INDIANA, Pa. - The No. 4-ranked IUP men's basketball team (16-2, 10-2 PSAC) continues its homestand with two games in the next three days against a pair of Erie teams in No. 21 Mercyhurst (17-3, 11-3 PSAC) and Gannon (9-5, 6-4). The top-25 matchup with the Lakers is Saturday at 3 p.m. and the Crimson Hawks' game with the Golden Knights is Monday at 7 p.m. IUP is coming off a 76-67 home win over Edinboro Wednesday, while Mercyhurst defeated UPJ 90-61 and Cal U enters the weekend on a 5-game win streak.


TIPOFF NOTES
>> IUP HC Joe Lombardi picked up his 350th career victory in Wednesday's win over Edinboro. It moved him into a tie with ESU's Jeff Wilson (2002-pres.) for 7th in PSAC history. 
>> Jr. G Dave Morris hit career-highs of 23 points and 5 3-pointers against the Fighting Scots. It was Morris' fourth 20-point performance in the last seven games, as he's averaging 15.9 PPG during that span. 
>> Despite an overall poor shooting performance, IUP hit 16 3-pointers as a team, which is tied for the sixth most in program history. 
>> The Crimson Hawks are now 57-4 in January over the last six seasons, including a 26-1 record at home.
>> IUP HC Joe Lombardi is 20-12 lifetime against Mercyhurst, including a 70-67 victory over the then-No. 7-ranked Lakers in Erie on January 12. He and the Hawks are 13-4 at home against the Lakers since 2006.
>> Lombardi has a 19-11 record against Gannon, winning 10 of the last 12 meetings dating back to the 2015-16 season. This includes a split in two games played during last season's truncated schedule. 
>> IUP has won seven straight home games in the series with an average scoring margin of +10.1.
>> The Hawks are 64-6 (.914) in PSAC West games since the 2016-17 season. That record includes a 31-2 mark at home and 33-4 away. IUP is 5-1 against divisional teams this year.
>> IUP has won 26 of its last 27 home games dating back to the start of 2019-20, including 8-1 this year. 

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE LAKERS
>> Mercyhurst is 17-3 overall and 3rd in the PSAC West standings with an 11-3 conference record.
>> The Lakers are No. 21 in this week's NABC coaches poll and receiving votes in the D2SIDA media top-25.
>> They are No. 6 in the media's regional rankings. 
>> MU is 6-2 against divisional opponents, the two losses coming at home to IUP (70-67) and Cal U (87-71).
>> The Lakers are 11-0 away from home this year.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS
>> Gannon is 9-5 overall and 6th in the PSAC West standings with a 6-4 league record.
>> The Golden Knights won 7 of 8 games in November and December but are 2-3 during January. 
>> GU is 2-3 away from home this year with wins over Shepherd (68-60) and Seton Hill (64-53). 

IUP IN THE POLLS
>> The Hawks are No. 4 in the NABC Coaches' poll and No. 3 in the D2SIDA Media poll this week. 
>> IUP has been inside the top-10 of the media poll each week this year, including a four-week stretch at No. 3. 
>> This is the ninth straight week the Hawks are ranked in the top-10 of both polls.
>> It's the 43rd time in the last 45 polls the Hawks have been eligible for that they rank in the top-10, dating back to the 2019-20 preseason poll. 
>> IUP spent the entire 2018-19 season in the top-5 of the media poll and all of 2019-20 in the top-10.

IUP HAD 9-0 START TO THE SEASON
>> The Crimson Hawks won their first five non-conference games and four straight to open the PSAC slate.
>> It was the fifth time since the 2009-10 season that IUP has opened a season with at least 9 straight wins. 
>> IUP's best start under Lombardi was 14-0 to open the 2017-18 and 2013-14 seasons.
>> IUP started the 2019-20 season 9-0 and the 2009-10 season 11-0.

HAWKS OFFENSE PROVIDES FIREWORKS
>> IUP is 2nd in the PSAC and is 19th in DII at 85.4 PPG. 
>> The Hawks have scored at least 81 points 12 times in 18 games this season.
>> They have scored 100+ points four times and have five more 90-point efforts. 
>> The 107 points against Pitt-Greensburg is a season-high. IUP also scored 106 against Le Moyone, 103 at West Chester, and 100 at Seton Hill. 
>> Five times this year at least five Crimson Hawks have scored in double-figures. 
>> Four of IUP's starters are averaging double-figures.

