GAMEDAY CENTRALIUP Crimson Hawks (9-5, 6-3 PSAC)
vs. Millersville Maraudersr (2-11, 2-6 PSAC)
Wednesday, Janurary 6, 2015 | 7:30 p.m.
Indiana, Pa. | Kovalchick Complex
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@IUPMens_BballTHE GAME AT A GLANCEThe Crimson Hawks return home to host PSAC East foe Millersville on Wednesday night at the Kovalchick Complex. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. It'll be the first home game since Dec. 16 as IUP enters the week riding a three-game winning streak. The Crimson Hawks returned to action for the first time in 2016 on Sunday with a 91-64 win at Cheyney. Millersville has lost 10 straight games, six of those conference games, and have not seen the victory column since a 75-66 road win over Gannon on Nov. 21. The Crimson Hawks carry a 9-5 overall record into the contest and are one game back of the division-lead with a 6-3 PSAC record. Millersville is 2-11 overall and 2-6 in the conference.
The game will be broadcast on WQMU 92.5 FM with the voice of IUP Athletics, Jack Benedict, calling the action. You can also listen on u92radio.com and on the u92radio app on your smartphone.
STORYLINES• IUP is one win away from matching its longest win-streak of the season, winning four games between Nov. 27-Dec. 4 - The Sciences (72-64), American International (77-60), Gannon (72-61) and Shippensburg (70-51)
• IUP head coach
Joe Lombardi is 5-2 all-time against Millersville, losing his first two games against the Marauders before winning five straight
• With its 82-74 win at Edinboro on Dec. 19, IUP now has an eight-game win streak in its final contests before winter break, which dates back to 2008-09
• The Crimson Hawks are giving up 68.3 points per game, which ranks third in the PSAC; They've limited opponents to 70 or fewer points eight times in 14 games
• Millersville is 16th in the PSAC in scoring, averaging 67.9 points per contest; the Marauders have reached 70 points just five times in 12 games this season, including a season-high 79 against California (Pa.)
• Former IUP guard
Cornell Yarde II (Reading, Pa. /Schuylkill Valley) is Millersville's second-leading scorer this season with 12.0 points per game; Yarde has played in eight games in his first year with the Marauders after playing two years at IUP (2013-15)
• IUP's game at Fairmont State on Dec. 12 was the Crimson Hawks' first regular season game against a ranked opponent in recent history, as IUP's nationally-ranked opponents usually come in the postseason; IUP went 3-1 against ranked opponents in the NCAA tournament last year
• The Crimson Hawks have played five games against 2015 NCAA tournament teams and have a 3-2 record in those games, with wins over University of the Sciences (72-64), American International (77-60) and at Gannon (72-61), and losses at Mercyhurst (64-57) and at Fairmont State (85-72); IUP has four more games against tournament teams from last year, including two against Slippery Rock and one each against Gannon and Mercyhurst, both at home
BRANDON NORFLEET AMONG TOP SCORERS IN PSACSr. G
Brandon Norfleet (Virginia Beach, Va. /Landstown) is IUP's top scoring threat and statistically all-around best player. He leads IUP in scoring, field goals made, free throws made, free throw percentage, assists, steals and minutes played. He's also second on the team in three-point percentage and third in three-pointers made and total rebounds.
