INDIANA, Pa. – Two of the top teams in the Atlantic Region over the past few years are set to face each other once again, as the top-ranked IUP men's basketball program hosts Mercyhurst on Saturday, January 7. Tipoff from the KCAC is set for 3:00 p.m.
IUP (12-0, 6-0) eventually took control down the stretch for a 76-55 victory against Seton Hill in the team's first game of the new year. Mercyhurst (9-1, 5-1) has rattled off seven consecutive victories entering the weekend, most recently an 81-48 triumph against nearby Edinboro.
Saturday is Indiana Area School District Day at the KCAC, with an allotment of tickets donated for local students. More details are available in the game promotion area of this preview.
GAME INFORMATION – MERCYHURST
TIPOFF NOTES
- IUP extended its regular season winning streak to 23 straight following the midweek victory against Seton Hill, dating back to the 2021-22 season.
- IUP head coach Joe Lombardi is 22-12 lifetime against Mercyhurst, which included three victories against the Lakers last season. IUP knocked off the Lakers in a thrilling 58-55 victory last year at the KCAC in the Atlantic Region Semifinals last March.
- Two of the standard-bearers in the PSAC over the last decade, IUP and Mercyhurst have each posted at least 20 wins in every full playing season since 2018-19. IUP's stretch of consecutive 20-win campaigns dates back to 2008-09.
- The Crimson Hawks continue to boast one of the top defensive units in the country over the last several seasons, including again in 2022-23. IUP leads NCAA DII in scoring defense (56.3), field goal percentage defense (.352) and three-point field goal percentage defense (.258).
- Dave Morris led all scorers with 24 points for the Hawks in the win against SHU. Over the last five games, Morris is averaging 22.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.4 steals.
- IUP held SHU to 1-of-6 from three in the first half, but needed a late push to pull ahead against the Griffins' zone defense. Tomiwa Sulaiman logged a double-double with 19 points (8-9 FG) and 11 rebounds, while Shawndale Jones notched 16 points with eight boards.
- Jones leads the PSAC in scoring average (19.8) and 15th nationally in free throw percentage (.915).
- IUP held a big edge in offensive rebounding against SHU, matching a season-high 15 offensive boards. It helped lead to 23 total second chance points, one of the key differences in IUP pulling away over the final eight minutes.
- IUP is 45-3 overall dating back to last season and 105-9 since 2018-19. The Hawks have won all but one contest by double digits this season on their way to a 12-0 start.
- IUP was also the last PSAC men's basketball program ranked first nationally back in the mid-1990s. Prior to that, California (Pa.) was ranked atop the national poll for five weeks in 1992-93, with Millersville and Cheyney earning the number one spot in the 1980s.
- IUP is 75-6 in PSAC West games since the 2016-17 season, going 39-2 at home during that span.
SCOUTING MERYHURST
- Mercyhurst placed three scorers in double figures in a resounding 81-48 win against Edinboro earlier this week. Nicholas Lang paced the Lakers with 13 points, while Jeff Planutis added 11.
- Winners of seven in a row entering the weekend, Mercyhurst has outscored their opponent by 20 more points in every game, including four games in which its won by 30 more.
- While the offensive numbers are solid, head coach Gary Manchel's squad predicates itself on the defensive end of the floor. The Lakers rank 10th in the nation and second in the league behind IUP in scoring defense (60.4).
- Michael Bradley leads the PSAC with a 3.55 assist/turnover ratio, while MiyKah McIntosh is third in the league in steals/game (2.00).
- Mercyhurst's lone setback of the season came on the road at Millersville on December 3.
IUP IN THE POLLS
- IUP moved to first in the D2SIDA poll, released December 21, before coming in first in the NABC rankings on December 27. The Hawks maintained the number one spot this week following their victory against Millersville.
- The Hawks spent 11 consecutive weeks ranked first in the coaches poll in 1994-95.
- IUP has been ranked in the top 10 over 50 times, dating back to the 2019-20 preseason poll, including the entire 2022-23 season.
- This is the 22nd straight week the Hawks are ranked in the top-10 of both polls.
- The NABC ranking on January 3 marked the 204th in program history, also the 117th time ranked inside the top 10 and the 67th week ranked inside the top five.
DEFENSE A FOCAL POINT SO FAR IN 2022-23
- The Crimson Hawks lead the PSAC and NCAA DII in scoring defense (56.3) and field goal percentage defense (.352). IUP is also nationally in three-point percentage defense, allowing opponents to convert at just 25.8% from deep.
- IUP ranks seventh in the nation, across all NCAA divisions, in field goal percentage defense.
- IUP is second in the PSAC and sixth in NCAA DII with 10.6 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 12 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 (24) second in the league, just ahead of Tomiwa Sulaiman (23).
- Ethan Porterfield has 16 blocks this season and has 120 for his career, good for third all-time in program history. He is 40 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 (380-106) has helped transform IUP into a consistent national power, now in his 17th season. 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 .782 winning percentage, just behind Northwest Missouri State's Ben McCollum (.804). He's sixth among active head coaches in winning percentage across all divisions.
- With a minimum of 10 years of experience, Lombardi is 15th 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 225-36 record in home games all-time under head coach Joe Lombardi.
- Additionally, IUP has gone 64-3 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 Seton Hill on January 4 was the 21st 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 posted the 1,000th point of his collegiate career against West Chester on December 19. He has scored 695 points during his time in an IUP uniform, shooting 49.4% from the floor for his career as a Crimson Hawk.
- Jones leads the PSAC in scoring (19.8), also 16th in the league in steals/game (1.55) and 15th in assists/game (3.0).
- 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 recently surpassed 1,000 collegiate points and also scored 2,270 points at Strong Vincent HS, the most in Erie history.
- 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 is fourth among active DII men's basketball players in steals/game for his career, averaging 2.24. The NCAA DII leader is Kobe Rodgers from Nova Southeastern (2.69).
- 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 362 at IUP.
- Morris also has 327 career assists at IUP alone, surpassing Brian Kizzie (2003-05) for 11th most in program history. When factoring in his 27 assists at Tennessee State, Morris is ninth all-time in program history with 356 assists.
- Morris ranks second in the PSAC with 45 assists this season, posting three or more in 11 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
- Despite not being full strength, Porterfield continues to be a vital part of the IUP lineup and rotation in his junior season.
- Porterfield is still averaging double figures (10.9) and leads the team with 16 blocks in 10 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.
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.
- The sophomores combine for 11.7 rebounds per game, each providing a big spark to the IUP lineup.
- Sulaiman is a two-time PSAC West Defensive Player of the Week on November 21 and December 5, averaging 12.3 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.9 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 10 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.
