GAMEDAY CENTRAL
(4/3) IUP Crimson Hawks (19-1, 12-1 PSAC)
vs. Mercyhurst Lakers (14-4, 9-4 PSAC)
Saturday, February 2, 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)
Mercyhurst M. Basketball Home Page

COMING UP
Wednesday, February 6 vs. Slippery Rock, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 9 at Gannon, 3 p.m.

THE GAME AT A GLANCE
No. 4 IUP men's basketball (19-1, 12-1 PSAC) returns home to begin the second half of its divisional schedule with  a Saturday matchup against Mercyhurst (14-4, 9-4 PSAC). Tipoff at the Kovalchick Complex is 7:30 p.m. The Crimson Hawks extended their win streak to five games with an 85-72 victory at Seton Hill Wednesday night. The Lakers have a division-best 6-game win streak after their 90-59 win at Edinboro this week.  

TIPOFF NOTES
>> The Crimson Hawks became the first PSAC West team to clinch a conference tournament spot with their win at Seton Hill. It's the program's 12th straight postseason berth.
>> Sr. G Dante Lombardi was one of five Crimson Hawks in double-figures with 23 points, also dishing out 7 assists.
>> IUP outscored Seton Hill 44-31 in the final 20 minutes after the game was tied at 41-41 heading to halftime. The Crimson Hawks turned it over a season-low 5 times to withstand 6 first half 3-pointers by the Griffins. 
>> It was the fifth straight 80-point game for the Crimson Hawks, who are averaging 91.0 points during that span.
>> Lombardi needs just 2 assists for 513 and become IUP's assist leader, passing Devante Chance (2011-15). 
>> The Crimson Hawks are off to their best start (19-1) under HC Joe Lombardi. 
>> IUP is 12-0 at home, including 6-0 against PSAC teams. They average 82.6 points with a +18.8 scoring margin.
>> Lombardi is 18-8 all-time against Mercyhurst. IUP has 7 straight wins over the Lakers by an average of 9.1 points dating back to the 2015-16 season. 
>> Lombardi and the Crimson Hawks are 12-2 against Mercyhurst at home. The Lakers' last win in the Kovalchick Complex came on December 3, 2014 with a 65-62 victory. 
>> IUP defeated Mercyhurst 77-66 in Erie on Jan. 9. Jr. G Malik Miller scored a game-high 21 points, including 17 in the second half. Sr. Fs Jacobo Diaz and Willem Brandwijk each had double-doubles. 

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE LAKERS 
>> Mercyhurst is 14-4 overall and 3rd in the PSAC West with a 9-4 conference record. 
>> The Lakers' 6-game win streak is the best in division and 2nd best in the PSAC (West Chester, W10). 
>> They have a +17.2 scoring margin during their win streak, including back-to-back road blowout wins over Cal (90-55) and Edinboro (90-59). 
>> Mercyhurst is 5-2 on the road this year with losses at East Stroudsburg (78-61) and Shippensburg (62-60).

CRIMSON HAWKS ONE OF TOP TEAMS IN THE NATION
>> IUP remained at No. 4 for the second straight week in the NABC Top 25. 
>> The Crimson Hawks have been ranked in the top eight all year, including a six-week stretch at No. 3. 
>> They are No. 3 in the D2SIDA Media Top 25 for the ninth 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 all six first place votes. 

IUP BOASTS ONE OF TOUGHEST SCHEDULES IN DIVISION II
>> IUP has the 22nd toughest schedule in Division II with an opponents win percent of .592 (222-153).
>> 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 77-42 (.647) 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. 6 West Chester, No. 7 Shippensburg, No. 10 East Stroudsburg and No. 10 Concord. 

CRIMSON HAWKS OFF TO BEST STARTS OF LOMBARDI ERA
>> The Crimson Hawks' 19 wins in their first 20 games is the best start of any Joe Lombardi team.
>> The 2009-10 national finalist team started 18-1 before a Feb. 7 road loss to Clarion. That was IUP's final regular season loss of the season, winning the PSAC and Atlantic Region before falling in the Division II title game. 
>> The 14 consecutive wins to open this 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 294-98 (.750), Coach Lombardi is just 6 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 (319) and East Stroudsburg's Jeff Wilson (311).
>> Lombardi is a combined 17-8 against Driscoll and Wilson in his 13 years at IUP. 

JACOBO DIAZ ONE OF THE TOP PLAYERS IN DIVISION II
>> Sr. F Jacobo Diaz ranks in the top 10 in the PSAC in 14 statistical categories, including 4th in scoring (19.2 PPG) and 2nd in rebounding (9.6 RPG). His 12 double-doubles lead the PSAC and are tied for 4th in Division II.
>> Diaz has led IUP in scoring eight 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). 
>> In January Diaz was named to the Bevo Francis Watch List, an award given annually to the best player from Division II, Division III, NIAA or NJCAA. 

DANTE LOMBARDI ONE OF TOP POINT GUARDS IN PSAC
>> With 511 career assists, Sr. G Dante Lombardi is 2 shy of passing Devante Chance as IUP's all-time leader. 
>> He's the only player in the PSAC averaging better than 15 points and 5 assists per game. 
>> His 16.6 PPG average is 18th in the PSAC. His 5.7 APG is 2nd in the league and 33rd in Division II. 

MALIK MILLER PROVING TO BE VALUABLE BACKCOURT SCORER
>> Jr. G Malik Miller is 2nd on the team and 17th in the PSAC with 16.8 PPG.
>> He has six 20-point games, hitting the mark in three straight games in January.