• Norfleet has scored 20 points eight times this year, including a streak of five games, and set a career-high of 31 points in IUP's win at Edinboro
• Norfleet made 22 straight free throw attempts over the course of seven games, beginning with West Chester (Nov. 22) and ending at Fairmont State (Dec. 12)
• Norfleet tied a career-high with nine assists vs. Cal and grabbed a season-high nine rebounds at Shippensburg
• Norfleet has scored 1,308 career points and has 68 double-digit scoring games
• Norfleet is No. 1 in the PSAC and ranks No. 15 in the country in total points (292)
• Norfleet is tied for No. 3 in the PSAC and No. 46 in the country in points per game (20.9)
• Norfleet is No. 1 the PSAC and ranks No. 12 in the country in field goals made (108)
• Norfleet is No. 11 in the PSAC in field goal percentage (.482)
• Norfleet is No. 9 in the PSAC in free throws made (57)
• Norfleet is No. 14 in the PSAC in free throw percentage (.792)
• Norfleet is No. 3 in the PSAC in assists (60)
• Norfleet is No. 5 in the PSAC in assists per game (4.3)
• Norfleet is No. 1 in the PSAC and No. 23 in the country in total minutes played (496)
• Norfleet is No. 4 in the PSAC and No. 45 in the country in minutes per game (35.4)
JACOBO DIAZ STEPPING UP HIS PRODUCTIONFr. F
Jacobo Diaz (Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain/CBA Gran Canaria) has increased his production in the absence of R-Sr. F
Devon Cottrell (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Gateway). Diaz is fifth on the team with 8.3 points per game and leads the Crimson Hawks with 87 rebounds and 6.2 rebounds per game.
• Diaz posted his first career double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds at Fairmont State (Dec. 12)
• Diaz scored a career-high 20 points on 7-of-9 shooting at Cheyney (Jan. 3)
• Diaz has a season-high 11 rebounds twice - vs. Bowie State (Nov. 14) and vs. American International (Nov. 28)
• Diaz has grabbed at least five rebounds in all but four games this year
• Diaz has four double-figure scoring games, also scoring 15 against West Chester (Nov. 22) and 10 point at Kutztown (Dec. 5)
• Diaz has made 11-of-11 free throws over his last four games dating back to Fairmont State (Dec. 12)
• Diaz had a season-high four steals at Kutztown (Dec. 5)
ANTHONY GLOVER HAS BEEN AN ADDED SCORING THREATSo. G
Anthony Glover (Toledo, Ohio/St. John's Jesuit) has increased his offensive production as of late, hitting double-figures in scoring in five of the last seven games.
• Glover is third on the team with 10.1 points per game
• Glover scored a career-high 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting at Kutztown (Dec. 5)
• Glover has reached double-figures in scoring seven times
• Glover ranks 10th in the PSAC with a 41.7 three-point field percentage and is tied for seventh 30 made three-pointers
• Glover is averaging 6.3 rebounds per game over his last four, including seven against Cal (Dec. 16) and Cheyney (Jan. 3)
• Glover grabbed a career-high nine rebounds against Urbana (Nov. 13) and has a season-high three assists three times
DADDY UGBEDE AGAIN PERFORMING CONSISTENTLYSr. F
Daddy Ugbede (Gardena, Calif./Serra) is second on the team with 10.9 points per game despite playing in just 19.4 minutes per contest. His 65.9 field goal percentage would rank first in the PSAC and 12th in the country if he had enough made field goals to qualify.
• Ugbede had season-highs of 20 points in 34 minutes at Gannon
• He's made 50 percent of his shots in 12 of 14 games
DANTE LOMBARDI HAS BEEN PSAC WEST's TOP FRESHMANFr. G
Dante Lombardi (Indiana, Pa./The Kiski School) has been named the PSAC West Freshman of the Week twice this year, receiving honors in consecutive weeks on Nov. 23 and 30.
• Lombardi is second on the team with 39 assists and 23 three-pointers made and is fourth with 8.6 points per game
• Lombardi scored season-high 18 points at Mercyhurst (Nov. 18)
• Lombardi has four double-figure scoring games
• Lombardi had season-high six assists against East Stroudsburg (Nov. 21) and American International (Nov. 28)
JOE LOMBARDI BECAME PROGRAM'S ALL-TIME WINNINGEST COACH IN VICTORY OVER THE SCIENCESWith IUP's comeback 72-64 win over The Sciences on Nov. 27, HC
Joe Lombardi became the IUP men's basketball program's all-time winningest coach, surpassing Gary Edwards' (1996-2006) 206 career victories. In addition to his current total of 213 wins, Lombardi has a .722 career winning percentage in his nine-plus seasons, the best in IUP history. He hit the 200-win plateau with IUP's victory over Glenville State in the first round of last year's NCAA tournament. He's the fastest IUP coach to reach the milestone.