GameDay Central
No. 7 IUP Crimson Hawks (19-2, 9-2 PSAC West)
at California (Pa.) Vulcans (9-13, 4-8 PSAC West)
Wednesday, February 12, 2014 | 7:30 p.m.
Convocation Center | California, Pa.
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AT A GLANCE
The Crimson Hawks will look to avenge one of their only losses of the season, traveling to California, Pa. for a Wednesday night matchup with the Vulcans of California (Pa.). IUP enters the game ranked seventh in the nation with a record of 19-2, 9-2, in the middle of a five-game win streak and in sole possession of first place in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West. Their win over Seton Hill secured them a spot in the PSAC tournament. California is seventh in the West with a record of 9-13, 4-8, having lost three straight.
THE SERIES
The Crimson Hawks hold the all-time series advantage with the Vulcans, 105-72. IUP has won 11 of the last 13 meetings, including two PSAC tournament victories. In those 13 games, the Crimson Hawks have outscored the Vulcans 68.6-60.2.
LAST TIME OUT
For the first time since the 2007-08 season, the Crimson Hawks dropped a home meeting with the Vulcans, falling 59-56 on January 18. The loss was the second in a row for the then fifth-ranked Crimson Hawks. In that game, three players finished in double figures, with Sr. G
Mathis Keita (Thionville, France/Insep) posting 25 and Sr. F
Marcel Souberbielle (Montevideo, Uruguay/Uruguayan American School) and Jr. G
Devante Chance (Philadelphia, Pa. /Electrical & Technology Charter) each registering 11. As a team, they shot 37.7 percent from the field and 31.3 percent from behind the arc.
BACK TO DOMINANCE
After faltering in the mid-January, dropping two conference games, the Crimson Hawks have gotten back on the right track, winning five straight. After falling in an overtime contest with Gannon 67-61, the Crimson Hawks then dropped a 59-56 matchup with California (Pa.). Since then, they've rebounded claiming a 69-66 win over Edinboro, a 66-64 thrilling victory over rival Slippery Rock and dominant wins over Pitt-Johnstown, Clarion and Seton Hill.
DEFENSE IS KING
The Crimson Hawks boast the PSAC's top defense and one of the best in the country. Allowing just 58.5 points per game, a mark that's good for first in the conference and second in the nation, the defense stifles its opponents. As a team, IUP allows opponents to shoot just 38.2 percent from the floor and 26.4 percent from behind the arc. Their rebounding margin of +5.8 is third in the conference, led by Souberbielle who averages 5.8 boards per game.
M&M FOR MVP
It's already been quite the year for senior leaders
Mathis Keita (Thionville, France/Insep) and
Marcel Souberbielle (Montevideo, Uruguay/Uruguayan American School). Both average 15.9 points per game and have nearly identical stats. Both have had seven 20+ point games and lead or are near the top in nearly every major offensive and defensive category for the Crimson Hawks.
SCOUTING CALIFORNIA
The Vulcans have been struggling of late, dropping four of their last five contests. However, they got the best of the IUP in the season's first matchup, edging the then fifth-ranked team 59-56. The Vulcans have five players averaging double figures, led by Jr. G Tynell Fortune's 11.3 per game. As a team, they average just 62.8 points per game, with those four players accounting for all but 20.5 of the team's average. One of the PSAC's worst rebounding teams, they allow their opponents to outrebound them by 4.0 per game, compared to IUP who outrebounds its opponents by an average of 5.8 per game.
CRIMSON HAWKS BY THE NUMBERS
|
58.5 |
IUP's scoring defense this season, good for second in the nation. |
|
7 |
IUP's national ranking, moving up two spots from the No. 9 spot. They're in the top 10 for the third time this season. |
|
38.2 |
The average field goal percentage of IUP's opponents, a defensive mark that is good for second in the conference. |
|
26.4 |
IUP's three-point field goal percentage defense, tops in the PSAC. Opponents have connected on just 92-of-371 shots from behind the arc. |
|
15.9 |
The averages of both Sr. G Mathis Keita (Thionville, France/Insep) and Sr. F Marcel Souberbielle (Montevideo, Uruguay/Uruguayan American School) in the team's 21 games this season. |
|
50.0 |
The field goal percentage of Sr. G Mathis Keita (Thionville, France/Insep), good for ninth in the PSAC. He's connected on 115-of-230 shots from the floor. |
|
4.1 |
The average number of assists from Jr. G Devante Chance (Philadelphia, Pa. /Electrical & Technology Charter) this season, third in the conference. He's on pace for 104 this season, a career high. |
|
45 |
The number of conference victories IUP has had since the 2010-11 season, tops in the PSAC. |
|
3 |
The number of PSAC championships the Crimson Hawks have won in the last four years. |
