GAMEDAY CENTRAL
No. 5/18 IUP Crimson Hawks (20-2, 15-1 PSAC)
vs. Slippery Rock "The Rock" (12-10, 8-8 PSAC)
Saturday, February 4, 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 5th-ranked Crimson Hawks bring an 11-game win streak into their matchup with Slippery Rock this Saturday night in Indiana. Tipoff at the Kovalchick Complex is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. The "magic number" for IUP is three games heading into this weekend, as the Crimson Hawks lead the PSAC West with a 15-1 league record, while Slippery Rock sits third at 8-8. The Rock has lost seven of nine games since dropping a 65-50 decision to IUP at Morrow Field House in early January.  

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 20-6 all-time against Slippery Rock, including the 65-50 win back on January 6; Lombardi and the Crimson Hawks are 12-0 against SRU at home since 2006
• Slippery Rock has not beaten IUP in Indiana since the 1991-92 season, a streak of 27 consecutive wins under three different head coaches for IUP on its home court
• IUP is 12-2 at home this season, outscoring opponents by an average of 8.3 points (79.2 - 70.9) per game; The Crimson Hawks have won five straight games at the KCAC
• Slippery Rock is 4-6 on the road this year, averaging 65.4 points per game
• IUP's "magic number" number is three - The Crimson Hawks have a three-game lead over Gannon with six left to play; It would be IUP's second straight PSAC West regular season title, and seventh under Lombardi since 2010
• IUP is averaging 75.7 points and shooting 51.9 percent (82-158) from the field over its last three games; Slippery Rock leads the PSAC in scoring defense (61.3) and opponent field goal percentage (38.9 pct) this season

THE CRIMSON HAWKS ARE NEARLY UNBEATABLE AT HOME
In 11 years under HC Joe Lombardi, IUP boasts a 146-28 (.839) record at home, including a 12-2 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 an 80-10 record (.889) in their new arena.

IUP BOASTS BALANCED SCORING; FIVE PLAYERS AVERAGE AT LEAST 9.8 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 9.8 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 14.3 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 13.6. 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 9th in the nation at 78.3 percent (300-383). Over the last four games, the Crimson Hawks have hit an impressive 82.5 percent (52-63) from the charity stripe, including a 15-16 performance at Clarion. Sr. G Brandon Spain (Baltimore, Md./Glen Burnie) is one of five players shooting over 80.0 percent, leading the team at 81.6 (40-49). 

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 (103-124). 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 LEADING THE WAY DOWN THE STRETCH
IUP is third in the PSAC giving up 67.4 points per game, but that number has been decreasing as the Crimson Hawks enter the stretch run of their season. Over the last five games, IUP is giving up just 61.6 points per game while forcing opponents into an average of 18.2 turnovers.

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 14.2 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. He's second in the league with nine double-doubles, and ranks 10th in the conference with a 52.2 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.