GAMEDAY CENTRAL
No. 21 IUP Crimson Hawks (9-2, 4-1 PSAC)
vs. Gannon Golden Knights (5-4, 3-2 PSAC)
Friday, December 30, 2016 | 7:30 p.m.
Indiana, Pa. | Kovalchick Complex

Full Game Notes (PDF)
Live Stats: SidearmStats.com | Fan Stats | Media Stats
Listen: WQMU 92.5 FM | u92radio.com
Listen: Smartphone | U92 Sports App
Live Updates: Twitter | @IUPMens_Bball

THE GAME AT A GLANCE
The 21st-ranked Crimson Hawks begin PSAC West divisional play on Friday when they host Gannon at the Kovalchick Complex. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. IUP returns to the court after a tough 91-81 overtime loss to No. 2 Fairmont State at home on December 19. The loss dropped IUP to 9-2 overall, with both losses coming to now-top 25 teams. Gannon opens divisional play with two straight losses and is 5-4 overall. The Crimson Hawks lead the PSAC West with a 4-1 conference record, while Gannon is 3-2. 

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.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR
• Although Gannon owns the all-time series lead 22-21, IUP is 11-9 against the Golden Knights under HC Joe Lombardi; Lombardi also has a 174-65 (.728) record against teams on this year's schedule
• Friday's game is the seventh of eight straight home dates for the Crimson Hawks this year; IUP is 7-2 in Indiana this year and 37-5 (.881) at home since the start of the 2014-15 season
• Since 2011-12, IUP is 75-10 (.882) in the Kovalchick Complex; Gannon is 2-3 against IUP in the KCAC during that span, with wins during the 2012-13 (57-55) and 2013-14 (67-62) seasons
• This will be Gannon's fourth game away from home this year, owning a 1-2 road record with losses to West Chester (73-63) and Wheeling Jesuit (65-63)
• The Crimson Hawks are 9-1 in PSAC West openers under Lombardi, with the only loss coming last year on Nov. 18 at Mercyhurst (64-57)
• IUP's average attendance of 1,095 leads the Atlantic Region and ranks 19th in Division II

THE CRIMSON HAWKS ARE NEARLY UNBEATABLE AT HOME
In 11 years under HC Joe Lombardi, IUP boasts a record of 141-28 (.834) at home, including a 7-2 mark this year. Lombardi and the Crimson Hawks had 18-0 and 16-1 home records during their 2009-10 and 2014-15 national finalist seasons, and have lost just 14 games in Indiana in the last nine seasons. Since the opening of the Kovalchick Convention & Athletic Complex in 2011-12, the Crimson Hawks have a 75-10 record (.882) in their new arena. 

IUP EMPHASIZES SHARING, ASSISTS UP TO 17.73 PER GAME THIS SEASON
The Crimson Hawks rank third in the PSAC and 26th in Division II with an average of 17.73 assists this season, a mark that is up by nearly three assists per game over last year. Three times they've dished out more than 20 in a game, including a season-high 22 against Bowie State and The Sciences. Four players average at least 2.6 assists per game, with So. G Dante Lombardi (Indiana, Pa./The Kiski School) leading the team - and ranking 10th in the PSAC - with 4.5 dimes per contest. 

CRIMSON HAWKS AMONG TOP FREE THROW SHOOTING TEAMS IN THE NATION
IUP is once again converting consistently from the foul line, ranking second in the PSAC and 16th in the nation at 78.0 percent (167-214). The Crimson Hawks make better than 79 percent of their free throws at home, going 59-67 (.881) during their last three games against #8 Kutztown, Mansfield, and #2 Fairmont State. Seven players are shooting at least 70.0 percent from the charity stripe, led by Sr. F Devon Cottrell (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Gateway) at 86.4 percent. 

IUP BOASTS BALANCED SCORING WITH FOUR PLAYERS AVERAGE IN DOUBLE-FIGURES
Even after losing All-American scoring champ Brandon Norfleet (Virginia Beach, Va. /Landstown), the Crimson Hawks' scoring is up so far this year, with four players averaging in double-figures. So. F Jacobo Diaz (Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain/CBA Gran Canaria) scores a team-best 16.5 per game, while Jr. G Anthony Glover (Toledo, Ohio/St. John's Jesuit) scores 14.5, Lombardi scores 13.5, and R-Jr. F Blake Danielak (Georgetown, Tex./Liberty Hill) averages 10.2 off the bench. All eight players in IUP's main rotation have hit double-figures at least once this year, with Diaz and Glover each scoring at least 10 points 10 times. 

JACOBO DIAZ PROVES HIMSELF ONE OF BEST IN THE WEST, AVERAGES DOUBLE-DOUBLE PER GAME
Landing on the Preseason All-PSAC West team as voted by the coaches, Diaz is living up to that status as he's one of only two players in the conference averaging a double-double with 16.5 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. He has six double-doubles this year, including a streak of four in a row, and has four outings with 20 or more points. Able to make shots from inside or outside, he's sixth in the PSAC with a 56.6 field goal percentage (69-122). 

DEVON COTTRELL IS IUP's BLOCKED SHOTS KING, HAS RETURNED TO FORM AFTER INJURY
Missing all but six games last year due to injury, R-Sr. F Devon Cottrell (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Gateway) has returned to the lineup as a regular starter to average a career-high 9.7 points along with 4.3 rebounds per game this year. The highlight of his comeback came against #8 Kutztown, making the game-winning putback with 0.1 seconds left in the 77-76 victory. Cottrell also broke Darryl Webb's (2007-11) all-time blocked shots record at IUP, heading into this game with 167 for his career. 

ANTHONY GLOVER COMING ON AS ONE OF THE TOP GUARDS IN THE DIVISION
After learning his way alongside Norfleet last year, Jr. G Anthony Glover (Toledo, Ohio/St. John's Jesuit) has taken on a larger role in is second year at IUP. Glover is second on the team with 14.5 points and 2.9 assists per game, and is among the PSAC leaders with a 47.2 field goal percentage, 38.3 three-point percentage, and 23 made treys.  

DANTE LOMBARDI PICKING UP WHERE HE LEFT OFF AFTER FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR SEASON
Last year's PSAC West Freshman of the Year, Lombardi taken over as the starting point guard this season. In addition to ranking 10th in the PSAC in assists, he's scored in double-figures nine times this year, including a season-high 20 against #2 Fairmont State.