INDIANA, Pa. - The No. 8-ranked IUP men's basketball team (18-2, 12-2 PSAC) is ready for a home-and-home weekend against rival Slippery Rock (11-7, 7-5 PSAC). The teams will play in Slippery Rock Saturday at 1 p.m. and at the Kovalchick Complex Monday at 7 p.m. The Crimson Hawks were last in action Monday with an 83-50 home win over Gannon while Slippery Rock lost to Clarion 85-78 on the road Wednesday. 

TIPOFF NOTES
>> Jr. G Armoni Foster and So. F Ethan Porterfield each scored 27 points in Monday's win over Gannon. They combined for 17-30 FGs, including 10-15 3FGs, 10-12 FTs, 12 rebounds and 12 assists.
>> Foster also scored 30 points in the 60-51 win over No. 21 Mercyhurst Saturday. Over the last three games he's averaging 26.0 PPG, 7.3 APG, and 5.0 RPG with a 55.0 3FG% over the last three games.
>> Foster was named the PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Week on Monday (Jan. 31). He had 9 steals and 1 block and helped limit Mercyhurst's leading scorer Miykah McIntosh to just 2 points on 0-12 FGs last week.
>> Porterfield went 7-11 from 3-point range against Gannon. The 7 treys were the most by an IUP player since Dante Lombardi made 8 at East Stroudsburg in Jan. 2019.
>> IUP HC Joe Lombardi is 26-7 lifetime against Slippery Rock, including 16-0 at home. 
>> The Hawks have swept SRU eight times in the previous 14 full seasons under Lombardi, including wins of 78-74 (at SRU) and 96-60 (at IUP) during the 2019-20 season.
>> IUP has won 31 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. 
>> The Hawks are 66-6 (.917) in PSAC West games since the 2016-17 season. That record includes a 33-2 mark at home and 33-4 away. IUP is 7-1 against divisional teams this year.
>> IUP has won 28 of its last 29 home games dating back to the start of 2019-20, including 10-1 this year. 

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE ROCK
>> Slippery Rock is 11-7 overall and 5th in the PSAC West standings with a 7-5 conference record.
>> The Rock has lost five of their last seven games since the start of January after beginning the year 9-2. 
>> SRU's two wins in 2022 have come over Seton Hill (70-61) and Edinboro (87-84), who are a combined 8-30.
>> Those five losses came to teams that are in the top-4 of the division standings and are a combined 66-17.
>> SRU is 4th in the PSAC and 30th in DII in scoring at 82.9 PPG with 12 80-point games. 
>> The Rock is giving up 80.4 PPG since the start of Jan.

IUP IN THE POLLS
>> The Hawks are No. 8 in the NABC Coaches' poll and No. 5 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 10th straight week the Hawks are ranked in the top-10 of both polls.
>> It's the 44th time in the last 46 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 28th in DII at 84.0 PPG. 
>> The Hawks have scored at least 81 points 13 times in 20 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 9.8 made 3FGs per game.
>> IUP's 37.1 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 are averaging 11.8 made 3s over the last six games, including 16 against Edinboro and 15 against Gannon.
>> IUP has nine 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 51.1 3FG% (47-92) and 4th with 2.4 made 3s per game.

SHOOTING THEIR SHOT
>> IUP is 2nd in the PSAC and ranks 24th in Division II with a 49.0 FG%. 
>> The Hawks have shot at least 50 pct. eight times in 20 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 33rd in Division II with a 59.1 FG%.

PROVIDING THE ASSIST
>> IUP leads the PSAC and ranks 4th in Division II with 18.8 assists per game.
>> The Hawks have assisted on 60.9 pct. (396-617) of their made buckets this season.
>> IUP has double-figure assists in 19 of its 20 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 (133) and Jr. G Dave Morris (81) on top.

MAKING PLAYS ON "D"
>> IUP is 21st in Division II with 9.0 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 14th in Division II with 2.53 steals per game. 
>> Morris (48) is one of six Hawks with double-digit steals. 
>> The Hawks' 4.5 blocks per game ranks 3rd in the PSAC and 23rd 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 1.7 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 1st in the PSAC and ranks 9th in Division II with a +8.8 rebounding margin.
>> IUP has won the rebound battle in 16 of 20 games.
>> IUP has a +5.9 margin in 14 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 28-1. 
>> 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 208-36 (.852) at home under Lombardi, including a 47-3 (.940) 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 20.8 PPG, 6.0 RPG and 6.7 APG, to go along with 32 steals and 13 blocks.
>> He is the only NCAA Division I or Division II player averaging at least 20 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists.
>> He ranks 2nd in the PSAC in scoring and 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 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 11 20-point performances, including two of 30+, this season, with a career-high 33 at West Chester.
>> Foster went over 1,000 career points during the win at Kutztown. He's currently 19th in IUP history with 1,317 points (Lee McCullough, 18th, 1,319).

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).
>> 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 17.0 PPG and 7.0 RPG, has 47 3-pointers and 33 blocks.
>> He was named PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Week on Dec. 20 (11.0 RPG, 5 blocks, 3 steals).
>> He's 9th in the PSAC in scoring and 16th in rebounds.
>> He's 3rd in the PSAC with a 59.1 FG% (130-220).
>> He's 1st in the PSAC with a 51.1 3FG% (47-92).
>> Porterfield's 1.7 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 18.3 PPG during conference games, 8th most among PSAC players.

MORRIS IS A TWO-WAY POINT GUARD
>> Jr. G Dave Morris is averaging 11.8 PPG and is 2nd on the team with 81 assists.
>> His 4.3 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 14th in Division II with 2.5 steals per game. His 48 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 has four 20-point performances over his last nine 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 14 starts this season.
>> He's averaging 4.5 PPG and 3.6 RPG with 16 assists since taking over for Jones.
>> Polce has a 4.0-1 assist-turnover ratio this season.

SULAIMAN MAKING QUALITY STARTS
>> Fr. F Tomiwa Sulaiman has started four of the last six games for the injured Demogerontas.
>> He's averaging 8.5 PPG and 5.8 RPG with a 68.1 FG% (15-22) with 7 blocks and 4 steals in those four starts.
>> Sulaiman nearly posted a double-double with 10 poitns and 8 rebounds against No. 21 Mercyhurst.
>> He has four multi-block games this season, including two 3-block games in his last six outings.