INDIANA, Pa. – The IUP men's basketball program faces one of its toughest challenges of the season, hitting the road to close out the 2023 calendar year at East Stroudsburg on Saturday, December 30.
Tipoff from ESU's Koehler Fieldhouse is set for 3:00 p.m.
GAMEDAY CENTRAL
IUP (7-3, 4-0 PSAC) at (RV/NR) East Stroudsburg (8-1, 3-1 PSAC)
Saturday, December 30 – 3:00 p.m. – Koehler Field House – East Stroudsburg, Pa.
TIPOFF NEWS AND NOTES
- IUP has posted six consecutive wins after an up and down start to the 2023-24 season with a retooled lineup. The Hawks posted a 77-59 victory against Mansfield on December 18 before holding on for a 74-71 triumph against Bloomsburg on December 19.
- Saturday's matchup is the final one for the 2023 calendar year as IUP returns from its 10-day layoff.
- The Hawks have won five straight against East Stroudsburg, including both meetings in 2022-23. In the regular season, IUP was ranked first in the nation and posted a 67-53 victory against the Warriors. In the PSAC Semifinals, IUP grinded out a 67-64 win against the Warriors at Shippensburg on March 4, 2023.
- Ethan Porterfield reached 1,500 career points in the win against Mansfield on December 18. He joined KJ Rhodes in winning 100 games in their collegiate career (excluding 2020-21), part of a remarkable stretch for the Crimson Hawks in the last few years.
- Porterfield is just the fourth player in program history to amass 1,500+ points and 700+ rebounds. Porterfield enters the contest among the leaders in the conference in multiple categories with the chance to vault just outside the top-10 on the school's all-time points list.
- Porterfield (1,522) is just 13 points shy of matching Derrick Freeman (1,535) for 11th and 22 shy of Armoni Foster (1,544) for 10th in school history in scoring.
- Garvin Clarke was sensational in IUP's win against Bloomsburg over the final 20 minutes, making some key plays on both ends of the floor to help the Hawks escape with a three-point triumph over the Huskies. Clarke racked up 19 points on 7-11 shooting over the second stanza.
- The Hawks enter the contest third in the PSAC in scoring defense (68.1) and fourth in field goal percentage defense (42.1).
- IUP leads the league in rebounding average (41.4) and slot second in the league in offensive rebounding average (14.5).
- Damir Brooks has stepped into the starting lineup over the last five games for the Crimson Hawks and contributed in a big way over the two PSAC crossover wins against Mansfield and Bloomsburg. Brooks grabbed eight rebounds (five offensive) against the Mounties before dropping in a career-high 15 points (7-7 FG) against the Huskies the next day.
- IUP welcomed midyear addition Bryce Radford back to the program in late December, who may be available to play as early as Saturday for the Hawks. Radford is a two-time conference champion for IUP, playing with the program from 2019-22 before playing the 2022-23 season at WV Tech (NAIA).
EAST STROUDSBURG AT A GLANCE
- Lakeem McAliley and Jaelen McGlone both earned weekly honors from the PSAC heading into the holiday break, named Athlete and Defensive Athlete of the Week, respectively. McAliley averaged 27.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 1.5 assists, and a block in an average of just 25.3 minutes per game.
- The Warriors won three straight prior to the break, most recently a convincing 108-59 victory against Pitt-Johnstown on December 19.
- ESU is seventh in the nation in steals/game (11.6) with Jalen McGlone (2.89 SPG) leading the Warriors defensively. McGlone and Cam Young (2.11) are both among the top five in the PSAC in steals/game.
- The Warriors are second in the league in scoring (88.7) and get an average of nearly 32 points from their bench, good for second in the conference.
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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.
- Despite three setbacks this season, IUP boasts a 181-23 (.886) 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)
- 43 of their last 48 (43-5)
- 59 of their last 64 (59-5)
- 78 or their last 85 (78-7)
- 90 of their last 101 (90-11)
- 106 of their last 120 (106-14)
THAT'S A LOT OF WINS!
- Since the 2018-19 season, IUP has gone 130-13 (.909) overall during full playing seasons.
- 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.
THE REIGNING, DEFENDING PSAC CHAMPIONS
- IUP won its fourth consecutive PSAC Championship with a 54-53 win against Mercyhurst at Shippensburg on March 5, 2023.
- It marked the 13th PSAC Tournament championship in program history and is seventh conference title under HC Joe Lombardi, the most among active PSAC coaches and the second most in conference history.
- IUP's 13 titles are second behind Cheyney's 15.
- Ethan Porterfield was named the PSAC Tournament MVP for the second consecutive season, helping the carry the Hawks to victory throughout the conference tournament.
