GAMEDAY CENTRAL
(4/3) IUP Crimson Hawks (16-1, 9-1 PSAC)
vs. Cal U Vulcans (6-10, 4-6 PSAC)
Wednesday, January 23, 2019 | 7:30 p.m.
Indiana, Pa. | Kovalchick Complex (4,000)
*Rankings reflect NABC/D2SIDA Top 25 Polls

HOW TO FOLLOW
Stats: IUPAthletics.com | Statbroadcast
Watch: IUPathletics.com/watch | IUP-TV
Video App: PSAC Sports Network
Radio: WQMU 92.5 FM | u92radio.com
Audio App: U92.5 Sports App (Android & iPhone)
Social Media: Twitter | @IUP_MBB

GAME PREVIEWS
IUP Game Notes (PDF)
Cal M. Basketball Home

COMING UP
Saturday, January 26 at Clarion, 3 p.m.
Wednesday, January 30 at Seton Hill, 7:30 p.m.

THE GAME AT A GLANCE
No. 4 IUP men's basketball (16-1, 9-1 PSAC) plays their second home game in three days when they host Cal U (6-10, 4-6 PSAC) Wednesday night. Tipoff at the Kovalchick Complex is 7:30 p.m. The Crimson Hawks started a new win streak Monday with a 102-53 blowout win over Edinboro. The Vulcans have dropped two straight and three of their last four, including a narrow 72-70 loss at home to Seton hill Monday afternoon. 

TIPOFF NOTES
>> Jr. G Malik Miller scored 18 points as seven different players reached double-figures in scoring for the Crimson Hawks in their win over Edinboro. Sr. G Dante Lombardi and Sr. F Jacobo Diaz each had double-doubles. 
>> It was the fourth straight double-double for Diaz and the second of the season for Lombardi. 
>> IUP forced the Fighting Scots into 21 turnovers and they shot just 27.9 percent (17-61).
>> The Crimson Hawks posted season-highs of 52 rebounds and 16 steals.
>> The Crimson Hawks are one of only three teams in Division II to be ranked in the top 5 in each poll this season.
>> This is tied for the best 17-game start under HC Joe Lombardi. IUP opened the 2008-09 season with a 16-1 record in its first 17 games, which included an 11-game win streak to start the year. 
>> The Crimson Hawks are 11-0 at home this season and are outscoring opponents by 18.0 points per game. 
>> IUP is 47-5 (.904) at home in January since the 2007-08 season. The Crimson Hawks have won 19 of their last 20 January home games over the last five years. 
>> Lombardi is 20-6 all-time against Cal, including a 12-3 mark since the 2011-12 season.
>> Lombardi and the Crimson Hawks are 6-2 at home against the Vulcans in the same time frame, with those losses coming in the 2013-14 and 2015-16 seasons.
 
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE VULCANS
>> California is 6-10 overall and in 6th place in the PSAC West standings with a 4-6 league record.
>> The Vulcans have dropped back-to-back games at UPJ and to Seton Hill and have lost three of their last four.
>> They started the season 1-6 before winning four of five games in December and January. 
>> All five starters average at least 30 minutes and 11.7 points per game, with bench players averaging just 20.4 minutes over the last five games.

CRIMSON HAWKS ONE OF TOP TEAMS IN THE NATION
>> IUP moved up to No. 4 in this week's NABC Top 25 after sitting at No. 5 last week. 
>> The Crimson Hawks sat in the No. 3 spot of the Coaches' poll for six straight weeks prior to their loss. 
>> They are No. 3 in the D2SIDA Media Top 25 for the eighth straight week. 
>> IUP is among seven Division II teams with 1 or fewer losses this season. 
>> They opened the year at No. 8 in the coaches and No. 6 in the media preseason polls. 
>> The Crimson Hawks are 3-0 against teams ranked in the top 25 - (16/15) Virginia State, 69-67; (11/13) Shippensburg, 88-77; and at (RV/18) Fairmont State, 83-64. 
>> IUP is still No. 1 in the D2SIDA Atlantic Region rankings, picking up five of the six first place votes.  

IUP BOASTS ONE OF TOUGHEST SCHEDULES IN DIVISION II
>> IUP has the 8th toughest schedule in Division II with an opponents win percent of .624 (169-102).
>> That leads the Atlantic Region with West Virginia State the closest with the 67th toughest (.565) schedule.
>> The Crimson Hawks went 7-0 in their non-conference schedule that included two top 25 teams.
>> IUP's non-conference schedule included six Division II schools that are a combined 62-40 (.608) this season.
>> IUP had an average scoring margin of +17.0 in their seven non-conference games.
>> The Crimson Hawks are a combined 6-1 against teams currently in the D2SIDA Atlantic Region top 10 rankings, with wins over No. 3 Virginia State, No. 4 Fairmont State, No. 5 Shippensburg, No. 7 West Chester, No. 8 East Stroudsburg and No. 10 Concord. 

CRIMSON HAWKS OFF TO ONE OF BEST STARTS IN LOMBARDI ERA
>> At 16-1 the Crimson Hawks are tied for the best 17-game start in 13 years under HC Joe Lombardi. IUP opened the 2009-10 season with 16-1 record and ended up winning 18 of its first 19 games. 
>> The 14 consecutive wins to open the year marked the fourth win streak of at least 14 games under Lombardi. His longest win streak was 18 games during the 2016-17 season. 

LOMBARDI APPROACHING ANOTHER MILESTONE
>> At 290-98 (.747), Coach Lombardi is just 10 wins shy of becoming the 10th coach in PSAC history with 300 wins.
>> Already IUP's all-time victories leader, he's currently 3rd among active PSAC coaches in victories, trailing Kutztown's Bernie Driscoll (318) and East Stroudsburg's Jeff Wilson (308).

JACOBO DIAZ ONE OF THE TOP PLAYERS IN DIVISION II
>> Sr. F Jacobo Diaz is one of the top players in the PSAC, the Atlantic Region, and in Division II. 
>> He ranks in the top 10 in the PSAC in 14 statistical categories, including 3rd in scoring (19.9 PPG) and rebounding (9.4 RPG). His 10 double-doubles lead the PSAC and are 5th in Division II.
>> Diaz has led IUP in scoring seven times this year and has nine different 20-point performances. He scored a season-high 29 points at Slippery Rock and against Westminster, and had 28 at East Stroudsburg.
>> Diaz was named PSAC West Athlete of the Week twice this year (Nov. 12, Nov. 26). 

DANTE LOMBARDI ONE OF TOP POINT GUARDS IN PSAC
>> Sr. G Dante Lombardi was named PSAC West Athlete of the Week after averaging 24.5 points and 8.0 assists in wins over East Stroudsburg and Edinboro. 
>> He's the only player in the PSAC averaging better than 15 points and 5 assists per game. 
>> His 16.1 PPG average is 3rd on the team and 19th in the PSAC. His 5.6 APG is 2nd in the league. 

MALIK MILLER PROVING TO BE VALUABLE BACKCOURT SCORER
>> Jr. G Malik Miller is 2nd on the team and 13th in the PSAC with 17.1 PPG.
>> He has six 20-point games, hitting the mark three times in the last six games. 
>> Miller is averaging 19.7 PPG against ranked opponents, including 24 points against Virginia State.