INDIANA, Pa. – Set for the third of five consecutive home games to begin the 2023-24 season, the fourth-ranked IUP men's basketball program hosts Walsh on Thursday, November 16. Tipoff from the KCAC is set for 8:00 p.m.
The Crimson Hawks split their opening weekend of the season, falling to Concord in the opener before rebounding against Notre Dame (Ohio) the following night. The first 500 IUP students will receive a free t-shirt upon arrival, while supplies last, beginning around 7:15 p.m.
GAMEDAY CENTRAL
No. 4 IUP (1-1) vs. Walsh (1-0)
Thursday, November 16 – 8:00 p.m. -- KCAC – Indiana, Pa. – 2023 Hilton Garden Inn Tip-Off Classic
Game Coverage:
Live Video (PSAC Digital Network) –
Live Stats –
Live Audio –
Tickets
Social Media Updates:
@IUP_MBB on X (formerly Twitter)
COMING UP
2023 IRMC Thanksgiving Classic
IUP vs. St. Thomas Aquinas
Saturday, November 25 – 5:00 p.m. – KCAC – Indiana, Pa.
IUP vs. Frostburg State
Sunday, November 26 – 5:00 p.m. – KCAC – Indiana, Pa.
IUP NEWS AND NOTES
- Thursday's matchup features two of the winningest coaches in Division II basketball history in Joe Lombardi (IUP) and Jeff Young (Walsh). Lombardi is fifth among active DII men's basketball coaches in winning percentage (401-109; .786), while Young is sixth among active DII coaches (437-140; .757).
- With just a two-game sample size to this point, Garvin Clarke has proven to be an all-around contributor for the Hawks at the point guard position. He posted averages of 15 points, five rebounds and five assists last weekend, including three three-point baskets and six assists in a win over Notre Dame (Ohio).
- Clarke ranks second nationally through the early stages of the season in assist/turnovers ratio (+10), only trailing Shippensburg's Andrew Recchia (+11).
- Working in some new faces into the starting lineup, the IUP offense has taken some time to gel. However, the trademark defensive intensity seems to have not missed a beat early in 2023-24, ranking seventh nationally in field goal percentage defense (.333).
- Shooting just 36.0% from the floor during the opening weekend, Ethan Porterfield leads the Hawks with 18.5 PPG and 8.5 RPG.
- Porterfield has 645 career rebounds at IUP, just eight shy of matching Tom Kerstetter (653) for 8th in program history.
- Dallis Dillard racked up a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds in the 2023-24 opener against Concord, adding 13 points in the victory against Notre Dame (Ohio).
- Despite ranking seventh in the nation in rebounds/game (47.0), IUP enters the week with a rebounding margin of -4.5 through two games.
- IUP collected nine steals through two games last weekend, an average of 4.5 per contest. Last season, with multiple players near the top of the conference in steals, IUP posted an average of 9.2 steals/game in 2022-23.
- Josh Petteno helped IUP fend off a second half push from Notre Dame with 12 points over the final minutes.
- Even with an uptick in talent across the PSAC West heading into 2023-24, the IUP men were picked as the division favorites for the eighth consecutive year. The Hawks have captured seven consecutive PSAC regular season titles.
WALSH AT A GLANCE
- Walsh started the year with an exhibition win against NCAA DI Oakland back in mid-October, opening the regular season with an 86-75 home win against Grand Valley State on November 11.
- The Cavaliers posted 49 points in the first half against GVSU, led by a double-double from transfer Kobe Mitchell (20 points, 11 rebounds).
- Walsh is receiving votes in the NABC DII Preseason Coaches Poll.
- Milan Square also posted a team-high 20 points for Walsh in the opener, while Garrison Keeslar added 17 points.
SERIES HISTORY
- IUP holds a 2-1 advantage over three total meetings with Walsh.
- The Crimson Hawks took down Walsh by a 74-60 score last season on the road, just around one year ago. Shawndale Jones poured in 26 points (8-14 FG) while the Crimson Hawks shot 55.5% from the floor in the second half, maintaining a first half advantage.
--
HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
- Since the KCAC opened in the 2011-12 season, IUP has had an outstanding home court advantage to go along with a nationally prominent basketball program.
- IUP boasts a 177-21 (.894) mark in home games since the venue opened, including postseason games.
- IUP has not lost more than four games at the KCAC in a season since the building opened.
- At the KCAC, the IUP men have won:
- 17 of 18 games in 2022-2023 (17-1; lone loss in Atlantic Region Championship)
- 39 of their last 42 (39-3)
- 55 of their last 58 (55-3)
- 74 or their last 79 (74-5)
- 86 of their last 95 (86-9)
- 102 of their last 114 (102-12)
THAT'S A LOT OF WINS!