KNOCKING DOWN THE "3"
>> IUP leads the PSAC with 9.7 made 3FGs per game.
>> IUP's 36.5 3FG% is 3rd in the conference. 
>> The Hawks made a season-high 18 3-pointers in the 100-60 win at Seton Hill on Jan. 19.
>> They also drained 16 treys against Edinboro on Jan. 26.
>> IUP has eight games of 10+ 3-pointers made and has made at least 5 in every game this year.
>> Eight players have made at least 10 3-pointers this season.
>> Jr. G Dave Morris has a team-best 41 3FGs made and So. F Ethan Porterfield is 2nd in the PSAC with a 50.0 3FG% (40-80). 

SHOOTING THEIR SHOT
>> IUP is 2nd in the PSAC and ranks 16 in Division II with a 49.9 FG%. 
>> The Hawks have shot at least 50 pct. eight times in 18 games this year, going 8-0 in those games.
>> IUP had a season-high 61.0 FG% in the win over Virginia State, the 4th best percentage in program history.
>> The Hawks also had a 63.5 FG% in the win over Le Moyne. 
>> So. F Ethan Porterfield is 3rd in the PSAC and 29th in Division II with a 59.9 FG%.

PROVIDING THE ASSIST
>> IUP leads the PSAC and ranks 5th in Division II with 18.8 assists per game.
>> The Hawks have assisted on 59.6 pct. (339-569) of their made buckets this season.
>> IUP has double-figure assists in 17 of its 18 games.
>> The Hawks have eight outings with 20+ assists, including a season-high 28 in the win over Virginia State.
>> Six players have dished out at least 20 assists with Jr. G Armoni Foster (119) and Jr. G Dave Morris (75) on top.

MAKING PLAYS ON "D"
>> IUP is 23rd in Division II with 9.1 steals per game. 
>> The Hawks have eight games of 10+ steals, including a season-high 16 against Concord and at West Chester.
>> Jr. G Dave Morris leads the PSAC and ranks 10th in Division II with 2.71 steals per game. 
>> Morris (46) is one of six Hawks with double-digit steals. 
>> The Hawks' 4.6 blocks per game ranks 2nd in the PSAC and 20th in Division II. 
>> They tallied a season-high 11 blocks in the win over Edinboro on Jan. 26.
>> So. F Ethan Porterfield ranks 3rd in the PSAC with 1.67 blocks per game, including 6 against Edinboro.
>> Jr. F Ousmane Diop has two games of 4 blocks this season (vs. Pitt-Greensburg, at Seton Hill).

BATTLE OF THE BOARDS
>> IUP is 2nd in the PSAC and ranks 9th in Division II with a +8.6 rebounding margin.
>> IUP has won the rebound battle in 14 of 18 games.
>> IUP has a +5.3 margin in 12 conference games.
>> The Hawks posted a season-best 61 boards and +37 margin in the win over Pitt-Greensburg.

IUP SUCCESSFUL AT HOME
>> The Crimson Hawks have lost one home game since the start of the 2019-20 season, going 26-1. 
>> The lone loss came to Shippensburg on Dec. 19, ending IUP's 24-game home win streak. 
>> IUP's longest home win streak during the Lombardi Era is 30 straight victories, from 2008-11. 
>> IUP is 206-36 (.851) under Lombardi since 2006, including a 45-3 (.938) mark since the 2018-19 season.
>> IUP has two undefeated home seasons under Lombardi - 18-0 in 2009-10 and 16-0 in 2019-20. 

FOSTER GETTING IT DONE ALL OVER THE COURT
>> Jr. G Armoni Foster is averaging 19.9 PPG, 6.2 RPG and 6.6 APG, to go along with 26 steals and 13 blocks.
>> He ranks 3rd in the PSAC in scoring, 2nd in assists, and 24th in rebounding.
>> He's the only Division II player - and one of two in all of the NCAA - with two triple-doubles this year.
>> Foster tallied his latest triple-double with 25 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists against Pitt-Greensburg.
>> He also had 22 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds against Virginia State. 
>> Foster also has five double-doubles this year, his latest coming in the win at Seton Hill - 27 points, 12 assists.
>> Foster has nine 20-point performances this season, tying a career-high with 33 at West Chester.
>> Foster went over 1,000 career points during the win at Kutztown. He's currently 23rd in IUP history with 1,260 points (Jason Bullock, 22nd, 1,261; Devante Chance, 21st, 1,280). 

