GAMEDAY CENTRAL
(3/3) IUP Crimson Hawks (4-0, 0-0 PSAC)
vs. USciences Devils (2-2, 0-0 CACC)
Friday, November 23, 2018 | 7:30 p.m.
Indiana, Pa. | Kovalchick Complex (4,000)

(3/3) IUP Crimson Hawks (4-0, 0-0 PSAC)
vs. Le Moyne Dolphins (3-1, 0-0 NE10)
Saturday, November 24, 2018 | 7:30 p.m.
Indiana, Pa. | Kovalchick Complex (4,000)
*Rankings reflect NABC/D2SIDA Top 25 Polls

HOW TO FOLLOW
Stats: IUPAthletics.com.com | USciences / Le Moyne
Radio: WQMU 92.5 FM | u92radio.com
App: U92.5 Sports App (Android & iPhone)
Social Media: Twitter | @IUP_MBB

GAME PREVIEWS
IUP Game Notes (PDF)
USciences Preview
Le Moyne Preview

COMING UP
Saturday, December 1 at (RV/22) Kutztown, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, December 2 at Millersville, 7:30 p.m. 

THE WEEKEND AT A GLANCE
No. 3 IUP men's basketball (4-0, 0-0 PSAC) hosts a big weekend with its 2018 IUP Thanksgiving Classic at the Kovalchick Complex Friday and Saturday night. The Crimson Hawks will play the University of the Sciences (2-2, 0-0 CACC) and Le Moyne (3-1, 0-0 NE10) with tip times of 7:30 p.m. each night. IUP enters the weekend perfect on the season after a 106-77 non-conference home win over Westminster Monday night. USciences defeated Southern Connecticut State 67-62 Tuesday and Le Moyne downed Adelphi 83-74 the same night. 

TIPOFF NOTES
>> Also making the trip to Indiana is Pitt-Johnstown, which will give IUP a look at Le Moyne Friday night at 5:15 p.m. The Mountain Cats play USciences Saturday. 
>> These are the final two non-conference games before IUP opens its conference schedule next weekend. The Crimson Hawks will have one more non-conference game left Dec. 14 at Fairmont State. 
>> This is IUP's fifth straight home game to start the season. USciences is 1-1 away from home and Le Moyne is 2-1 on the road.
>> IUP brings back its Thanksgiving weekend tournament after a one year hiatus. The Crimson Hawks have won 10 straight over five years from 2012-16.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE DEVILS AND THE DOLPHINS 
>> USciences is 2-2 on the year, spliting both its road and home schedules. 
>> Three of the Devils' games have been decided by 5 points or less, including 69-67 and 67-62 wins over Southern Connecticut State. USciences lost to Kutztown 76-71 at home November 14. 
>> This is the sixth straight year USciences will make the trip to Indiana with the Crimson Hawks winning each of the previous five contests, including an 80-57 decision last year. 
>> Le Moyne is 3-1 on the season with back-to-back wins over Adelphi (83-74) and Southern Connecticut St. (85-75)
>> The Dolphins are one of two teams on IUP's schedule that advanced to the Elite 8 last year, finishing the season with a 27-7 overall record. 

CRIMSON HAWKS ONE OF TOP TEAMS IN THE NATION
>> IUP shows up at No. 3 in this week's NABC and D2SIDA Top 25 polls, released November 20. The Crimson Hawks moved up five spots from the preseason coaches poll. 
>> IUP is also the top team in the Atlantic Region according to the D2SIDA media rankings. 
>> IUP opened the year ranked No. 8 in the NABC Top 25 and No. 6 in the D2SIDA Top 25 polls. 
>> The Crimson Hawks also received national attention from preseason magazines, earning a No. 3 ranking by Street & Smith's and a No. 13 ranking from the Division II Bulletin. 

IUP CARRIES STRONG NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE IN 2018-19
>> IUP put together arguably the strongest non-conference schedule in the Atlantic Region 
>> The Crimson Hawks put two of the top teams from the CIAA in Virginia State and Bowie State on the schedule, along with other strong teams in Concord (MEC), USciences (CACC) and Le Moyne (NE10). 
>> Virginia State opened the year No. 15 in the NABC Top 25 and was the top seed in last year's NCAA Atlantic Region Championships. Le Moyne was the top seed in the East and advanced to the Elite 8. 

JACOBO DIAZ NAMED PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN, ONE OF TOP PLAYERS IN ATLANTIC REGION
>> Sr. F Jacobo Diaz earned presason All-American honors from Street & Smith's and the Division II Bulletin. 
>> A 2017 All-American and PSAC West Athlete of the Year as a sophomore, Diaz is one of five players in program history with 1,200 career points and 800 career rebounds. 
>> He has 31 career double-doubles, the 3rd most among active Division II leaders and most among PSAC players.
>> Diaz ranks in the top 10 in the PSAC in 14 different statistical categories, including 3rd in scoring (24.5 PPG) and 4th in rebounding (9.0 RPG). 
>> He has four 20-point games and two straight double-doubles entering the weekend. 
>> Diaz has made 17 straight free throws, including an 11-11 performance against Westminster.

DANTE LOMBARDI ALSO BRINGS HIGH EXPECTATIONS INTO SENIOR SEASON
>> Sr. G Dante Lombardi is a three-time All-PSAC West honoree, including a 1st team selection last year.
>> He's the fifth player in IUP history with 1,000 career points and 400 career assists. He enters the weekend 1,096 points and 423 assists. 
>> He is 2nd in the PSAC and 22nd in Division II with 6.5 APG. He had a season-high 9 assists against Westminster.
>> Lombardi has a 3-pointer in all four games this season and 26 of 31 contests dating back to last year. His 177 career 3-pointers is 7th in program history. 

MALIK MILLER STEPPING UP IN FIRST YEAR AS A STARTER
>> Jr. G Malik Miller is tied for 2nd on the team with 15.8 PPG in his first year as a starter. 
>> He's posted double-figures in scoring all four games this year, including a season-high 24 points in the win over Virginia State.
>> Miller is shooting 82.4 percent from the foul line (14-17) and is averaging 5.3 RPG and 3.3 APG