GAMEDAY CENTRAL
(A4) IUP Crimson Hawks (27-3, 21-1 PSAC)
vs. (A5) Kutztown Golden Bears (26-3, 20-2 PSAC)
Saturday, March 11, 2017 | 8:30 p.m.
Fairmont, W.Va. | Joe Retton Arena

Fairmont State Host Page | Fighting Falcons.com
Ticket Information: Fighting Falcons.com

Full Game Notes (PDF)
Live Stats: NCAA.com | NCAA Game Center
Watch: FightingFalcons.com | portal.stretchinternet.com
Listen: WQMU 92.5 FM | u92radio.com
Listen: Smartphone | U92 Sports App
Live Updates: Twitter | @IUPMens_Bball

THE GAME AT A GLANCE
The Crimson Hawks travel to West Virginia as they open the NCAA tournament against PSAC East rival Kutztown on Saturday evening. Tipoff at Fairmont State's Joe Retton Arena is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. IUP enters the Atlantic Regional as the fourth seed with a 27-3 overall record, and coming off of a PSAC semifinals overtime loss to eventual champion Shippensburg. Kutztown fell to the Raiders in the title game, and enters this NCAAs as the fifth seed in the region with a 26-3 overall record. 

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 is making its 15th all-time appearance in the NCAA tournament, including a run of eight times in the last nine seasons under HC Joe Lombardi
• Lombardi is 16-7 in the NCAA tournament, guiding the Crimson Hawks to Atlantic Region titles and national championship game appearances in 2010 and 2015
• IUP is 9-2 in NCAA first round games, including 6-1 in those games under Lombardi; The Crimson Hawks last first round loss came to Shaw in 2012 (62-54)
• These two teams have played just once in the NCAA tournament, with Kutztown defeating IUP 92-86 in the 2009 Atlantic Region semifinals
• This game is a rematch of IUP's thrilling 77-76 win on Dec. 4 at the Kovalchick Complex, where Sr. F Devon Cottrell (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Gateway) converted a putback with 0.1 seconds to play
• The Crimson Hawks are 11-0 in road/neutral games this year while Kutztown carries at 13-2 mark

CRIMSON HAWKS MAKING THEIR EIGHTH NCAA TOURNAMENT APPEARANCE IN NINE YEARS
IUP is arguably one of the top teams in the Atlantic Region over the last 10 years. The Crimson Hawks have won two region crowns (2010 and 2015) and carry a 16-7 mark in NCAA tournament play during that span. This will be IUP's first NCAA tournament since finishing as the national runner-up two seasons ago, making a run through the region that included a 77-74 victory over West Liberty on its own court. 

IUP HAS DOMINATED THE PSAC WEST; 7 REGULAR SEASON TITLES IN 8 YEARS
Under 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). 

DIAZ NAMED PSAC WEST ATHLETE OF THE YEAR, LOMBARDI NAMED DIVISION'S TOP COACH
So. F Jacobo Diaz (Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain/CBA Gran Canaria) became the third straight IUP player to be named PSAC West Athlete of the Year, as the league announced its awards last Thursday. Coach Lombardi was named the PSAC West Coach of the Year, the third conference honor of his career. "Cobo" leads the team with 14.4 points and 9.9 rebounds per game, is second in the PSAC with 13 double-doubles, and 10th with a 52.9 FG%. 

COBO's 13 DOUBLE-DOUBLES ARE SECOND IN PSAC, MOST FOR IUP PLAYER SINCE WEBB IN 2010-11
Diaz's 13 double-doubles this year are second most in the PSAC behind Shippensburg's Dustin Sleva (18). 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 23 double-figure scoring and 17 double-figure rebounding games. 

COBO HEATING UP AT THE RIGHT TIME
Always a steady performer, Diaz's game could be the strongest it has been all year heading into the NCAA tournament. Over the last four games he's posted three double-doubles, and leads the team with averages of 16.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, and shooting percentages of 56.4 (field goal), 53.8 (3-point), and 83.3 (free throw). 

IUP BOASTS BALANCED SCORING; FIVE PLAYERS AVERAGE AT LEAST 9.9 POINTS PER GAME
The Crimson Hawks boast a lineup and style that allows for several players to lead the team in scoring on any given night. Heading into the NCAA tournament, four players are averaging double-figures in scoring, paced by Diaz at 14.4 points per game. Eight different players have scored in double-figures at least three times this season, with Diaz and Jr. G Anthony Glover (Toledo, Ohio/St. John's Jesuit) leading the way with 23 double-digit games each. 

DANTE LOMBARDI AND ANTHONY GLOVER ALSO EARNED ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS
Joining Diaz on All-PSAC West teams were So. G Dante Lombardi (Indiana, Pa./The Kiski School) and Jr. G Anthony Glover (Toledo, Ohio/St. John's Jesuit), landing on the first and second teams, respectively. It's Lombardi's second straight postseason honor after being named Freshman of the Year last year. This is Glover's first career award.

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 150 assists this season, ranking 10th in the league with 69 threes and fourth with 154 assists. He recently ended a streak of 34 straight games with a three-pointer, and has 12 games this year of at least six assists, including a career-high 11 at Seton Hill.

TWO CRIMSON HAWKS AMONG THE BEST IN PSAC IN THREE-POINTERS MADE
Glover and Lombardi rank ninth and 10th, respectively, in the PSAC in three-pointers made. Glover's 70 and Lombardi's 69 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 TEAM HAS SET PROGRAM'S SINGLE SEASON THREE-POINT RECORD WITH 283
In their 90-87 overtime loss to Shippensburg, the Crimson Hawks set a new single season program record with 283 three-pointers made. The previous record was 282, which was set during IUP's run to the national championship game in 2015. This year, six players have made at least 20 three-pointers.

DEVON COTTRELL IS THE TOP SHOT BLOCKER IN SCHOOL HISTORY
R-Sr. F Devon Cottrell (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Gateway) ranks second in the PSAC with 54 blocks, a number that is currently fourth in IUP single season history. Already the program's career leader with 204 blocks, he boasts three of the top four single season shot blocking seasons in program history. Cottrell also became the eighth player in PSAC history with 200 career blocks.  

IUP AMONG TOP FREE THROW 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 78.2 percent (398-509). All eight regular players in the IUP lineup are shooting better than 70.0 percent from the line, including Lombardi, who is eighth in the PSAC at 81.4 percent. 

IUP PERFORMING WELL IN THE FINAL FIVE MINUTES, SHOOTING 82 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 81.8 percent (139-170). Out of the eight players who have attempted a free throw in that time frame, only one is converting below 73 percent, while Glover leads the way with an 88.9 (16-18) conversion rate.