GAMEDAY CENTRAL
No. 6/23 IUP Crimson Hawks (19-2, 14-1 PSAC)
vs. Mercyhurst Lakers (8-10, 6-8 PSAC)
Wednesday, February 1, 2017 | 7:30 p.m.
Indiana, Pa. | Kovalchick Complex

Full Game Notes (PDF)
Live Stats: SidearmStats.com | Fan Stats | Media Stats
Watch: IUP Webcast YouTube | youtube.com
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 bring a 10-game winning streak back to the Kovalchick Complex as they host Mercyhurst on Wednesday night. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. IUP is coming off of a pair of road wins last week, defeating both Seton Hill and Gannon, and increasing its lead in the PSAC West to three games with seven left to play. The Lakers have been off for a week after tallying a 20-point win at Edinboro last Wednesday, putting an end to a three-game losing streak. 

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 13-8 all-time against Mercyhurst, including an 80-69 win in Erie back on Jan. 9; The Crimson Hawks are 8-2 against Mercyhurst at home under Lombardi, although the Lakers have won two of the last three games in Indiana
• IUP is 11-2 at home this season, outscoring opponents by an average of 8.1 points (80.2 - 72.1) per game; The Crimson Hawks have won four straight games at the KCAC
• Mercyhurst is 4-4 on the road this year, averaging 64.5 points per game
• IUP's "Magic Number" is four; The Crimson Hawks have a three-game lead over Gannon with four games left
• IUP has given up 70 points three times during its 10-game win steak, allowing 64.0 points during that span
• The Crimson Hawks' three-point shooting has been a big factor over the last five games, averaging 11.4 made treys per game during that span; IUP made a season-high 14 threes against Edinboro
• IUP has forced at least 11 turnovers in each of its last eight games (15.9/game)

THE CRIMSON HAWKS ARE NEARLY UNBEATABLE AT HOME
In 11 years under HC Joe Lombardi, IUP boasts a 145-28 (.838) record at home, including an 11-2 mark this year. Lombardi and the Crimson Hawks had 18-0 and 16-1 home marks 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 79-10 record (.888) in their new arena.

IUP BOASTS BALANCED SCORING; FIVE PLAYERS AVERAGE AT LEAST 9.7 POINTS PER GAME
The Crimson Hawks don't have one of the top scoring offenses in the PSAC, but they do boast balance. Five players average at least 9.7 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 14.5 average, while So. G Dante Lombardi (Indiana, Pa./The Kiski School) averages 14.0, and Jr. G Anthony Glover (Toledo, Ohio/St. John's Jesuit) scores 13.9. Jr. F Blake Danielak (Georgetown, Tex./Liberty Hill) is IUP's highest scorer off the bench, averaging 9.8 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 ranking 8th in the nation at 78.6 percent (291-370). Over the last four games, the Crimson Hawks have hit an impressive 86.0 percent (43-50) from the charity stripe, including a 15-16 performance at Clarion. Sr. F Devon Cottrell (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Gateway) is one of six players shooting over 80.0 percent, leading the team at 82.4 (42-51). 

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 83.6 percent (102-122). 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 88.6 (39-44) conversion rate. 

THE IUP DEFENSE STEPPING UP AS DIVISIONAL PLAY GETS ROLLING
IUP is third in the PSAC giving up 67.9 points per game, but that number is much lower since the start of its Western Division schedule. Over the last 10 games the Crimson Hawks are giving up just 64.0 points per contest. 

DANTE LOMBARDI NAMED PSAC WEST ATHLETE OF THE WEEK FOR THE SECOND TIME
Lombardi earned his second PSAC West Athlete of the Week award of the season this past Monday, averaging 17.0 points and 9.0 assists in IUP's two wins. He tallied his first career double-double with 11 points and 11 assists at Seton Hill, and put up a career-best 23 points at Gannon on Saturday.

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.