GAMEDAY CENTRAL
No. 2/6 IUP Crimson Hawks (25-2, 20-1 PSAC)
at California Vulcanss (10-17, 7-14 PSAC)
Saturday, February 25, 2017 | 5:00 p.m.
California, Pa. | Convocation Center

Full Game Notes (PDF)
Live Stats: SidearmStats.com | Fan Stats | Media Stats
Listen: WQMU 92.5 FM | u92radio.com
Listen: Smartphone | U92 Sports App
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THE GAME AT A GLANCE
The 2nd-ranked Crimson Hawks wrap up their regular season this Saturday afternoon when they head to California to face the Vulcans. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. from the Convocation Center. IUP enters the matchup looking for an undefeated regular season road record, a feat that's only been done two other times in program history. The Vulcans are still alive for a postseason berth, as they need a win plus a Seton Hill loss on Saturday to clinch the sixth seed in the PSAC West. 

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
• A win would be the Crimson Hawks' 26th of the season, which would tie the PSAC regular season record; Cal had 26 regular season wins during its 1991-92 Final Four season
• A victory would also be IUP's 17th straight, which is the most consecutive wins under HC Joe Lombardi during his tenure and third most in program history (24 in 1993-94; 21 in 1994-95)
• Lombardi boasts six win streaks of at least 12 games during his IUP tenure - 12 in 2008-09; 15 in 2009-10; 12 in 2010-11; 13 in 2013-14; 12 in 2015-16; and 16 this season
• Lombardi is 17-6 all-time against Cal, including a current six-game win streak that dates back to 2013-14
• The Crimson Hawks are 10-0 away from home this year, outscoring opponents by more than 13 points a game
• IUP is looking for an 8-0 record in PSAC West road games this year, which would be the program's best record since going 6-0 in 1994-95
• The Vulcans are 7-5 at home this year, but have lost back-to-back games against UPJ and Gannon

IUP HAS DOMINATED THE PSAC WEST; 7 REGULAR SEASON TITLES IN 8 YEARS
Under HC Joe Lombardi, the Crimson Hawks have been the most successful team in the PSAC. Since Lombardi arrived in 2006, no other school has more PSAC tournament titles (three), division titles (seven), or tournament appearances (10). IUP has also earned berths in seven NCAA tournaments, including a pair of national championship game appearances in 2010 and 2015.  

#2 NATIONAL RANKING IS HIGHEST UNDER LOMBARDI SINCE 2010-11 PRESEASON
The Crimson Hawks have moved up in each of the last eight NABC Division II Coaches Top 25 polls, going from No. 21 at the end of December to No. 2 this week. It's the best team ranking for IUP since being voted No. 2 in the 2010-11 preseason Top 25. 

IUP BOASTS BALANCED SCORING; FIVE PLAYERS AVERAGE AT LEAST 9.5 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 9.6 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 14.0 average, while Jr. G Anthony Glover (Toledo, Ohio/St. John's Jesuit) averages 13.7, and So. G Dante Lombardi (Indiana, Pa./The Kiski School) averages 13.4. Jr. F Blake Danielak (Georgetown, Tex./Liberty Hill) is IUP's highest scorer off the bench, averaging 9.6 points with 13 double-digit scoring games. All eight players in IUP's main rotation have hit double-figures at least three times this year, and six different Crimson Hawks have led the team in scoring. 

TWO CRIMSON HAWKS AMONG TOP 10 IN PSAC IN THREE-POINTERS
Glover and Lombardi rank eighth and ninth, respectively, in the PSAC in three-pointers made. Glover's 64 and Lombardi's 63 threes are both in the top 20 in single season program history, and could threaten to break into the top five all-time (Jason Bullock, 86, 1994-95). 

THIS YEAR'S IUP TEAM THREATENING PROGRAM'S THREE-POINT RECORD
Led by Glover and Lombardi, the Crimson Hawks are close to breaking the program's single season record for three-pointers made. IUP has made 257 through 27 games, just 25 away from tying the record of 282 set during the national finalist year of 2014-15. The Crimson Hawks average 9.5 threes made per game. 

DANTE LOMBARDI ONE OF THE TOP THREE-POINT/ASSIST MEN IN THE PSAC
Lombardi is one of only two players in the PSAC with 60 three-pointers and 140 assists this season, ranking ninth in the league with 63 threes and sixth with 5.3 assists per game. He has a three-pointer in 32 straight games dating back to last season and has 11 games this year of at least six assists, including a career-high 11 at Seton Hill. 

COBO's 11 DOUBLE-DOUBLES ARE SECOND IN PSAC, MOST FOR IUP PLAYER SINCE WEBB IN 2010-11
Diaz's 11 double-doubles this year are second most in the PSAC behind Shippensburg's Dustin Sleva (17). 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 20 double-figure scoring and 15 double-figure rebounding games. 

DEVON COTTRELL IS THE TOP SHOT BLOCKER IN SCHOOL HISTORY
R-Sr. F Devon Cottrell (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Gateway) ranks third in the PSAC with 48 blocks, a number that is currently fourth in IUP single season history. Already the program's career leader with 199 blocks, he boasts three of the top four single season shot blocking seasons in program history. Cottrell is also looking to become the eighth player in PSAC history with 200 career blocks.  

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 10th in the nation at 78.4 percent (345-440). Over the last eight games, the Crimson Hawks have hit an impressive 80.8 percent (97-120) from the charity stripe, including a 10-10 performance at Edinboro. Lombardi is one of five players shooting over 80.0 percent, leading the team and ranking eighth in the PSAC at 81.8 (72-88) percent.

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 82.8 percent (111-134). 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 89.1 (41-46) conversion rate. 

NCAA ATLANTIC REGION RANKINGS
IUP moved up to No. 2 in this week's NCAA Division II Regional Rankings, after debuting at No. 3 last week. These rankings determine the 64 teams selected to the NCAA tournament, with the top eight in each region earning berths. The No. 1 seed in each region hosts the eight-team regional tournament. The next regional rankings will be released in the afternoon of Wednesday, March 1.