INDIANA, Pa. – The IUP men's basketball team returns home on Saturday, January 20 for a 3:00 p.m. tipoff against Edinboro at the KCAC.
GAMEDAY CENTRAL
IUP (10-5, 7-2 PSAC) vs. Edinboro (5-11, 4-6 PSAC)
Saturday, January 20, 2024 – 3:00 p.m. – KCAC – Indiana, Pa.
TIPOFF NEWS AND NOTES
- IUP has won nine of the last 11 games and enters the week with a 7-2 mark in conference play. IUP has posted a combined 105-13 (.889) record in regular season conference play since the 2017-18 season.
- IUP has gone 46-4 (.920) in January since the 2017-18 season, including a 23-1 home mark in January games over that span.
- IUP made enough plays down the stretch to escape with a resilient 73-72 victory last time out at Pitt-Johnstown on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Edinboro nabbed a signature conference win of its own, snapping a 13-game losing skid to Mercyhurst with a 75-69 triumph in Erie.
- Ethan Porterfield is six points shy of 1,600 for his collegiate career. He would become the just the ninth player in program history to reach the scoring mark.
- Porterfield is 10 points shy of moving to eighth on the IUP all-time scoring list, also two three-point field goals away from 200 and two blocks away from 150.
- IUP HC Joe Lombardi is 27-8 lifetime against Edinboro, winning 27 of the last 29 meetings. The Hawks have won eight straight in the head-to-head series, also posting three consecutive wins against the Scots at the KCAC.
- Garvin Clarke was outstanding for IUP in the win at UPJ, setting career highs in points (27), rebounds (10) and matching a career high with five steals. Playing all 40 minutes for IUP, Clarke logged his first double-double of the season after coming close multiple times.
- KJ Rhodes also recorded some important minutes in the win at UPJ, making timely plays with a career-best 11 points, nine rebounds (eight offensive) and six assists.
- IUP is third in the PSAC in scoring defense (66.9), fourth in rebounding (38.6) and fourth in three-point field goals per game (8.1).
- Bryce Radford knocked down five triples for the third time in five games for IUP last time out against UPJ. Going 5-for-13 from beyond the arc, Radford is converting at 43.5% this season from distance while averaging 12.8 points/game since his return.
- IUP's two conference losses this season have come at the hands of nationally ranked programs in East Stroudsburg and Gannon.
EDINBORO AT A GLANCE
- Bernie Blunt ranks second in the PSAC and 17th in NCAA DII with 21.2 points/game to pace the Fighting Scots. He also leads the league in free throw percentage (.893) and field goal attempts (276).
- Blunt led all scorers with 26 points in the win against Mercyhurst on January 17, one of four in double figures. The victory snapped a streak of 13 consecutive losses against the Lakers.
- Daunte Wilcott finished with 17 points, three assists and two boards against Mercyhurst. Jack Gallagher tallied 13 points, four rebounds and five assists. Ian McNeill just missed a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds.
- First-year head coach Justin Jennings became the 12th head coach in Edinboro's history, spending the past seven seasons as an assistant at Division I Drexel.
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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 133-15 (.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 (+2.00).
- Clarke has been a primary distributor for the Hawks, but has also taken more of a role in scoring the basketball with four outings of at least 20 points in the last eight games.
- He ranks third in the league in assists/game (5.1) and fourth in steals/game (2.3), passing out a career-high nine helpers in an all-around effort against Mansfield on December 18, 2023.
- Clarke helped guide IUP to a road win at UPJ with 27 points (11-22 FG), 10 rebounds, three assists and five steals in 40 minutes on January 17, 2024.
RADFORD ENJOYING STORYBOOK RETURN TO INDIANA
- Bryce Radford returned to IUP in December 2023, playing with the program from 2020-22. He played the 2022-23 season at WVU tech and was not playing basketball as a full-time employee prior to rejoining the squad a few weeks ago.
- Radford made a big impact in his return to the KCAC, tying the school record with eight three-point field goals in a 78-48 win against Shepherd on January 3, 2024.
- The Beckley, W.Va. native has converted at least five triples in three of his initial five games with the Crimson Hawks.
- Radford was part of the 2021-22 NCAA DII Final Four team that won the PSAC and Atlantic Region crowns with a 33-3 overall record.
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 (410-113) 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 two 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) (508-84, 18 yrs) *
2. .833 – Mark Few (Gonzaga) (700-140, 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) (251-58, 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) (377-90, 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 (386-104, 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) (508-84, 18 yrs)
2. .812 – Tom Brown (West Texas A&M) (251-58, 10 yrs)
3. .807 – Ben McCollum (Northwest Missouri State) (377-90, 14 yrs)
4. .791 – Bob Bolen (Glenville State (497-131, 20 yrs)
6. .758 – Jeff Young (Walsh) (448-143, 21 yrs)
PSAC Men's Basketball All-Time Coaching Victories
Note: Accounts for victories while coaching at a PSAC school only; UPJ transitioned from the WVIAC to the PSAC but all wins are reflected
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 102 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 (9th; 17.1), rebounds per game (4th; 8.7), double-doubles (2nd; 6), minutes/game (3rd; 36:36) and total three-point field goals made (7th; 37).
- 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. 148 -- 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 Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUP_MBB.