- Since the 2018-19 season, IUP has gone 124-11 (.918) overall, the second most wins in the nation during that span (excluding 2020-21; COVID-19).
- Entering the season, only 11 DII men's basketball programs have posted at least 100 wins in the four-year span from 2018-19 to 2022-23 (excluding 2020-21).
- IUP went 32-2 last season, marking the team's fifth 30-win since 2009-10, the most of any team in the PSAC.
LOMBARDI AMONG THE ELITE COACHES IN ALL OF COLLEGE BASKETBALL
- Now in his 42nd season as a college coach, Joe Lombardi has been a central figure in elevating the IUP men's basketball program into one of the nation's best.
- Coaching his 18th season at the helm of the Crimson Hawks, Lombardi is the program's all-time leader in wins (401-109) with 12 NCAA Tournament appearances, seven PSAC tournament titles (2010, 2011, 2013, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023), three Atlantic Region Championships (2010, 2015, 2022) and two Division II National Championship Game appearances (2010, 2015).
- Lombardi ranks fourth among NCAA DII active head coaches in winning percentage (.786) with at least 10 years of experience and tied for 11th among all-time among all NCAA divisions in winning percentage with at least 10 years of experience.
NCAA All Divisions All-Time Head Coach Win Percentage (min. 10 years' experience)
- .858 -- Jim Crutchfield (West Liberty/Nova Southeastern) (497-82, 18 yrs) *
- .836 – Mark Few (Gonzaga) (689-135, 24 yrs) *
- .826 – Matt Logie (Whitworth/Point Loma/Montana State) (277-58, 12 yrs) *
- .824 – Clair Bee (Rider/LIU Brooklyn) (412-88, 21 yrs)
- .822 – Adolph Rupp (Kentucky) (876-190, 41 yrs)
- .811 – Bucky Harris (Jefferson) (240-56, 13 yrs)
- .810 – Dolph Staley (Beloit) (238-56, 12 yrs)
- .808 – Ben McCollum (Northwest Missouri State) (366-87, 14 yrs) *
- .804 – John Wooden (Indiana State/UCLA) (664-162, 29 yrs)
- .797 – John Kreese (College of Charleston) (400-108, 23 yrs)
T11. .786 – Joe Lombardi (IUP) (401-109, 17 yrs) *
T11 .786 – Dave Robbins (Virginia Union) (713-194, 30 yrs)
13. .784 – Jerry Tarkanian (LBSU/UNLV/Fresno State) (729-201, 31 yrs)
14. .783– Josh Schertz (Lincoln Memorial/Indiana State ) (372-103, 15 yrs) *
15. .782 – Francis Schmidt (Tulsa/Arkansas/TCU) (258-72, 17 yrs)
NCAA Division II Active Head Coach Winning Percentage (min. 10 years' experience)
- .858 – Jim Crutchfield (West Liberty/Nova Southeastern) (497-82, 18 yrs)
- .809 – Ben McCollum (Northwest Missouri State) (366-87, 14 yrs)
- .807 – Tom Brown (West Texas A&M) (239-57, 10 yrs)
- .814 – Bob Bolen (Glenville State (455-104, 17 yrs)
5..786 – Joe Lombardi (IUP) (401-109; 18 yrs)
6..757 – Jeff Young (Walsh) (437-140; 21 yrs)
RECORD BOOK WATCH
Career Points
11. 1,526 -- Anthony Glover, Jr. (2014-18)
12. 1,525 -- Malik Miller (2016-20)
13. 1,510 -- Joe DeLise (1950-51, 55-58)
14. 1,447 --
Shawndale Jones (2017-23)
15. 1,371 -- Ethan Porterfield (2019-Pres)
16. 1,369 -- Sam Scott (1977-82)
17. 1,366 -- Randy Allen (1971-74)
18. 1,361 -- Jeff Brown (1978-82)
19. 1,359 --
Dave Morris (2018-23)
20. 1,358 -- Garry Lupek (1966-69)
Career Three-Point Field Goals Made
7. 195 -- Geoff Evans (1998-01)
8. 187 -- Aaron Faulkner (1999-02)
9. 181 -- Eddie Peterson (2002-06)
10. 167 -- Ethan Porterfield (2019-Pres)
11. 164 -- Devante Chance (2011-15)
Career Rebounds
7. 672 -- Mike Mitten (1977-81)
8. 653 -- Tom Kerstetter (1969-72)
9. 645 -- Ethan Porterfield (2019-23)
10. 632 -- Bob Bence (1962-66)
11. 630 -- John Guyton (1972-76)
Career Blocks
1. 207 -- Devon Cottrell (2012-17)
2. 162 -- Darryl Webb (2007-11)
3. 140 -- Ethan Porterfield (2019-Pres)
FOLLOW
For up-to-date information, visit IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP men's basketball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUP_MBB.