latest NABC Division II Coaches' Poll. IUP has strung together four straight wins after dropping their first game of the season in early December. The Crimson Hawks are the only PSAC team featured in the rankings this week, while Atlantic Region rival West Liberty garners the top spot in the polls.
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.