LOMBARDI AMONG THE ELITE COACHES IN ALL OF COLLEGE BASKETBALL
- Now in his 42nd overall 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 (407-111) 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 fifth among NCAA DII active head coaches in winning percentage (.786) with at least 10 years of experience and 14th 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)
1. .860 -- Jim Crutchfield (West Liberty/Nova Southeastern) (504-82, 18 yrs) *
2. .835 – Mark Few (Gonzaga) (697-138, 24 yrs) *
3. .824 – Clair Bee (Rider/LIU Brooklyn) (412-88, 21 yrs)
4. .822 – Adolph Rupp (Kentucky) (876-190, 41 yrs)
5. .816 – Matt Logie (Whitworth/Point Loma/Montana State) (280-63, 12 yrs) *
6. .811 – Bucky Harris (Jefferson) (240-56, 13 yrs)
7. .810 – Dolph Staley (Beloit) (238-56, 12 yrs)
8. .809 – Tom Brown (West Texas A&M) (246-58, 10 yrs) *
9. .807 – Ben McCollum (Northwest Missouri State) (373-89, 14 yrs) *
10. .804 – John Wooden (Indiana State/UCLA) (664-162, 29 yrs)
11. .797 – John Kreese (College of Charleston) (400-108, 23 yrs)
12. .792 – Bob Bolen (Glenville State) (495-130, 20 yrs) *
13. .788 -- Josh Schertz (Indiana State (382-103, 16 yrs) *
T14 .786 – Dave Robbins (Virginia Union) (713-194, 30 yrs)
NCAA Division II Active Head Coach Winning Percentage (min. 10 years' experience)
1. .860 – Jim Crutchfield (West Liberty/Nova Southeastern) (504-82, 18 yrs)
2. .809 – Tom Brown (West Texas A&M) (246-58, 10 yrs)
3. .807 – Ben McCollum (Northwest Missouri State) (373-89, 14 yrs)
4. .792 – Bob Bolen (Glenville State (495-130, 20 yrs)
6. .756 – Jeff Young (Walsh) (442-143, 21 yrs)
PORTERFIELD AMONG THE TOP PLAYERS IN PROGRAM HISTORY
- Ethan Porterfield is the most experienced starter on the IUP roster and has been a key contributor during the recent run of success the last few seasons. The two-time reigning conference tournament MVP, Porterfield has won 100 collegiate games during his tenure with the Hawks.
- Porterfield reached 1,500 career points during IUP's win against Mansfield on December 18. He is one of just four players in program history with at least 1,500 points and 700 rebounds.
- This season, Porterfield ranks near the top of the PSAC in several statistical areas, including: points per game (6th; 18.5), rebounds per game (4th; 8.9), double-doubles (1st; 4) and assist/turnover ratio (5th; 2.13).
- Now in his fourth season as a full-time starter, Porterfield has battled past injury and illness over the last few months to put together a storied career with the Crimson Hawks. He is among the top 15 in program history in several categories, including points (14th), field goals made (T7th), three-point field goals made (T8th), rebounds (7th) and blocks (3rd).
DOUBLE D SEEING INCREASED PRODUCTION
- Dallis Dillard has seen an elevated offensive role in 2023-24 season, tying in with his stout defensive prowess.
- Dillard ranks eighth in the PSAC in minutes/game (35:30) and 13th in the league in scoring average (15.8).
- Dillard has posted three games with 20 or more points, including a pair of double doubles against Concord and Shippensburg.
- Dillard dealt out a career-high seven assists in a win against Frostburg State in late November 2023.
CLARKE CARVING UP THE OPPOSITION
- Stepping in as the team's starting point guard after transferring in from Akron, Garvin Clarke has not missed a beat at IUP so far in 2023-24. The PSAC West Player of the Week on December 11, Clarke is fourth in the conference in assist/turnover ratio (2.25).
- Clarke has been a primary distributor for the Hawks, but has also taken more of a role in scoring the basketball with three outings of at least 20 points in the last five games.
- He ranks second in the league in assists/game (5.4), passing out a career-high nine helpers in an all-around effort against Mansfield on December 18.
RECORD BOOK WATCH
Career Points
8. 1,603 -- Dante Lombardi (2015-19)
9. 1,564 -- Jack Crossan (1952-56)
10. 1,544 – Armoni Foster (2018-22)
11. 1,535 – Derrick Freeman (1993-96)
12. 1,526 -- Anthony Glover, Jr. (2014-18)
13. 1,525 -- Malik Miller (2016-20)
Career Field Goals Made
6. 578 – Gary Lupek (1966-69)
T7. 572 – Randy Allen (1971-74); 572 – Eddie Peterson (2002-06);
Ethan Porterfield (2019-Pres)
10. 571 – Robert Misenko (1992-96)
11. 554 – Joe DeLise (1950-51, 55-58)
12. 550 – Jamie Kimbrough (1955-59)
Career Three-Point Field Goals Made
7. 195 -- Geoff Evans (1998-01)
T8. 187 -- Aaron Faulkner (1999-02);
Ethan Porterfield (2019-Pres)
10. 181 -- Eddie Peterson (2002-06)
11. 164 -- Devante Chance (2011-15)
Career Rebounds
5. 826 – Robert Misenko (1992-96)
6. 738 – Sam Scott (1977-82)
8. 672 -- Mike Mitten (1977-81)
9. 653 -- Tom Kerstetter (1969-72)
10. 632 -- Bob Bence (1962-66)
Career Blocks
1. 207 -- Devon Cottrell (2012-17)
2. 162 -- Darryl Webb (2007-11)
3. 145 --
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.
