GAMEDAY CENTRAL
(6/6) IUP Crimson Hawks (19-2, 12-2 PSAC)
vs. Slippery Rock "The Rock" (9-11, 7-7 PSAC)
Wednesday, February 6, 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)
Slippery Rock M. Basketball Home Page

COMING UP
Saturday, February 9 at Gannon, 3 p.m.
Wednesday, February 13 at Pitt-Johnstown, 7:30 p.m.

THE GAME AT A GLANCE
No. 6 IUP men's basketball (19-2, 12-2 PSAC) looks for revenge when they host Slippery Rock (15-6, 12-2 PSAC) Wednesday night at the Kovalchick Complex. Tipoff is 7:30 p.m. SRU handed the Crimson Hawks their first loss of the season on Jan. 12 with a 74-69 decision at Morrow Field House. IUP enters this matchup coming off its second loss of the season, losing at home to Mercyhurst 64-63 in heartbreaking fashion Saturday. The Rock defeated Cal 91-71 over the weekend. 

TIPOFF NOTES
>> IUP rallied from 10 points down at halftime but gave up the lead when the Lakers knocked down the eventual game-winning 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds left Saturday night at the KCAC. Jr. G Malik Miller had a game-high 20 points while Sr. F Jacobo Diaz added 19. 
>> Sr. G Dante Lombardi became IUP's all-time assist leader in the loss. Diaz became the 2nd player in program history with 1,500 points and 1,000 rebounds. 
>> The loss was the first home defeat for the Crimson Hawks, who had won 12 straight to start the year. 
>> IUP is 12-1 at home this season with an average scoring margin of +17.2 The Crimson Hawks are 6-1 against PSAC teams at home with five 80-point outings. 
>> IUP's loss at Slippery Rock in January ended its 14-game win streak to start the season. 
>> This matchup will break the first place tie between these two teams with six regular season games left after tonight. 
>> Lombardi is 23-7 lifetime against Slippery Rock including a 14-0 mark at home.
>> IUP has won 29 straight home games in the Slippery Rock series, a streak that dates back to the 1992-93 season. IUP's last home loss to SRU was a 79-73 overtime defeat in 1992. 

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE ROCK 
>> Slippery Rock is 15-6 overall and in a tie with IUP for first place in the PSAC West at 12-2. 
>> The Rock's recent 12-game win streak is the 2nd longest in the PSAC this season (IUP, W14).
>> They are 5-5 away from Morrow Field House this year, including a 5-4 record in true road games. SRU is 4-2 against PSAC teams on the road with an average scoring margin of +3.0.
>> SRU is 3-2 against teams currently ranked in the top 10 of the media's Atlantic Region poll, including wins over IUP, West Chester and Mercyhurst. The Rock loss to Fairmont State and Notre Dame College. 

CRIMSON HAWKS ONE OF TOP TEAMS IN THE NATION
>> IUP dropped back two spots to No. 6 int his week's 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 also No. 6 in the D2SIDA Media Top 25.
>> IUP is among seven Division II teams with 2 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 fell to No. 2 in this week's D2SIDA Atlantic Region media rankings, splitting first place votes with West Liberty.

IUP BOASTS ONE OF TOUGHEST SCHEDULES IN DIVISION II
>> IUP has the 10th toughest schedule in Division II with an opponents win percent of .600 (246-164).
>> 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 80-45 (.640) this season.
>> IUP had an average scoring margin of +17.0 in their seven non-conference games.
>> The Crimson Hawks are a combined 6-2 against teams currently in the D2SIDA Atlantic Region top 10 rankings, with wins over No. 3 Virginia State, No. 4s Fairmont State and West Chester, No. 6 Shippensburg, No. 8 Mercyhurst and No. 10 Concord. 

CRIMSON HAWKS OFF TO BEST STARTS OF LOMBARDI ERA
>> The Crimson Hawks' 19 wins in their first 20 games was 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 294-99 (.748), 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 (9.4 RPG). His 12 double-doubles lead the PSAC and are tied for 7th 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
>> Sr. G Dante Lombardi became IUP's all-time assist leader in Saturday's loss to Mercyhurst, passing Devante Chance (2011-15). He enters Wednesdaywith 518 career helpers. 
>> Lombardi is the only player in the PSAC averaging better than 15 points and 5 assists per game. 
>> His 16.3 PPG average is 18th in the PSAC. His 5.8 APG is 2nd in the league and 32nd in Division II.