INDIANA, Pa. – The IUP men's basketball team visits Pitt-Johnstown on Wednesday, January 17 for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff from the UPJ Sports Center.
GAMEDAY CENTRAL
IUP (9-5, 6-2 PSAC) at Pitt-Johnstown (5-10, 3-6 PSAC)
Wednesday, January 17, 2024 – 7:30 p.m. – UPJ Sports Center – Johnstown, Pa.
TIPOFF NEWS AND NOTES
- IUP has won eight of the last 10 games and enters the week with a 6-2 mark in conference play. IUP has posted a combined 104-13 (.896) record in regular season conference play since the 2017-18 season.
- Despite that success, the Crimson Hawks are looking to hit the reset button following an 84-58 setback to No. 20/14 Gannon last weekend. IUP fell behind 18-2 to begin the game against an aggressive Gannon side and could not dig out of the hole.
- IUP has gone 45-4 (.918) in January since the 2017-18 season, including a 23-1 home mark in January games over that span.
- Ethan Porterfield was named to the Bevo Francis Top 100 Watch List, one of just 40 DII men's basketball players listed. The list recognizes the top players from NCAA DII, NCAA DIII, USCAA, NAIA and NJCAA.
- Porterfield is ninth in program history in career scoring (1,588), entering the game 16 points shy of passing Dante Lombardi (1,603) for eighth all-time.
- IUP is third in the PSAC in scoring defense (66.6), surrendering 80+ points last time out for third time this season (1-2 record).
- KJ Rhodes and Josh Petteno posted eight points apiece for IUP against Gannon. Sarp Furtun added to the secondary production for the Hawks against Gannon with five points, three rebounds, two assists, two blocks and a steal in 25 minutes.
- IUP HC Joe Lombardi is 20-4 lifetime against Pitt-Johnstown, including wins in eight of the last 10 meetings. The Hawks last loss in Johnstown came in a 70-68 contest in January 2022.
- Only four head coaches have won at least 400 games while head coach at a PSAC school and two are set to meet Wednesday in Lombardi (409) and UPJ's Bob Rukavina (553).
- Jaylen Stewart had a breakout game for IUP last season in Johnstown, helping spur IUP to a hard-fought 76-71 victory behind 17 points (5-5 FG) and three rebounds in 17 minutes.
- Garvin Clarke ranks third in the league in assists (5.3) and fourth in steals (2.0) as an all-around point guard for IUP. Bryce Radford has also provided a spark since his return in late December 2023, recording 18 or more points in two of four contests.
PITT-JOHNSTOWN AT A GLANCE
- Pitt-Johnstown also had to replace a large chunk of production from a season ago, entering the contest on a three-game slide at 5-10 overall and 3-6 in the league.
- UPJ endured a narrow 100-95 defeat last time out. Gavin Headings recorded his second straight double-double with 23 points and 11 rebounds, while Andy Zuchelli added 17 points and six assists to lead five Mountain Cats who scored in double figures against the Fighting Scots.
- UPJ is third in the league in three-point percentage (.358). Andy Zuchelli is third in the PSAC in three-point field goals (40).
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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 183-23 (.888) 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)
- 45 of their last 50 (45-5)
- 61 of their last 66 (61-5)
- 80 or their last 87 (80-7)
- 92 of their last 103 (92-11)
- 108 of their last 122 (108-14)
THAT'S A LOT OF WINS!
- Since the 2018-19 season, IUP has gone 132-15 (.898) 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.
CLARKE CARVING UP THE OPPOSITION
- Stepping in as the team's starting point guard after transferring in from Akron, Garvin Clarke returned from a two-game absence on January 10. The PSAC West Player of the Week on December 11, Clarke is third in the conference in assist/turnover ratio (+2.03).
- 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 seven games.
- He ranks third in the league in assists/game (5.3), passing out a career-high nine helpers in an all-around effort against Mansfield on December 18.
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 (409-113) 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).
- He is one of four coaches in PSAC men's basketball history to reach at least 400 career wins, now three wins shy of matching Edinboro's Greg Walcavich for third on the conference's all-time wins list.
