GAMEDAY CENTRAL
(6/6) IUP Crimson Hawks (20-2, 13-2 PSAC)
at Gannon Golden Knights (8-14, 6-9 PSAC)
Saturday, February 9, 2019 | 3 p.m.
Erie, Pa. | Hammermill Center (2.800)
*Rankings reflect NABC/D2SIDA Top 25 Polls

HOW TO FOLLOW
Stats: GannonSports.com | Sidearm Stats
Watch: GannonSports.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)
Gannon M. Basketball Preview

COMING UP
Wednesday, February 13 at UPJ, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, February 20 vs. Clarion, 7:30 p.m.

THE GAME AT A GLANCE
No. 6 IUP men's basketball (20-2, 13-2 PSAC) hits the road for a key late season divisional matchup Saturday at Gannon (8-14, 6-9 PSAC). Tipoff is 3 p.m. The Crimson Hawks successfully rebounded from their second loss of the season with a dominant 77-48 home victory over Slippery Rock Wednesday night. The Golden Knights have dropped two straight, including Wednesday's 68-54 home loss to Seton Hill.  

TIPOFF NOTES
>> Jr. G Malik Miller just missed his first career double-double with 21 points and 9 rebounds in Wednesday's big win. Sr. F Jacobo Diaz added 19 points and 8 boards while nine different players added to the scoring column. 
>> Already having clinched a PSAC tournament berth, the win guaranteed IUP a top-four seed and home game.
>> The IUP defense had its best game of the year, forcing SRU into a season-worst 25.9 field goal percentage, including a 5-29 performance from 3-point range. 
>> The victory put the Crimson Hawks back on top of the standings in the PSAC West with six games to play.
>> It was IUP's seventh win by more than 29 points and its biggest at home since the 102-53 win over Edinboro.
>> The Crimson Hawks are 7-1 on the road this year including a 3-1 record against PSAC West teams. They have an average scoring margin of +10.6 away from home.
>> IUP HC Joe Lombardi is 15-10 against Gannon, including six wins in the last seven meetings. 
>> The Crimson Hawks won this year's first meeting 78-57 at the KCAC Jan. 2. Miller scored a season-high 26 points and Diaz added 21. 
>> IUP is 6-5 against Gannon in the Hammermill Center since the Golden Knights joined the PSAC in 2008. The Crimson Hawks have won twice in Erie since the 2013-14 season, including a 72-62 win in 2017 and a 72-61 victory in 2016. 

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS 
>> Gannon is 8-14 overall and fifth in the PSAC West standings with a 6-9 conference record.
>> The Golden Knights rebounded from a 3-10 start to the season with a four-game win, all against divisional opponents. They have lost four of their last five games. 
>> GU is 4-7 at home this season but boast an 82-74 victory over Slippery Rock on Jan. 30. 

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 8th toughest schedule in Division II with an opponents win percent of .605 (268-175).
>> 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 83-47 (.638) this season.
>> IUP had an average scoring margin of +17.0 in their seven non-conference games.
>> The Crimson Hawks are a combined 7-2 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. 6s Slippery Rock and Shippensburg, No. 8 Mercyhurst and No. 10 Concord. 

CRIMSON HAWKS OFF TO BEST STARTS OF LOMBARDI ERA
>> The Crimson Hawks' 20 wins in their first 22 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 295-99 (.749), Coach Lombardi is just 5 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 (320) and East Stroudsburg's Jeff Wilson (312).
>> 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 13 statistical categories, including 4th in scoring (19.1 PPG) and 3rd in rebounding (9.4 RPG). His 12 double-doubles lead the PSAC and are tied for 8th 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 last Saturday's loss to Mercyhurst, passing Devante Chance (2011-15). His 523 assists are 7th most among active Division II players. 
>> Lombardi is the only player in the PSAC averaging better than 15 points and 5 assists per game. 
>> His 15.8 PPG average is 19th in the PSAC. His 5.7 APG is 2nd in the league and 31st in Division II.