GameDay Central 
No. 20 IUP Crimson Hawks (10-2, 4-2 PSAC) 
at East Stroudsburg Warriors (7-3, 6-1 PSAC) 
Saturday, January 3, 2015 | 3:00 p.m. 
Koehler Fieldhouse | East Stroudsburg, Pa.  

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

No. 20 IUP Crimson Hawks (10-2, 4-2 PSAC) 
at West Chester Golden Rams (5-7, 3-4 PSAC) 
Sunday, January 4, 2015 | 3:00 p.m. 
Hollinger Fieldhouse | West Chester, Pa.  

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

AT A GLANCE
The 20th-ranked Crimson Hawks return to the court for the first time in 2015 when they hit the road to face East Stroudsburg and West Chester in PSAC East-West crossover play this weekend. IUP heads into the new year riding a three-game win streak, while both the Warriors and Golden Rams have won two straight coming into the weekend. 

LAST TIME OUT
Jr. G Brandon Norfleet (Virginia Beach, Va. /Landstown) scored 9 of his game-high 19 points in overtime as he helped rally IUP to an 80-70 victory at Bloomsburg on Dec. 20. The Crimson Hawks trailed by as many as 8 points in the second half before coming back to send the game to overtime. Norfleet went 5-5 from the foul line and made a pair of layups in the extra time. Sr. G Devante Chance (Philadelphia, Pa. /Electrical & Technology Charter) scored 17 points while Gr. G Shawn Dyer (Marion, Ohio/Marion Harding) added 15.  

WHAT'S NEXT
The Crimson Hawks return home on 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
IUP rose four spots to No. 20 in the latest NABC coaches poll, released on Dec. 30. The Crimson Hawks have been ranked in the top 25 of all five coaches polls this season. They are not ranked, but are receiving votes, in the D2SIDA media poll.

REGIONAL RANKINGS
IUP broke a tie with rival Slippery Rock and moved up one spot to No. 3 in the latest 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 59.5 points allowed per game. IUP has given up 62 or less points in seven of its 12 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 25 steals this season is tied for 5th in the PSAC. He totaled 10 in his first four games and has at least 1 in 11 of IUP's 12 games. 

STOLEN CHANCES
Chance enters this weekend ranked 4th all-time at IUP with 165 career steals. He had a career-high of 50 last year and is just 26 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 is now 2nd in school history with 106 career blocks. He's 4th in the PSAC with 1.8 bpg and is now just 56 away from tying the program's all-time mark of 162 held by Darryl Webb (2007-11).

DISHING IT OUT
The Crimson Hawks are 2nd in the PSAC and 34th in Division II with 16.9 assists per game. The team assist-to-turnover of 1.19 (203-171) is 3rd in the PSAC and 72nd in the nation. 

GAME OF CHANCE
Arguably the top point guard in the PSAC, Chance leads the conference and is 15th in Division II with 6.2 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 12 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 369. He's just 3 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 4th in Division II with an 79.0 FT% this year. Six players convert at least 81 pct from the line, including Sr. F Jeremy Jeffers (Wilson, N.C./Greenfield School) at 91.7 pct 
(11-12) and Jr. G Brandon Norfleet (Virginia Beach, Va. /Landstown) and R-So. G Cornell Yarde II (Reading, Pa. /Schuylkill Valley) at 87.5 pct (14-16). 

STEPPING UP
Norfleet has increased his overall production recently, averaging 18.3 ppg during IUP's three-game win streak. During the span he's shooting 53.8 pct (21-39) from the field while pulling down 15 rebounds and dishing out 11 assists.    

FEELING COMFORTABLE
After a slow start to the season, Gr. G Shawn Dyer (Marion, Ohio/Marion Harding) is starting to come on, averaging 13.8 ppg over the last six games. He scored a season-high 23 points against Mansfield and is shooting 44.6 pct (29-65) while hitting 16 3-pointers during that span. 

SCOUTING EAST STROUDSBURG
Entering 2014-15 ranked in the top five by several preseason polls, the Warriors struggled out of the gate, dropping two of their first five games. ESU enters this weekend with a 7-3 overall record, including an 83-79 double overtime loss at Gannon back on Dec. 16. Multiple players factor into the best scoring offense in the PSAC, including Sr. G Whis Grant and his 13.4 ppg. Five more average at least 9.0 ppg, including So. F Rasheed Moore (11.8 ppg), who also leads the team in rebounding (7.0 rpg). Sr. G Matt Tobin is one of the top guards in the conference, averaging 9.8 ppg with 53 assists and a 51.5 FG%. 
    
SCOUTING WEST CHESTER
The young and inexperienced Golden Rams had a little rougher start to the season, dropping six consecutive games after beginning with a 3-1 record. They come into this weekend with a 5-7 overall record, having won each of their last two contests. Nine players see consistent action on the court, as seven average at least 20 mpg. Sr. G Cory Blake is West Chester's leading scorer at 13.0 ppg while Jr. F Matt Wiseley is tops on the team with 7.7 rpg.