INDIANA, Pa. – IUP head coach Joe Lombardi earned his 207th career victory, becoming the men's basketball program's all-time career leader, as the Crimson Hawks came back to defeat the University of the Sciences 72-64 on Saturday night at the Kovalchick Complex.
 
The victory for Lombardi breaks his tie with Gary Edwards, who had a 206-88 (.701) record from 1996-2006. Lombardi is now 207-80 (.721) in his 10th year with the Crimson Hawks.
 
He won his 200th career game in the NCAA tournament victory over Glenville State, becoming the fastest IUP coach and second fastest Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) coach to reach the 200-win plateau.
 
Lombardi is 14th in PSAC men's basketball history in coaching victories, 17 behind the legendary John Chaney, who had 225 wins with Cheyney from 1971-1982. He's fifth amongst active PSAC coaches in victories, first among those five with more than 22 wins per season.

He's led the Crimson Hawks to seven straight NCAA tournament appearances, including four Sweet 16's, two Atlantic Region titles, and berths in the 2010 and 2015 Division II National Championship games. The Crimson Hawks won five straight PSAC West titles under Lombardi (2010-14) along with tournament championships in 2010, 2011 and 2013. Lombardi is 16-6 (.696) in NCAA tournament games.
 
The Crimson Hawks overcame a 34-29 halftime deficit, outscoring The Sciences 43-30 in the second half to get the win and improve to 3-3 on the season. The game was one of two on Friday night as IUP opened the weekend with its annual Indiana Regional Medical Center (IRMC) Classic. Pitt-Johnstown defeated American International in the earlier game.
 
IUP shot 51.7 percent (15-of-29) and outrebounded The Sciences 20-16 in the second half, leading to the win. Senior guard Brandon Norfleet (Virginia Beach, Va. /Landstown) had an efficient night despite battling foul problems, finishing with 15 points in just 16 minutes.
 
Norfleet did most of his damage in the second half, scoring 13 points on 4-of-6 shooting and 5-of-5 from the foul line in 10 minutes.
 
The Crimson Hawks used a 15-6 run to start the second half to take a 44-40 lead with 15:05 to play in the game. The Sciences did battle back to tie the game at 47-47, but a jumper by junior Brandon Spain (Baltimore, Md./Glen Burnie) started a 14-4 run, which was capped by a three-pointer by sophomore Anthony Glover (Toledo, Ohio/St. John's Jesuit) as IUP took a 61-51 lead with 5:51 left to play.
 
The Sciences (3-2) did go on a late run, cutting IUP's lead to three at 64-61 with 2:44 to play, but the Crimson Hawks used a late 6-1 run to clinch the record-setting win for Lombardi.
 
The Crimson Hawks forced The Sciences into 18 turnovers, capitalizing with 28 points off of those turnovers.
 
Senior forward Devon Cottrell (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Gateway) just missed his second double-double of the season with 10 points and nine rebounds, including five offensive, in 28 minutes. Freshman guard Dante Lombardi (Indiana, Pa./The Kiski School) scored 15 points and grabbed six rebounds in 35 minutes.
 
The Crimson Hawks will go for two in a row on Saturday night when they host American International (0-4) with a 7:30 p.m. tipoff at the Kovalchick Complex.
 
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP Men's Basketball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPMens_Bball.