INDIANA, Pa. - The No. 8-ranked IUP men's basketball team (20-2, 14-2 PSAC) brings momentum into a big home matchup against Cal U (15-5, 10-4 PSAC) on Wedneday night at the Kovalchick Complex. Tipoff is 7:30 p.m. The Crimson Hawks have won five straight and are coming off a home-and-home sweep of Slippery Rock Saturday and Monday. The Vulcans have won seven of eight, including a 64-61 win at Shepherd Monday night. 

TIPOFF NOTES
>> So. F Ethan Porterfield led all scorers with 23 points in Monday's 72-61 home win over Slippery Rock.
>> The win, coupled with UPJ's loss at Gannon, put the Hawks back on top of the PSAC West standings.
>> It was the 32nd consecutive home win by IUP in the rivalry series, dating back to the 1992-93 season. 
>> IUP has swept its regular season series with Slippery Rock nine times in the last 15 seasons. 
>> The game was played without spectators after the IUP administration decision a week ago to ban fans due to COVID-19 reasons at home games between Feb. 1-13. The Cal U game will be the second contest effected.
>> IUP has won 20 games for the 13th consecutive season under HC Joe Lombardi dating back to 2008-09. 
>> Porterfield is averaging 23.3 PPG and 7.7 RPG with a 65.0 FG% (26-40) and a 60.9 3FG% (14-23) over his last three games against Gannon and Slippery Rock (x2). 
>> IUP is one of nine Division II schools with 2 or fewer losses this season. 
>> The Hawks defeated the Vulcans in California 84-71 on Jan. 5. They are going for their seventh straight regular season sweep of Cal U dating back to the 2014-15 season.
>> Lombardi is 26-6 lifetime against Cal U, including seven straight home wins in the serires. 
>> The Hawks are 68-6 (.919) in PSAC West games since the 2016-17 season. That record includes a 34-2 mark at home and 34-4 away. IUP is 9-1 against divisional teams this year.
>> IUP has won 29 of its last 30 home games dating back to the start of 2019-20, including 11-1 this year. 

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE VULCANS
>> Cal U is 15-5 overall and 4th in the PSAC West standings with a 10-4 conference record.
>> Cal U is No. 8 in this week's D2SIDA regional poll.
>> The Vulcans are 7-1 since their last meeting with IUP (Jan. 5), including an 87-71 win over No. 11 Meryhurst.
>> Cal U has a +10.6 scoring margin in that span. 
>> The Vulcans boast a PSAC player of the year contender in F Philip Alston (21.4 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 12 dbl-dbls).
>> Cal U is 2nd in the PSAC in scoring offense at 84.7 PPG but 10th in scoring defense at 75.5 PPG. 
>> They have played in eight games decided by 5 points or less, going 5-3. 

IUP IN THE POLLS
>> The Hawks are No. 7 in the NABC Coaches' poll and No. 4 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 11TH straight week the Hawks are ranked in the top-10 of both polls.
>> It's the 45th time in the last 47 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 3rd in the PSAC and is 31st in DII at 82.9 PPG. 
>> The Hawks have scored at least 81 points 13 times in 22 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 37.3 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 10.6 made 3s over the last eight 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 51.9 3FG% (54-104) and t-3rd with 2.5 made 3s per game.

SHOOTING THEIR SHOT
>> IUP is 2nd in the PSAC and ranks 28th in Division II with a 49.0 FG%. 
>> The Hawks have shot at least 50 pct. nine times in 22 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 3rd in the PSAC and 28th in Division II with a 60.0 FG%.

PROVIDING THE ASSIST
>> IUP leads the PSAC and ranks 7th in Division II with 18.3 assists per game.
>> The Hawks have assisted on 60.5 pct. (402-665) of their made buckets this season.
>> IUP has double-figure assists in 21 of its 22 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 (149) and Jr. G Dave Morris (85) on top.

MAKING PLAYS ON "D"
>> IUP is 19th in Division II with 8.9 steals per game. 
>> The Hawks have nine games of 10+ steals, including a season-high 16 against Concord and at West Chester.
>> Jr. G Dave Morris leads the PSAC and ranks 13th in Division II with 2.43 steals per game. 
>> Morris (51) is one of seven Hawks with more than 10 steals this season.
>> The Hawks' 4.5 blocks per game ranks 2nd in the PSAC and 25th 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 1.5 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 13th in Division II with a +8.1 rebounding margin.
>> IUP has won the rebound battle in 17 of 22 games.
>> IUP has a +5.4 margin in 16 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 29-1. 
>> 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 209-36 (.853) at home under Lombardi, including a 48-3 (.941) 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 20.6 PPG, 5.8 RPG and 6.8 APG, to go along with 36 steals and 15 blocks.
>> He ranks 3rd in the PSAC in scoring and 2nd 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 12 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 18th in IUP history with 1,355 points (Garry Lupek, 17th, 1,358).

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 17.4 PPG and 7.2 RPG, has 54 3-pointers and 36 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 13th in rebounds.
>> He's 3rd in the PSAC with a 60.0 FG% (147-245).
>> He's 1st in the PSAC with a 51.9 3FG% (54-104).
>> Porterfield's 1.5 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 eight games of 20-plus points.
>> He's averaging 18.7 PPG during conference games, 6th 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 85 assists.
>> His 4.0 APG ranks 8th in the PSAC. 
>> Morris had a career-high 12 assists in the win at Clarion on Jan. 22.
>> Morris leads the PSAC and ranks 13th in Division II with 2.43 steals per game. His 51 steals is 7th 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 10 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. 

SULAIMAN MAKING QUALITY STARTS
>> Fr. F Tomiwa Sulaiman has started six of the last eight games for the injured Demogerontas.
>> He's averaging 8.8 PPG and 6.0 RPG with a 63.9 FG% (23-36) with 11 blocks and 5 steals in those six starts.
>> With Sulaiman in the lineup, IUP is 6-0 with a +22.0 scoring margin. Opponents are averaging 55.7 PPG and shooting just 33.7 pct. 
>> Sulaiman nearly posted a double-double with 10 points and 8 rebounds against No. 21 Mercyhurst.
>> He has five multi-block games this season, including three 3-block games in his last eight outings.

POLCE STEPPING INTO STARTING 5
>> Fr. G Kyle Polce took Jones' spot in the lineup and has 16 starts this season.
>> Since moving into the lineup against Millersville, he's averaging 4.2 PPG and 3.3 RPG with a 38.9 3FG%.
>> Polce has a 3.6-1 assist-turnover ratio this season.

DILLARD PACKS A PUNCH
>> Fr. G Dallis Dillard had his redshirt pulled when Jones was hurt. He's averaging 18.5 minutes in 15 games.
>> He scored a season-high 19 points on 7-7 FGs (5-5 3FGs) in 25 minutes at Seton Hill (Jan. 19).