FOSTER'S AWARDS
>> Foster was named to the Bevo Francis Award Watch List (top 100) on Jan. 15. The award recognizes the top players in NCAA Division II, III, the NAIA and JC.
>> Foster earned back-to-back PSAC West Athlete of the Week honors (Nov. 29, Dec. 6).

PORTERFIELD IS MR. INSIDE AND MR. OUTSIDE
>> So. F Ethan Porterfield is averaging 16.9 PPG and 6.9 RPG, has 40 3-pointers and 30 blocks.
>> He was named PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Week on Dec. 20 (11.0 RPG, 5 blocks, 3 steals).
>> He's 3rd in the PSAC with a 59.9 FG% (118-197).
>> He's 2nd in the PSAC with a 50.0 3FG% (40-80).
>> Porterfield's 1.67 blocks per game is 3rd in the PSAC.
>> He has three double-doubles this year: Shepherd (16/14), Shippensburg (19/12), Edinboro (10/11). 
>> He posted a career-high 30 points on 13-16 FGs, 3-5 3FGs, and 1-1 FTs in the win at Clarion on Jan. 22.
>> He's averaging 18.4 PPG during conference games, 7th most among PSAC players.

MORRIS IS A TWO-WAY POINT GUARD
>> Jr. G Dave Morris is averaging 12.6 PPG and is 2nd on the team with 75 assists.
>> His 4.4 APG ranks 6th in the PSAC. 
>> Morris had a career-high 12 assists in the win at Clarion on Jan. 22.
>> Morris leads the PSAC and ranks 10th in Division II with 2.7 steals per game. His 46 steals is 9th in DII.
>> He has nine games of 3+ steals this year, tying a career-high with 6 against Concord and Lock Haven.
>> Morris is averaging 15.9 PPG over the last seven games, including four 20-point games.
>> He scored a career-high 23 points against Edinboro.

DEMOGERONTAS A DOUBLE-DOUBLE THREAT
>> 5th yr. F Tommy Demogerontas is averaging 12.0 PPG and a team-best 7.7 RPG this year.
>> He posted his 3rd double-double of the year with 15 points and 12 boards against Millersville. 
>> He has five double-doubles in 23 games at IUP.
>> He is 9th in the PSAC with a 51.9 FG%.
>> Demogerontas had a career game with highs of 23 points and 15 rebounds at Bowie State.

JONES WILL NOT RETURN IN 2021-22
>> Sr. G Shawndale Jones will miss the remainder of the 2021-22 season after suffering an injury at West Chester.
>> At the time of his injury, Jones led the PSAC and ranked 6th in Division II with 25.0 PPG. 
>> He had five 20-point games, including a career-high 37 points at Bowie State.
>> He's one of four IUP players this century to score at least 37 points in a game. 
>> He was also 9th in the PSAC with a 57.4 FG%, 4th with an 86.8 FT%, and 4th with 33 free throws made. 

POLCE STEPPING INTO STARTING 5
>> Fr. G Kyle Polce took Jones' spot in the lineup and has 12 starts this season.
>> He's averaging 4.3 PPG and 3.4 RPG with 13 assists since taking over for Jones.
>> Polce has a 3.6-1 assist-turnover ratio this season.

DEPTH IN THE POST
>> Fr. F Tomiwa Sulaiman is averaging 4.1 PPG and 4.3 RPG with 13 blocks and 16 steals this season.
>> He earned his first career start at Seton Hill, going for 8 points, 4 rebounds and 3 blocks.
>> He's averaging 7.0 PPG and 5.4 RPG with a 65.4 FG% (17-26), 6 blocks and 7 steals over his last five games.
>> Jr. F Ousmane Diop is averaging 3.4 PPG and 3.4 RPG in 13 games off the bench.
>> He has a 57.6 FG% (19-33) and went for 10 points, 8 rebounds and 4 blocks against Pitt-Greensburg.
>> Diop has two 4-block games against Pitt-Greensburg and at Seton Hill.