INDIANA, Pa. – Top-ranked IUP men's basketball returns home this week, hosting Clarion in divisional action on Wednesday, January 18 at 7:30 p.m.
IUP (15-0, 9-0) needed a big second half spark from
Jaylen Stewart to topple a formidable Pitt-Johnstown side last time out. The Hawks erased a four-point halftime deficit, shooting 50% from the floor in the second half and making some timely stops on the defensive end to remain unbeaten.
Clarion (2-13, 0-9) came up short against West Chester last Saturday, marking the team's 11th consecutive loss.
GAME INFORMATION – CLARION
TIPOFF NOTES
- IUP extended its regular season winning streak to 26 straight following the victory against Pitt-Johnstown, dating back to the 2021-22 season.
- Dave Morris and Shawndale Jones were named to the 2023 Bevo Francis Top 100 Watch List, which consists of some of the top players from NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA, USCAA and NCCAA.
- Tomiwa Sulaiman earned PSAC West defensive Player of the Week honors for the third time this season on Monday. Sulaiman averaged a double-double last week for the Hawks, adding four steals, three blocks and several drawn charges.
- Jaylen Stewart fired in 17 second half points on a perfect night shooting, which included a pair of timely three-point baskets to push IUP in front late, along with to clutch free throws down the stretch that extended the IUP lead to multiple possessions. Stewart went 5-5 from the floor, 3-3 from three-point range and 4-4 from the foul line, adding three rebounds in the victory.
- IUP is 48-3 (.941) overall dating back to last season and 108-9 since 2018-19. The Hawks have won all but two contests by double digits this season on their way to a 15-0 start.
- IUP is 78-6 in PSAC West games since the 2016-17 season, going 40-2 at home during that span.
- The Hawks needed some big contributions from throughout the lineup to earn a hard-fought road win at UPJ. Dave Morris notched nine points, surpassing 1,000 for his IUP career, while Ethan Porterfield passed 500 career rebounds with four boards on Saturday.
- IUP HC Joe Lombardi is 27-4 lifetime against Clarion with 22 consecutive wins dating back to 2010-11. He and the Hawks have won 11 straight in Indiana by an average of 15.8 PPG.
- The Hawks are top five nationally in both scoring defense (3rd; 58.7) and field goal percentage defense (2nd; 37.2).
SCOUTING CLARION
- Clarion has dropped 11 consecutive contests, logging its last win on November 29 against Bryant & Stratton.
- Despite the difficult stretch, the Golden Eagles have plenty of ability on their roster, including three starters in double figures. Mekhi Reynolds (15.7 ppg) paces the Clarion offense, ranking 10th in the PSAC.
- Clarion battled back for a brief lead in the setback against West Chester, led by a game-high 21 points from Reynolds. Gerald Jarmon added 19 points and three rebounds.
- Clarion is fifth in the league in offensive rebounding average (11.87), 12th in scoring defense (75.3) and second to last in scoring offense (63.7).
DEFENSE A FOCAL POINT SO FAR IN 2022-23
- The Crimson Hawks lead the PSAC and rank third in NCAA DII in scoring defense (58.7). The Hawks are second in the nation in field goal percentage defense (.372) and 10th in three-point percentage defense, allowing opponents to convert at just 29.1% from deep.
- IUP is second in the PSAC and seventh in NCAA DII with 10.1 steals/game. The Crimson Hawks have five players in their lineup with 10 or more steals.
- IUP has ranked in the top 10 nationally among NCAA DII schools in scoring defense in both 2021-22 (62.1) and 2019-20 (65.3).
- IUP has limited 10 of 15 opponents to 60 points or less in 2022-23. Additionally, IUP has surrendered five or fewer made three-point baskets in six outings this season.
- IUP has three players rank among the top 10 in the PSAC in steals this season with Dallis Dillard leading the conference (28), just ahead of Tomiwa Sulaiman (27).
- Ethan Porterfield has 18 blocks this season and has 124 for his career, good for third all-time in program history. He is 38 blocks away from tying IUP Hall of Famer Darryl Webb for second all-time.
LOMBARDI AMONG ELITE COACHES IN ALL OF COLLEGE BASKETBALL
- IUP HC Joe Lombardi (383-106) has helped transform IUP into a consistent national power, now in his 17th season. Lombardi continues to close in on 400 career victories, owning the fourth most wins in PSAC history.
- Through his initial 16 seasons, Lombardi has helped guide IUP to 11 NCAA Tournament appearances, six PSAC titles, three Atlantic Region Championships and two DII national title game appearances.
- Lombardi is fourth among active NCAA DII head coaches with a .783 winning percentage, just behind Northwest Missouri State's Ben McCollum (.806). He's sixth among active head coaches in winning percentage across all divisions.
- With a minimum of 10 years of experience, Lombardi is 14th among all NCAA head coaches in all-time winning percentage. Members of the list include names like Mark Few, John Wooden, Adolph Rupp and Jerry Tarkanian, among others.
HOME SWEET HOME
- IUP has put together a remarkable run of success over the last several seasons, thanks in large part to the team's excellent play on their home floor.
- IUP boasts a 226-36 record in home games all-time under head coach Joe Lombardi.
- Additionally, IUP has gone 65-3 at home since the 2018-19 season. The Hawks have lost just once at home since the start of the 2019-20 season, going 45-1 in home games during that span.
