INDIANA, Pa. - The No. 3-ranked IUP men's basketball team (23-2, 16-2 PSAC) can wrap up a division title this weekend when they play host to Seton Hill (3-21, 3-16 PSAC) Saturday night. Tipoff is 7:30 p.m. at the KCAC. The Crimson Hawks have won their last eight games and are coming off an 83-71 victory at Edinboro Wednesday. The Griffins have lost five straight, including a 70-58 defeat at the hands of Cal U this week. 

TIPOFF NOTES
>> Jr. G Armoni Foster scored 32 points and dished out 8 assists in the win at Edinboro. It was his third 30-point game of the season and his second in the last seven games (Mercyhurst, Jan. 29). 
>> Fr. F Tomiwa Sulaiman added 11 points and 11 boards for his first double-double of the season. 
>> It marked our sixth straight regular season sweep of Edinboro. 
>> Having already clinched the program's 14th straight PSAC tournament berth, the Crimson Hawks look to wrap up the regular season division title and home court advantage in the conference tournament with a win.
>> The Hawks have won 10 PSAC West titles under HC Joe Lombardi, including five straight (2016-20). 
>> IUP has won 20 games for the 13th consecutive season under HC Joe Lombardi dating back to 2008-09. 
>> IUP is one of seven Division II schools with 2 or fewer losses this season. 
>> A win would give IUP its fifth straight regular season sweep of Seton Hill after defeating the Griffins 100-60 in Greensburg on Jan. 19. Foster had 27 points and 12 assists and So. F Ethan Porterfield had 23 points. 
>> Lombardi is 18-1 lifetime against Seton Hill, winning the last nine games by an average score of
83-62. Lombardi's only loss in the series came during the 2015-16 regular season in Greensburg (91-83).
>> The Hawks are 71-6 (.922) in PSAC West games since the 2016-17 season. That record includes a 35-2 mark at home and 36-4 away. IUP is 12-1 against divisional teams this year. 
>> IUP has won 31 of its last 32 home games dating back to the start of 2019-20, including 13-1 this year. 

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE GRIFFINS
>> Seton Hill is 3-21 overall and last in the PSAC West standings with a 3-16 conference record.
>> The Griffins have not won a game away from Greensburg, going 0-11 in road games and 0-2 in neutral sites.
>> Seton Hill is last in the PSAC in scoring margin (-13.1) and field goal percentage (.413). 

IUP IN THE POLLS
>> The Hawks moved up to No. 3 in the NABC Coaches' poll and No. 2 in the D2SIDA Media poll this week. 
>> These are the highest rankings in each poll for the Crimson Hawks this year. 
>> 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 12th straight week the Hawks are ranked in the top-10 of both polls.
>> It's the 46th time in the last 48 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.

HAWKS NO. 1 IN INITIAL REGIONAL RANKINGS
>> IUP is ranked No. 1 in the season's first NCAA Atlantic Region rankings released this week. 
>> These rankings determine the eight teams from Division II's eight regions to earn NCAA tournament berths.
>> IUP is looking to clinch its 11th NCAA tournament appearance since 2009. 

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 3rd in the PSAC and is 32nd in DII at 82.8 PPG. 
>> The Hawks have scored at least 81 points 15 times in 25 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 9.5 made 3FGs per game.
>> IUP's 35.9 3FG% is 4th 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 have performances of 16 3FGs against Edinboro (Jan. 26) and 15 against Gannon (Jan. 31). 
>> IUP has 10 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.
>> So. F Ethan Porterfield is 1st in the PSAC with a 50.4 3FG% (62-123) and 3rd with 2.5 made 3s per game.

SHOOTING THEIR SHOT
>> IUP is 3rd in the PSAC and ranks 47th in Division II with a 47.8 FG%. 
>> The Hawks have shot at least 50 pct. nine times in 25 games this year, going 9-0 in those games.
>> IUP had a season-high 67.8 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 4th in the PSAC and 39th in Division II with a 58.0 FG%.

PROVIDING THE ASSIST
>> IUP leads the PSAC and ranks 7th in Division II with 18.0 assists per game.
>> The Hawks have assisted on 60.4 pct. (449-763) of their made buckets this season.
>> IUP has double-figure assists in 24 of its 25 games.
>> The Hawks have nine outings with 20+ assists, including a season-high 28 in the win over Virginia State.
>> IUP assisted on 25 of its 28 made buckets against Gannon on Jan. 31. 
>> Six players have dished out at least 20 assists with Jr. G Armoni Foster (169) and Jr. G Dave Morris (97) on top.

