GAMEDAY CENTRAL
No. 6 IUP Crimson Hawks (18-2, 13-1 PSAC)
at Gannon Golden Knights (13-5, 11-3 PSAC)
Saturday, January 28, 2017 | 3:00 p.m.
Erie, Pa. | Hammermill Center

Full Game Notes (PDF)
Live Stats: SidearmStats.com | Fan Stats | Media Stats
Watch: Gannon All-Access | gannonsports.com/watch
Listen: WQMU 92.5 FM | u92radio.com
Listen: Smartphone | U92 Sports App
Live Updates: Twitter | @IUPMens_Bball

THE GAME AT A GLANCE
The 6th-ranked Crimson Hawks head to Erie this weekend in a big showdown with Gannon on Saturday afternoon. Tipoff against the Golden Knights at the Hammermill Center is set for 3 p.m. This matchup features the top two teams in the PSAC West, with IUP holding a two-game lead over Gannon as both teams begin the second half of their divisional schedule. Both teams come in on long winning streaks (IUP 9, GU 8), as the Golden Knights haven't lost since falling to IUP 64-57 on December 30. 

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
• IUP HC Joe Lombardi is 12-9 all-time against Gannon, a team that has become a rival and major threat to the Crimson Hawks since joining the PSAC in 2008; IUP has won three straight in the series dating back to last season, including a 72-61 victory in 'The Mill' last year
• The Crimson Hawks are a perfect 7-0 on the road this year, outscoring opponents by an average of 12.1 points per game (73.1 - 61.0); IUP is in the midst of its second three-game road swing, earning victories at Slippery Rock, Mercyhurst and Millersville over the course of six days earlier this month
• IUP has given up 70 points three times during its nine-game win steak, allowing 64.2 points during that span
• A key to IUP's success during its recent run is the three-point shooting, including an average of 11.3 made treys over its last four games; IUP hit a season-high 14 threes in the comeback win over Edinboro
• IUP has forced at least 11 turnovers in each of its last seven games (15.3/game), tying a season-best with 19 last Saturday at Clarion; Gannon is near the bottom of the PSAC, turning it over 15.1 times a game

IUP BOASTS BALANCED SCORING; FIVE PLAYERS AVERAGE AT LEAST 9.0 POINTS PER GAME
The Crimson Hawks don't have one of the top scoring offenses in the PSAC, but it does boast balance. Five players average at least 9.6 points per game, including three who are scoring more than 13. So. F Jacobo Diaz (Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain/CBA Gran Canaria) leads the team with a 14.8 average, while Jr. G Anthony Glover (Toledo, Ohio/St. John's Jesuit) scores 14.3 and So. G Dante Lombardi (Indiana, Pa./The Kiski School) averages 13.6. Jr. F Blake Danielak (Georgetown, Tex./Liberty Hill) is IUP's highest scorer off the bench, averaging 9.9 points with 11 double-digit scoring games. All eight players in IUP's main rotation have hit double-figures at least twice this year, and five different Crimson Hawks have led the team in scoring. 

CRIMSON HAWKS AMONG TOP FREE THROW SHOOTING TEAMS IN THE NATION
IUP is once again converting consistently from the foul line, leading the PSAC and 18th in the nation at 78.8 percent (279-354). Over the last three games, the Crimson Hawks have hit an impressive 91.2 percent (31-34) from the charity stripe, going 5-6 against Cal, 15-16 at Clarion, and 11-12 at Seton Hill. Sr. F Devon Cottrell (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Gateway) is one of six players shooting over 80.0 percent, leading the team at 82.2 (37-45). 

IUP PERFORMING WELL IN THE FINAL FIVE MINUTES, SHOOTING 83 PERCENT FROM THE LINE IN THE CLUTCH
Not only are the Crimson Hawks one of the top free throw shooting teams in the nation, but they're even better in the clutch. In the last five minutes of games this season, IUP's free throw shooting skyrockets to 83.1 percent (98-118). Out of the seven players who have attempted a free throw in that time frame, none are converting below 70.0 percent, while Lombardi leads the way with an 87.5 (35-40) conversion rate. 

THE IUP DEFENSE STEPPING UP AS DIVISIONAL PLAY GETS ROLLING
IUP is third in the PSAC giving up 68.2 points per game, but that number is much lower since the start of its Western Division schedule. Over the last nine games - eight divisional - the Crimson Hawks are giving up just 64.2 points per contest. 

JACOBO DIAZ NAMED TO WATCH LIST FOR BEVO FRANCIS AWARD, GIVEN TO TOP PLAYER IN DII, DIII, NAIA
Diaz is considered one of the best players in Division II, as he was named to the Watch List for the Bevo Francis Award. The award is given to the top player from Division II, Division III, or the NAIA, with the season's first Watch List made up of 100 players. Diaz is one of two players in the PSAC to average a double-double with team-bests of 14.8 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. He's second in the league with nine double-doubles, and ranks 10th in the conference with a 52.6 field goal percentage. 

COBO's NINE DOUBLE-DOUBLES ARE SECOND IN PSAC, MOST FOR IUP PLAYER SINCE WEBB IN 2010-11
Diaz's nine double-doubles this year are second most in the PSAC behind Shippensburg's Dustin Sleva (12). They're also the most for an IUP player since Darryl Webb posted 16 during his senior season of 2010-11, when he averaged 17.4 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. Diaz had a run of four straight double-double performances at the start of the season, and has 16 double-figure scoring and 12 double-figure rebounding games. 

DANTE LOMBARDI IS ONE OF THE TOP THREE-POINT THREATS IN THE PSAC
Lombardi has made 48-128 (.375) three-point tries this season, ranking eighth in the PSAC in threes made and ninth with 2.4 made per game. He's on a streak of 25 straight games with a made three-pointer, including four in last Saturday's 22-point performance at Clarion. Last year's PSAC West Freshman of the Year, he also hit 48 three-pointers in 2015-16. 

BRANDON SPAIN SECOND IN THE PSAC WITH 41 STEALS 
Sr. G Brandon Spain (Baltimore, Md./Glen Burnie) is second in the PSAC with 41 steals, averaging a team-best 2.1 swipes per game. He has at least one steal in 18 of his 20 games played, including a current streak of five straight games with at least two. As the Crimson Hawks' sixth man, he averages 23.9 minutes off the bench, meaning he averages one steal every 11.9 minutes on the court (3.4 steals per 40 minutes). 

DEVON COTTRELL HAS ADDED SCORING TO HIS ARSENAL; IS IUP'S BLOCKED SHOTS KING
Missing all but six games last year due to injury, Cottrell has returned to the lineup as a regular starter to average a career-best 9.6 points per game. His scoring has picked up recently, posting a career-high 22 points in the win over Gannon, and has dropped at least 17 three more times in the last 12 games. Cottrell also broke Darryl Webb's (2007-11) IUP blocked shots record earlier this season, and heads into this weekend with 180.