- Lombardi ranks fifth among NCAA DII active head coaches in winning percentage (.784) with at least 10 years of experience and 15th 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. .858 -- Jim Crutchfield (West Liberty/Nova Southeastern) (507-84, 18 yrs) *
2. .833 – Mark Few (Gonzaga) (699-140, 24 yrs) *
3. .824 – Clair Bee (Rider/LIU Brooklyn) (412-88, 21 yrs)
4. .822 – Adolph Rupp (Kentucky) (876-190, 41 yrs)
5. .812 – Tom Brown (West Texas A&M) (250-58, 10 yrs) *
6. .811 – Bucky Harris (Jefferson) (240-56, 13 yrs)
7. .810 – Dolph Staley (Beloit) (238-56, 12 yrs)
8. .809 – Matt Logie (Whitworth/Point Loma/Montana State) (284-67, 12 yrs) *
9. .807 – Ben McCollum (Northwest Missouri State) (376-90, 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. .791 – Bob Bolen (Glenville State) (497-131, 20 yrs) *
13. .786 -- Josh Schertz (Indiana State (384-104, 16 yrs) *
13 .786 – Dave Robbins (Virginia Union) (713-194, 30 yrs)
16. .784 – Jerry Tarkanian (Fresno St/Long Beach St/UNLV) (729-201, 31 yrs)
NCAA Division II Active Head Coach Winning Percentage (min. 10 years' experience)
1. .858 – Jim Crutchfield (West Liberty/Nova Southeastern) (507-84, 18 yrs)
2. .812 – Tom Brown (West Texas A&M) (250-58, 10 yrs)
3. .807 – Ben McCollum (Northwest Missouri State) (376-90, 14 yrs)
4. .791 – Bob Bolen (Glenville State (497-131, 20 yrs)
6. .758 – Jeff Young (Walsh) (447-143, 21 yrs)
PSAC Men's Basketball All-Time Coaching Victories
Note: Accounts for victories while coaching at a PSAC school only
1. 559 – Charles Chronister (Bloomsburg; 1972-2002)
2. 553 – Bob Rukavina (Pitt-Johnstown; 1989-Present) *
3. 412 – Greg Walcavich (Edinboro; 1990-2012)
5. 393 – Jeff Wilson (East Stroudsburg; 2002-Present) *
6. 370 – Dick Delaney (West Chester; 1987-2008)
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 101 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 (7th; 17.9), rebounds per game (4rd; 8.5), double-doubles (1st; 6), minutes/game (3rd; 36:21) and total three-point field goals made (5th; 36).
- 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 (9th), field goals made (5th), three-point field goals made (7th), rebounds (6th) and blocks (3rd).
RECORD BOOK WATCH
Career Points
6. 1,635 – Ashton Smith (2008-12)
7. 1,621 – Eddie Peterson (2002-06)
8. 1,603 -- Dante Lombardi (2015-19)
10. 1,564 -- Jack Crossan (1952-56)
11. 1,544 – Armoni Foster (2018-22)
12. 1,535 – Derrick Freeman (1993-96)
13. 1,526 -- Anthony Glover, Jr. (2014-18)
14. 1,525 -- Malik Miller (2016-20)
15. 1,510 -- Joe DeLise (1950-51, 55-58)
Career Field Goals Made
4. 651 – Jacobo Diaz (2015-19)
6. 585 – Sam Scott (1977-82)
7. 578 – Gary Lupek (1966-69)
T8. 572 – Randy Allen (1971-74); 572 – Eddie Peterson (2002-06)
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
5. 229 – Anthony Glover Jr. (2015-18)
6. 200 – Malik Miller (2016-20)
8. 195 -- Geoff Evans (1998-01)
9. 187 -- Aaron Faulkner (1999-02)
10. 181 -- Eddie Peterson (2002-06)
11. 164 -- Devante Chance (2011-15)
Career Rebounds
5. 826 – Robert Misenko (1992-96)
7. 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)
Three-Pointers Made (Game)
T1. 8 -- John Sanow; Edinboro (2/18/87)
T1. 8 -- Geoff Evans; Strayer (2/3/01)
T1. 8 -- Dante Lombardi; E. Stroudsburg (1/16/19)
T1. 8 – Bryce Radford; Shepherd (1/3/24)
Follow
For up-to-date information, visit IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP men's basketball on X (Twitter) @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUP_MBB.