- The win against Mercyhurst on January 7 was the 22nd consecutive home win for the Hawks, which marked an entire calendar year with an undefeated home mark, including the playoffs. The last home loss came to Shippensburg on December 19, 2021, which ended a 24-game home winning streak.
- IUP's longest home win streak during the Lombardi Era is 30 straight victories, from 2008-11.
- IUP has two undefeated home seasons under Lombardi - 18-0 in 2009-10 and 16-0 in 2019-20.
JONES MAKING MOST OF SECOND CHANCE
- Shawndale Jones has been stellar in his return to the IUP program in 2022-23. Battling back from a leg injury in just the seventh game of last season, Jones has continued working back to full strength.
- He was one of two IUP players and five players from the PSAC on the 2023 Bevo Francis Top 100 Watch List, which recognizes the top players across NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA, USCAA and NCCAA.
- He posted the 1,000th point of his collegiate career against West Chester on December 19. He has scored 752 points during his time in an IUP uniform, shooting 48.1% from the floor for his career as a Crimson Hawk.
- Jones leads the PSAC in scoring (19.6), also 13th in the league in steals/game (1.64) and 15th in assists/game (2.9).
- Jones is a two-time PSAC West Athlete of the Week for the Hawks this season, earning the accolade on November 21 and December 20.
- He dropped in a career-best 37 points (16-28 FG) in 39 minutes at Bowie State in November 2021.
- Jones was named the PSAC Tournament MVP in 2019-20 as a sixth man for the Hawks, helping lead IUP to the school's 11th conference title that season.
MIGHTY MORRIS
- Dave Morris have proven valuable across the board as the trigger man for the IUP offense. Morris surpassed 1,000 points in both his collegiate career and at IUP this season, while and also scoring 2,270 points at Strong Vincent HS, the most in Erie history.
- He was one of two IUP players and five players from the PSAC on the 2023 Bevo Francis Top 100 Watch List, which recognizes the top players across NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA, USCAA and NCCAA.
- Morris had a key second-half sequence of three-point baskets against Seton Hill earlier this week, helping fuel a decisive run for the Hawks. He followed it up with 21 points in a victory against Mercyhurst, earning PSAC West Athlete of the Week laurels on January 9.
- He is fourth among active DII men's basketball players in steals/game for his career, averaging 2.07. The NCAA DII leader is Kobe Rodgers from Nova Southeastern (2.72).
- Morris secured the 400th rebound of his collegiate career with three boards against Millersville on December 30. He posted 44 rebounds in his one season at Tennessee State and 380 at IUP.
- Morris also has 342 career assists at IUP alone, surpassing Ron McNabb (340) for 11th in program history. When factoring in his 27 assists at Tennessee State, Morris is 10th all-time in program history with 369 assists.
- Morris is tied for first in PSAC with 60 assists this season, posting three or more in 14 games.
- He was named PSAC West Athlete of the Week on December 12, following a career outing of 31 points (10-16 FG) against Penn State Altoona.
PORTERFIELD IS WORKING HARD TO CONTRIBUTE
- Continuing to work back to full strength, Ethan Porterfield is a vital part of the IUP lineup and rotation in his junior season. Finding find his shooting touch from beyond the arc, Porterfield 50% from deep in three outings since the new year.
- Porterfield is still averaging double figures (11.8) and leads the team with 18 blocks in 13 games.
- He was an efficient 5-7 from the floor for 11 points with five rebounds and four assists at Millersville. Porterfield matched a season-high three blocks against Seton Hill on January 4.
- Porterfield surpassed 1,000 career points on a pull-up three in the second half against Walsh in November. He grabbed his 500th career rebound at UPJ on January 14.
SULAIMAN AND BROOKS CREATE DYNAMIC INSIDE DUO FOR HAWKS
- Sulaiman and Damir Brooks have combined to create a high-energy low post duo for IUP, each with an ability to alter the game on the defensive side of the ball.
- The sophomores combine for 12.1 rebounds per game, each providing a big spark to the IUP lineup.
- Sulaiman is a frontrunner for PSAC West Defensive Player of the Year as a three-time PSAC West Defensive Player of the Week (Nov. 21, Dec. 5, Jan. 16). He continues to improve with averages 11.1 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.1 blocks.
- Meanwhile, Brooks has provided his fair share of highlight reel sequences in limited action off the bench. He is shooting an efficient 77.1% (27-35) from the floor, adding 11 blocks and six steals.
THE REIGNING, DEFENDING PSAC CHAMPIONS CAPTURE THIRD IN A ROW
- IUP won its third consecutive PSAC Championship with a 63-52 win against Millersville at the KCAC on March 5, 2022.
- It marked the 12th PSAC Tournament championship in program history and sixth conference title under HC Joe Lombardi, the most among active PSAC coaches and the second most in conference history.
- IUP's 12 titles are second behind Cheyney's 15.
- Ethan Porterfield was named the PSAC Tournament MVP, averaging 15.0 PPG and 8.7 RPG.
BEARER IS BACK; PART OF NEW-LOOK ASSISTANT STAFF
- Former IUP captain Greg Bearer is back with the men's basketball program, returning to the bench to serve as an assistant coach in 2022-23.
- Bearer previously worked at the nationally renowned DME Academy prior to returning to Indiana.
- Also new to the staff this season is graduate assistant Jake Perrin, who worked as a head coach at the high school level.
- Former assistant coach Ron Fadula accepted the head coaching job at upstart South Carolina Beaufort back in October. He is one of several former assistants to take the next step in their professional coaching tenure, including Shippensburg head coach Chris Fite.
