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GameDay Central 
No. 6 IUP Crimson Hawks (13-0, 3-0)
at Mercyhurst Lakers (7-6, 3-0) 
Saturday, January 11, 2014 | 3:00 p.m. 
Mercyhurst Athletic Center | Erie, Pa. 

Complete Game Notes (.pdf) 

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PSAC & National Coverage
Week 6 Notes | PSAC Statistics | NABC Top 25

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AT A GLANCE
No. 6 IUP hits the road for the first of two games in Erie, Pa., first against the Lakers of Mercyhurst. Both teams enter the game with 3-0 records in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West, meaning the winner of the game will be in sole possession of first place in the division. The Crimson Hawks have opened up the season with a perfect 13-0 record, ranked sixth in the nation. Mercyhurst is on a two-game win streak, claiming victories against Cheyney and Millersville.

THE SERIES
The Crimson Hawks hold the all-time series lead, 16-6. However, IUP has not won on the road against the Lakers since 2009-10 when they defeated them 76-54. All six of Mercyhurst's losses have come in Indiana, while IUP has only claimed four road victories in the series. The Crimson Hawks have outscored the Lakers 69-63 in those 22 games.

BEST START OF THE CENTURY
Opening the season with 13 straight wins, IUP is off to its best start since winning 21 straight in 1994-95. The Crimson Hawks are one of only two undefeated teams in the conference, and the only in the West. No. 10 East Stroudsburg leads the East with a mark of 14-0, 4-0.

MUCH NEEDED SECOND
IUP has taken advantage of the second half in its previous two victories. In those two games against Lock Haven and Bloomsburg, the Crimson Hawks are shooting 58.1 percent from the floor in the second, compared to just 37.8 in the first. On the season, the Crimson Hawks are shooting slightly better in the second half, going 49.6 percent (166-of-335) compared to 44.6 percent (170-of-381) in the first.

CURST OF THE HURST
The Crimson Hawks have struggled on the road against the Lakers, with all six of their losses coming in Erie. In the last three seasons, they have failed to claim a road victory, with their last coming during the 2009-10 season. They have won just four times on the road in a series that dates back to the 1980-81 season. Games have been close in the last three seasons, with Mercyhurst coming away with the 56.8-55.8 scoring advantage in six games (three wins, three losses). IUP scores an average of just 52 points per game vs. the Lakers on the road.

SECOND CHANCE
Averaging 4.2 assists per game, Jr. G Devante Chance (Philadelphia, Pa. /Electrical & Technology Charter) is second in the conference with 55 helpers in 13 games. At this point last season, he had 34, for an average of 3.1 per game. He's on pace to finish the season with a career-high 110.

SO CLOSE HE CAN TASTE IT
With another stellar performance against Bloomsburg Wednesday evening, Sr. F Marcel Souberbielle (Montevideo, Uruguay/Uruguayan American School) got one step closer to a milestone. He now sits at 953 career points in his four years with IUP, just 47 away from 1,000. He's on pace to hit that 1,000-point mark against California at the KCAC on Jan. 18.

SCOUTING MERCYHURST
Coming in with the only other perfect mark in PSAC play, Mercyhurst is riding a two-game win streak, winning three of their last five with their only two losses coming to No. 10 East Stroudsburg and West Chester. Sr. G Jonathan Ouegnin is the only Laker
averaging double digit points, with 11.3 per game. He also leads the team in rebounds (5.8) and assists (3.4). Mercyhurst is narrowly escaping opponents, beating them by an average of just 2.7 points per game.

CRIMSON HAWKS BY THE NUMBERS 

57.2	IUP's scoring defense this season, a mark that is good for first in the nation.
39	The number of conference victories IUP has had over the previous three seasons, tops in the PSAC.
6	IUP's national ranking, moving up one spot from the No. 7 position they held for four weeks.
24.6	IUP's three-point field goal defense this season. That's first in the conference, allowing teams to connect on just 59-of-240 shots from behind the arc.
55	The number of assists Jr. G Devante Chance (Philadelphia, Pa. /Electrical & Technology Charter) has on the season, second in the PSAC, averaging 4.2 per game.
953	The number of points Sr. F Marcel Souberbielle (Montevideo, Uruguay/Uruguayan American School) has for his career, just 47 shy of the 1,000-point mark. At this season's pace, he'll hit 1,000 against California on Jan. 18.
53.6	The team-leading field goal percentage of Sr. G Mathis Keita (Thionville, France/Insep), sixth in the conference.
2	The number of times IUP has opened up the season with 13 straight wins. They won 21 straight in 1994-95 and 26 straight in 1993-94.
3	The number of PSAC championships the Crimson Hawks have won in the last four seasons.