INDIANA, Pa. – The top-ranked IUP men's basketball team continues to find ways to win, pushing the team's overall record to a perfect 22-0 on the season, marking the program's second-longest winning streak in school history.
The Hawks are set for a difficult stretch of divisional play this week against some of the top teams the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West has to offer. IUP clinched a spot in the PSAC Tournament last weekend, becoming the first team in the league to do so.
First up, IUP visits 24th-ranked Mercyhurst (16-3, 12-3) on Monday, February 6 for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff. Just 48 hours later, the top-ranked Hawks welcome a surging Pitt-Johnstown (16-5, 12-3) to the KCAC on Wednesday, February 8 at 7:30 p.m.
IUP limited Gannon to 39.0% for the game in a 74-58 victory last Saturday at the KCAC. The Hawks showcased their depth in the frontcourt, placing three in double figures while attempting 28 foul shots.
Shawndale Jones poured in a game-high 25 points for IUP, while
Tomiwa Sulaiman secured another double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds.
Mercyhurst jumped into the top 25 in last week's poll and enter Monday's matchup tied for third in the latest D2SIDA Atlantic Region Rankings. The Lakers, winners of three consecutive games, boast a perfect 10-0 record at home this season. Nicholas Lang dropped in 22 points as the Lakers cruised to an 81-67 road win against Edinboro on Wednesday, February 1.
Five players average at least 9.9 points/game for the Lakers, who were idle last weekend. Monday's matchup features the top two defensive units in the PSAC, both surrendering under 62 points/game. IUP wore down the Lakers in an 80-67 victory in early January at the KCAC, marking the fourth straight win in the head-to-head series for the Hawks.
GAME INFORMATION – MERCYHURST
TIPOFF NOTES
- IUP boasts the highest winning percentage in NCAA DII basketball since 2019-20, going 83-5 (.943) overall with marks of 28-2, 33-3 and 22-0, not counting the 2020-21 season where most schools did not play.
- IUP extended its regular season winning streak to 33 following the victory against Gannon last weekend, winning 11 straight prior to the postseason in 2021-22.
- IUP is 55-3 (.948) overall dating back to last season and 116-9 since 2018-19. The Hawks have won all but two contests by double digits this season on their way to a 22-0 start.
- Dave Morris was superb in the initial meeting with Mercyhurst earlier this season, posting 21 points, seven rebounds, five assists and one steal while playing all 40 minutes. The hawks held a 37-28 edge on the glass and limited the Lakers to just 30.3% (10-33) from the floor in the second half.
- IUP HC Joe Lombardi is fourth among active NCAA DII head coaches with a .786 winning percentage, just behind Northwest Missouri State's Ben McCollum (.806). He's sixth among active head coaches in winning percentage across all divisions.
- Shawndale Jones leads the conference in scoring as one of four in double figures for the Hawks. Jones shot 47.2% from the floor and 47.1% from three in two wins last week, averaging 27.5 points and 4.0 rebounds against Seton Hill and Gannon.
- Dallis Dillard and Tomiwa Sulaiman help set the tone for IUP defensively. The Hawks have four players in the lineup with 30 steals or more entering the week. IUP is fourth in the country in scoring defense (58.5) and leads the nation in field goal percentage defense (.375).
- Jaylen Stewart and Damir Brooks have provided key depth for IUP this season, each providing valuable minutes off the bench. Stewart has seen at least 15 minutes in every game since January 11, while Brooks has made four starts on the season.