MAKING PLAYS ON "D"
>> IUP is 22nd in Division II with 8.8 steals per game. 
>> The Hawks have 10 games of 10+ steals, including a season-high 16 against Concord and at West Chester.
>> Jr. G Dave Morris leads the PSAC and ranks 16th in Division II with 2.33 steals per game. 
>> Morris (56) is one of seven Hawks with more than 10 steals this season.
>> The Hawks' 4.4 blocks per game ranks 2nd in the PSAC and 26th in Division II. 
>> They tallied a season-high 11 blocks in the win over Edinboro on Jan. 26.
>> So. F Ethan Porterfield ranks 4th in the PSAC with 1.6 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 14th in Division II with a +7.5 rebounding margin.
>> IUP has won the rebound battle in 18 of 25 games.
>> IUP has a +5.1 margin in 19 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 30-1. 
>> 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 210-36 (.853) at home under Lombardi, including a 49-3 (.942) 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 20.5 PPG, 5.9 RPG and 6.8 APG, to go along with 40 steals and 17 blocks.
>> He's the only player in NCAA basketball averaging at least 20.0 / 5.8 / 6.8. 
>> He ranks 2nd in the PSAC and 24th in DII in points.
>> Foster is 2nd in the PSAC and 4th in DII in assists.
>> He's the only Division II player - and one of five in all of the NCAA - with multiple triple-doubles this year.
>> Foster tallied his last triple-double with 25 points, 10 boards and 10 assists against Pitt-Greensburg (Dec. 31).
>> 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 13 20-point performances, including three of 30+, this season, with a career-high 33 at West Chester.
>> Foster is currently 14th in IUP history with 1,417 points (Joe DeLise, 13th, 1,510).

FOSTER'S AWARDS
>> Foster was named to the Bevo Francis Award Watch List (top 50) on Feb. 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).
>> He was also named the PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Week on Jan. 31.

PORTERFIELD IS MR. INSIDE AND MR. OUTSIDE
>> So. F Ethan Porterfield is averaging 17.4 PPG and 7.0 RPG, has 62 3-pointers and 39 blocks.
>> He's 10th in the PSAC in scoring and 13th in rebounds.
>> He's 4th in the PSAC with a 58.0 FG% (163-281).
>> Porterfield leads all NCAA players (DI, DII, DIII) with a 50.4 3FG% (62-123).
>> Porterfield's 1.6 blocks per game is 4th 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.
>> Porterfield has nine games of 20-plus points.
>> He was named PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Week on Dec. 20 (11.0 RPG, 5 blocks, 3 steals).
>> He's averaging 18.5 PPG during conference games, 7th most among PSAC players.

MORRIS IS A TWO-WAY POINT GUARD
>> Jr. G Dave Morris is averaging 12.0 PPG and is 2nd on the team with 97 assists.
>> His 4.0 APG ranks 9th in the PSAC. 
>> Morris had a career-high 12 assists in the win at Clarion on Jan. 22.
>> Morris leads the PSAC and ranks 16th in Division II with 2.33 steals per game. His 56 steals is 9th in DII.
>> He has 10 games of 3+ steals this year, tying a career-high with 6 against Concord and Lock Haven.
>> Morris has four 20-point performances over his last 13 games, including a career-high 23 points against Edinboro (Jan. 26).

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. 

SULAIMAN MAKING QUALITY STARTS
>> Fr. F Tomiwa Sulaiman has started nine of the last 11 games for the injured Demogerontas.
>> He broke out with a season-high 26 points on 10-15 FGs and 6-6 FTs against Cal U (Feb. 9). 
>> He's averaging 10.6 PPG and 6.8 RPG with a 58.2 FG% (39-67), 12 blocks and 12 steals in nine starts.
>> With Sulaiman in the lineup, IUP is 9-0 with a +20.2 scoring margin. Opponents are averaging 59.1 PPG and shooting just 37.5 pct. 
>> He has five multi-block games this season, including three 3-block games in his last 10 outings.

POLCE STEPPING INTO STARTING 5
>> Fr. G Kyle Polce took Jones' spot in the lineup and has 17 starts this season.
>> Since moving into the lineup against Millersville, he's averaging 4.2 PPG and 3.2 RPG with a 40.0 3FG%.
>> Polce has a 3.2-1 assist-turnover ratio this season.

DILLARD PACKS A PUNCH
>> Fr. G Dallis Dillard had his redshirt pulled when Jones was hurt. He's averaging 20.1 minutes in 18 games.
>> He scored a season-high 19 points on 7-7 FGs (5-5 3FGs) in 25 minutes at Seton Hill (Jan. 19). 
>> He's averaging 6.1 PPG with a 17-8 assist-turnover ratio in 13 PSAC West games.