GAME INFORMATION – PITT-JOHNSTOWN
INDIANA, Pa. – The top-ranked IUP men's basketball team is back home for a rematch with Pitt-Johnstown on Wednesday, February 8, looking to bounce back from its first loss of the season Monday night at Mercyhurst. Tipoff from the KCAC is slated for 7:30 p.m.
IUP is fifth nationally in average attendance among DII schools, averaging over 1,500 patrons per contest this season with crowds continuing to trend upward. If you can't make it to the KCAC, live video coverage is available on the PSAC Digital Network, courtesy of IUP-TV Sports. The voice of IUP Sports, Jack Benedict, will have the call on U92.5 FM and the U92 Sports Channel.
Wednesday's game is shaping up to be a special one, with several activities planned surrounding the midweek doubleheader:
- Free t-shirts distributed between the doubleheader to first 500 students
- Repelling from IUP ROTC
- Pregame performance of "Lift Every Voice and Sing" and National Anthem by IUP Choir, accompanied by Moses Phillips and President Driscoll
- Recognition of PSAC Champion IUP men's golf team in second half
IUP (22-1, 16-1) had its 22-game winning streak halted, also snapping a remarkable stretch of 33 consecutive regular season wins, dating back to last year. The Hawks could not get into an offensive rhythm against one of the top defenses in the country, falling 62-49 on the road in Erie while shooting just 29.1% from the floor.
Mercyhurst (17-3, 13-3) moved up to in the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) poll, released Tuesday. The Lakers, which had five days to prepare for Monday's showdown, used a decisive 20-4 run in the second half to pull away.
The Hawks, playing with a growing target since becoming the number one team in the nation around the new year, became the first team to clinch a spot in the upcoming Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament. IUP remained first in the coaches poll and second in the D2SIDA Top 25, released Tuesday and accounting for games through last weekend.
Shawndale Jones, the reigning PSAC West Player of the Week, leads the league in scoring at 21.0 points/game. In the frontcourt,
Tomiwa Sulaiman is a four-time PSAC West Defensive Player of the Week as a sparkplug on both ends of the floor. The duo is complimented by veteran guard
Dave Morris and inside-outside threat
Ethan Porterfield, who made his return to the lineup on Monday night in Erie.
Pitt-Johnstown (17-5, 13-3) is surging into Wednesday's matchup with six consecutive victories, most recently a 73-66 triumph at Gannon on Monday night. Ryan Smith scored 17 of his team-high 19 points in the second half and knocked down a basket with just over three minutes remaining to give Pitt-Johnstown the lead for good in Erie. Andrew Shull collected 18 points and seven rebounds, and John Paul Kromka had 16 points, eight rebounds, and a game-high four blocks for the Mountain Cats.
IUP continues leading the country in field goal percentage defense (.376) and ranks fourth nationally in scoring defense (58.7). Meanwhile, UPJ boasts one of the most efficient offensive units in the nation, ranking sixth nationally in field goal percentage (.515) and first in three-point percentage (.436).
The Hawks held on for a hard-fought 76-71 road win against UPJ in Johnstown back on January 14. IUP trailed by four at the half, receiving a big second-half boost from
Jaylen Stewart, who fired in 17 points (5-5 FG) with three rebounds in the victory. IUP HC
Joe Lombardi owns a 19-4 record against Pitt-Johnstown, including an 18-2 mark since they joined the PSAC in 2013.
