GAMEDAY CENTRAL
(3/3) IUP Crimson Hawks (13-0, 6-0 PSAC)
at Mercyhurst Lakers (8-3, 3-3 PSAC)
Wednesday, January 9, 2019 | 7:30 p.m.
Erie, Pa. | Mercyhurst Athletic Center (1,800)
*Rankings reflect NABC/D2SIDA Top 25 Polls

HOW TO FOLLOW
Stats: HurstAthletics.com | Sidearm Stats
Watch: HurstAthletics.com | Stretch Internet
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)
Mercyhurst Preview

COMING UP
Saturday, January 12 at Slippery Rock, 3 p.m.
Wednesday, January 16 at East Stroudsburg, 8 p.m.

THE GAME AT A GLANCE
No. 3 IUP men's basketball (13-0, 6-0 PSAC) opens a three-game road trip Wednesday when they head to Erie to square off against Mercyhurst (8-3, 3-3 PSAC). The Crimson Hawks are in the midst of one of the best starts in program history and are coming off an 86-73 win over Pitt-Johnstown Saturday night. The Lakers have dropped two straight but by a combined three points losses to Slippery Rock (92-91, 2OT) and at Shippensburg (62-60). 

TIPOFF NOTES
>> IUP saw several individual highlights in its 13-point win over UPJ, including a career-high 21 points from Sr. F Willem Brandwijk. Jr. G Malik Miller led all scorers with 25 points while Sr. G Dante Lombardi posted his second career double-double with 13 points and 12 assists. 
>> It was the Crimson Hawks' seventh 80-point outing of the season, including their fourth in the last five games. The seven 80-point games is the most by IUP in its first 13 games since the 2009-10 season (eight).
>> IUP hit 10 3-pointers for the sixth time in its last seven games. Over that span the Crimson Hawks are averaging 10.6 made 3s per game with a 41.8 3FG percentage.
>> The 13-game win streak by the Crimson Hawks is their best start under HC Joe Lombardi since going 14-0 in 2013-14. IUP started the 2009-10 season with an 11-game win streak. 
>> It's also the sixth win streak of at least 13 games in the Lombardi era. The longest was 18 straight wins during the 2016-17 campaign, with 14-game streaks in 2009-10 and 2013-14. 
>> Lombardi is 17-8 all-time against Mercyhurst. IUP has 6 straight wins over the Lakers by an average of 8.8 points dating back to the 2015-16 season. 
>> Lombardi is 5-6 against Mercyhurst in Erie, including a 67-65 win last year and an 80-69 win in 2016-17.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE LAKERS
>> Mercyhurst has an 8-3 overall record tied for 4th in the PSAC West with a 3-3 league mark. 
>> The Lakers have lost two straight games - 92-91 (2OT) vs. Slippery Rock and 62-60 at Shippensburg.
>> That loss to Slippery Rock is the Lakers' only home loss this year. They are 7-1 in the MAC and scoring an average of 85.3 points at home.
>> Mercyhurst's three losses have come to PSAC teams with a combined records of 29-12 (overall) and 17-3 (PSAC).
>> The Lakers' scoring average is currently 12 points higher than last year. Grad transfer Jason Massey (Brown) leads the team and ranks 15th in the PSAC with 16.5 PPG.  

CRIMSON HAWKS ONE OF TOP TEAMS IN THE NATION
>> IUP has been ranked No. 3 in both the NABC and D2SIDA Media Top 25 polls for six straight weeks. IUP 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 received all six first place votes in the latest D2SIDA Atlantic Region rankings for the six straight release. 
>> 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 WENT 7-0 AGAINST STRONG NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
>> The Crimson Hawks wrapped up a 7-0 non-conference schedule that included two top 25 teams, and a group of six Division II schools that went a combined 121-60 (.669) a season ago. 
>> Those six Division II schools are a combined 46-29 (.613) this season, including a combined 18-5 record by MEC schools Concord and Fairmont State. 
>> Three schools are ranked in the top six of the latest D2SIDA Atlantic Region poll - Fairmont State at No. 3, Concord at No. 4 and Virginia State at No. 6. 
>> IUP owned an average scoring margin of +17.0 in their seven non-conference games.

CRIMSON HAWKS OFF TO ONE OF BEST STARTS IN LOMBARDI ERA
>> This marks the third start of at least 10-0 under HC Joe Lombardi in his 13 years at IUP (2009-10, 2013-14).
>> IUP's best start under Lombardi came during the 2013-14 season with 14 straight wins to open the year.
>> The Crimson Hawks began the 2009-10 season with 11 straight victories en route to a national finalist finish.
>> This is Lombardi's sixth win streak of more than 13 games. His longest was 18 straight wins in 2016-17.

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 12 statistical categories, including 5th in scoring (19.8 PPG) and 6th in rebounding (8.3 RPG). His 6 double-doubles are 2nd in the conference. 
>> Diaz has led IUP in scoring six times this year and has seven different 20-point performances. He scored a season-high 29 points in 31 minutes against Westminster.
>> Diaz has been 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 is one of two PSAC players averaging better than 15 points and 5 assists per game. 
>> His 15.6 PPG average is 3rd on the team and 19th in the PSAC. His 5.6 APG is 2nd in the league. 
>> Lombardi is also 5th in the PSAC with 3.0 3-pointers per game and 13th with a 37.5 3FG%. 
>> He has four 20-point games this year, hitting the mark three times in the last seven games. 

MALIK MILLER PROVING TO BE VALUABLE BACKCOURT SCORER
>> Jr. G Malik Miller is 2nd on the team and 13th in the PSAC with 16.9 PPG.
>> He has five 20-point games, hitting the mark in three of the last four outings, including a career-high 26 points in the 78-57 win over Gannon.
>> Miller is coming off a week where he averaged 25.5 PPG and shot 65.5 percent (19-29) from the floor with 12 3-pointers and 10 assists in wins over Gannon and Pitt-Johnstown
>> Miller is averaging 19.7 PPG against ranked opponents, including 24 points against Virginia State.