2012-13 NCAA DIVISION II ATLANTIC REGION TOURNAMENT - FIRST ROUND
No. 3 IUP Crimson Hawks (24-5) vs. No. 6 East Stroudsburg Warriors (22-6)
Saturday, March 16, 2013 | 12:00 PM
Academic, Sports & Recreation Complex | West Liberty, WV

TOURNAMENT LINKS
Complete Game Notes (.PDF)
Tournament Central
Interactive Bracket

LIVE COVERAGE
Watch: UStream.tv (IUP-TV / WLU-TV)
Listen: RedZoneMedia.com (WQMU 92.5 FM)
Stats: Hilltoppersports.com

AT A GLANCE
The newly crowned PSAC Champion Crimson Hawks are flying high into West Liberty this weekend for the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Tournament. Seeded third, IUP will take on an East Stroudsburg squad that will look to bounce back after being knocked out in the semifinals of the PSAC Tournament Friday.

LAST TIME OUT
The Crimson Hawks claimed their third PSAC title in four years and ninth in program history Saturday evening with a 52-46 win over rival Slippery Rock at the Kovalchick Complex. Sr. C Josh Wiegand (Whiteford, MD/John Carroll) tallied a game-high 16 points and grabbed six rebounds, while Sr. G Anthony Wells (Cleveland, OH/Shaker Heights) finished with 10 points and five boards. IUP last won the conference tournament in 2011, once again defeating the Rock.

AGAINST THE WARRIORS
The top two teams in their respective divisions all season long, the Crimson Hawks and East Stroudsburg will square off in the Atlantic Region Quarterfinals for the first time Saturday. The teams met in the regular season earlier this year, with the Warriors earning a 57-55 win at home. IUP leads the all-time series with East Stroudsburg 13-5.

TOURNAMENT MVP
Jr. G Mathis Keita (Thionville, France/Insep) was named the 2013 PSAC Tournament Most Valuable Player after leading the Crimson Hawks to their ninth conference title Saturday. Keita posted 25 points and eight assists in the semifinals Friday, and would cap off a brilliant conference tournament with nine points and eight rebounds in the championship game Saturday.

FIVE-TIME
The Crimson Hawks are one of just six teams in all of Division II to advance to the NCAA Tournament  in each of the last five seasons. IUP is the only Atlantic Region team to have qualified for the last five tournaments, while Florida Southern and Seattle Pacific have been selected in each of the past six years.

NATIONAL POLLS
The Crimson Hawks have jumped three spots to 10th in the latest NABC Division II Coaches' Poll after capturing the PSAC Championship Saturday. IUP is the only PSAC team to be featured in the rankings this week, while Atlantic Region top seed West Liberty claims the top spot in the polls and garners all 16 first place votes. 

THE HEAD COACH
Joe Lombardi (Youngstown State, '81) has established himself as one of the best coaches in IUP history in his seven seasons with the team, leading the Crimson Hawks to three PSAC championships and five consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament. 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 147-64 at IUP.