GameDay Central 
No. 24 IUP Crimson Hawks (9-2, 3-2 PSAC) 
at Bloomsburg Huskies (6-3, 2-3 PSAC) 
Saturday, December 20, 2014 | 3:00 p.m. 
Nelson Field House | Bloomsburg, Pa.  

IUP Game Notes (PDF)
Live Stats: IUPAthletics.com | Fan Stats | Media Stats
Live Audio: WQMU 92.5 FM | u92radio.com

AT A GLANCE
The 24th-ranked Crimson Hawks will go for their third straight win on Saturday afternoon when they travel to Bloomsburg for a tough PSAC crossover test with the Huskies. IUP defeated Mansfield and Lock Haven in a pair of blowouts earlier this week while Bloomsburg is coming off of back-to-back losses at Clarion and Pitt-Johnstown. 

LAST TIME OUT
Led by a season-high 21 points from Jr. G Brandon Norfleet (Virginia Beach, Va. /Landstown), the Crimson Hawks cruised to a 92-69 win over Lock Haven on Wednesday night. Three other players reached double-figures in scoring, including Sr. G Devante Chance (Philadelphia, Pa. /Electrical & Technology Charter) with 18, as IUP shot 60.0 pct from the floor and drilled 10 3-pointers. 

WHAT'S NEXT
The Crimson Hawks reach their winter break after this weekend and are off until Wednesday, Jan. 7 when they host Cheyney at the KCAC. The Wolves are the only team on this year's schedule that HC Joe Lombardi has a losing record (2-4) against. 

IUP IN THE POLLS
Even with no games played last week, the Crimson Hawks fell one spot to No. 24 in the NABC coaches poll released this past Tuesday. They are not ranked, but are receiving votes, in the D2SIDA media poll.

REGIONAL RANKINGS
Despite not playing a game in 10 days, the Crimson Hawks have fallen to a tie with East Stroudsburg for 4th in the D2SIDA Atlantic Region rankings. This regional media poll is new this year and is voted on by a group of four sports information directors in each NCAA Division II region. 

SEASON-OPENING STREAKS
Prior to the loss to Mercyhurst, the Crimson Hawks had opened the year with 7 straight wins. It's the 3rd longest winning streak to open a season under HC Joe Lombardi, including a 14-0 start in 2013-14 and an 11-0 start in 2009-10. 

PLAYING DEFENSE
The Crimson Hawks boast arguably the best defense in the PSAC as they're 2nd in the conference and 3rd in the nation with just 58.5 points allowed per game. IUP has given up 62 or less points in seven of its 10 games, including a season-low 41 to West Virginia Wesleyan. 

STEALING THE SHOW
One of IUP's best defenders is Sr. G Devante Chance (Philadelphia, Pa. /Electrical & Technology Charter), who's 24 steals this season is tied for 4th in the PSAC. He totaled 10 in his first four games and has at least 1 in nine of IUP's 10 games. 

STOLEN CHANCES
Chance enters Saturday's game ranked 4th all-time at IUP with 160 career steals. He had a career-high of 50 last year and is just 31 away from tying Eric Castorina (2001-05) for 3rd all-time. 

BLOCK PARTY
Also adding to IUP's defensive prowess is R-Jr. F Devon Cottrell (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Gateway), who moved into 2nd place in school history with 105 career blocks. He's 3rd in the PSAC with 1.9 bpg and is now just 57 away from tying the 
program's all-time mark of 162 held by Darryl Webb (2007-11).

DISHING IT OUT
The Crimson Hawks lead the PSAC and are 24th in Division II with 17.55 assists per game. Their 193 assists is also 1st in the league and ranks 11th in the nation. The team assist-to-turnover of 1.22 (193-158) is 4th in the PSAC and 56th in the nation. 

GAME OF CHANCE
Arguably the top point guard in the PSAC, Chance leads the conference and is 10th in Division II with 6.5 apg this year. He set a new career-high with 10 dimes against Mansfield and has 6 or more assists in eight of IUP's 11 games. 

MOVING UP THE CHARTS
Chance recently moved into the top 10 in IUP history in career assists and is currently 7th all-time with 366. He's just 6 behind Jim DeMark (1966-70) for 6th place and has a shot at Ashton Smith's (2008-12) all-time mark of 456. 

SUCCESS AT THE LINE
IUP leads the PSAC and is 9th in Division II with an 77.9 FT% this year. Four players convert at least 82 pct from the line, including Sr. F Jeremy Jeffers (Wilson, N.C./Greenfield School) at 91.7 pct (11-12). Chance shots 88.5 pct (23-26) while R-So. G Cornell Yarde II (Reading, Pa. /Schuylkill Valley) is at 87.5 (14-16) Jr. F Daddy Ugbede (San Mateo, Calif./Serra) has shot 82.4 pct (42-51). 

STEPPING UP
Jr. G Brandon Norfleet (Virginia Beach, Va. /Landstown) increased his overall production earlier this week, averaging 18.0 ppg against Mansfield and Lock Haven. He posted back-to-back season-highs of 15 and then 21 points, and shot 15-28 (53.6 pct) from the field. He also grabbed 9 rebounds, dished out 8 assists and had 8 steals in those two games. 

NEW TO THE LINEUP
After averaging 12.2 ppg in limited time off the bench in IUP's first nine games, Ugbede was inserted into the starting lineup against Mansfield and averaged 11.0 ppg in two starts this week. The Drake transfer is shooting 75.0 pct (45-60) from the field and is averaging 18.6 mpg. 

SCOUTING BLOOMSBURG
After starting the season with six straight wins, the Huskies have dropped three straight, including each of their back-to-back PSAC crossovers earlier this week. They boast one of top scoring offenses in the league, as Bloomsburg's 82.1 ppg is 3rd in the PSAC. Four players average at least double-figures, led by Jr. G Charles Haigler's 14.8 ppg. R-Fr. G Christian Mortellite adds a spark off the bench by scoring 11.0 ppg and shooting 42.4 pct (14-31) from 3-point range. 
   
FAMILIAR FACE
Bloomsburg HC John Sanow graduated from IUP in 1987 after setting the school's all-time 3-point pct mark of 45.8 (77-168). A record that still stands today.