INDIANA, Pa. – The IUP men's basketball team begins the divisional portion of the 2023-24 schedule this week, welcoming Mercyhurst on Wednesday, January 10 for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff at the KCAC.
 
GAMEDAY CENTRAL
IUP (8-4, 5-1 PSAC) vs. Mercyhurst (8-7, 4-3 PSAC)
Wednesday, January 10, 2024 – 7:30 p.m. – KCAC – Indiana, Pa.
Game Coverage: Live Video (PSAC Digital Network) – Live Stats – Live Audio (U92.5FM)
Social Media Updates: @IUP_MBB on X (formerly Twitter)
 
TIPOFF NEWS AND NOTES

• IUP has won seven of the last eight games and enter the week with a 5-1 mark in conference play. IUP has posted a combined 103-12 (.895) record in regular season conference play since the 2017-18 season.
• Ethan Porterfield continues climbing up the school's all-time scoring list, entering the game with 1,555 career points. Currently 10th all time, he needs just 10 points to surpass Jack Crossan (1,564) for ninth in school history.
• The Hawks were idle on Saturday, returning to the floor following a 78-48 victory against Shepherd on January 3. Bryce Radford matched the program's single-game record for three-point baskets (8), pouring in 28 points in 34 minutes.
• IUP knocked down 16 three-point baskets during the team's victory against Shepherd, tied for the sixth most in program history for a single game.
• Wednesday marks the first meeting between IUP and Mercyhurst since the 2023 PSAC Championship Game. The Hawks claimed a hard-fought 54-53 victory against the Lakers in March 2023 at Shippensburg.
• IUP has gone a combined 44-3 in the month of January since the 2017-18 season, including a 22-1 home mark in January games over that span.
• IUP shot 50% or higher from the field for the second time this season, going a combined 57.8% from the floor and 59.3% from beyond the arc in the victory. Jaylen Stewart racked up a career-high 25 points (9-14 FG) with six assists in another strong performance.
• Porterfield racked up another double-double last time out, his fifth of the season. He is sixth in the league in scoring (18.2) and third in the league in rebounding (9.2).
• IUP HC Joe Lombardi collected the 250th PSAC win in his storied tenure with last week's victory against Shepherd. Lombardi is 24-13 lifetime against Mercyhurst, which has been among the top programs in the league along with IUP.
• Following a strong offensive performance, IUP looks to gain consistency on that side of the ball while coupling it with a strong team defensive approach. The Hawks are third in the conference and 27th nationally in scoring defense (66.2).
• In eight career games against Mercyhurst, Porterfield has averaged 15.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.8 blocks/game, including some outstanding postseason performances against the Lakers.

 
MERCYHURST AT A GLANCE

• Gary Machel boast 496 career wins and has build Mercyhurst into one of the most consistently strong programs in the conference. The Lakers dispatched UPJ, 64-57, last time out.
• Jeff Planutis is ninth in the conference in scoring (17.3). The Lakers are built around strong defense once again in 2023-24, ranking eighth nationally in scoring defense (63.8).  
• Mercyhurst has lost four straight matchups against IUP at the KCAC. The Lakers' last win in Indiana came in February 2020, a 68-62 triumph after a big first half.

 
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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 182-23 (.887) 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) 
  • 44 of their last 49 (44-5) 
  • 60 of their last 65 (60-5) 
  • 79 or their last 86 (79-7)
  • 91 of their last 102 (91-11)
  • 107 of their last 121 (107-14)

 
THAT'S A LOT OF WINS!

• Since the 2018-19 season, IUP has gone 131-14 (.903) 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.

 
HAWKS LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL PRODUCTION

• Tasked with replacing a combined 31 points, 12 rebounds, 7.8 assists and 3.2 steals/game for the time being in the void left by Dillard and Clarke, the Hawks are seeking additional sources of production with divisional play set to begin.
• Stewart is coming off the best game of his collegiate career against Shepherd, while Radford provided IUP with a big spark in his return to the KCAC last time out.
• Along the interior, Damir Brooks has seen an increase in minutes since becoming part of the starting lineup, grabbing five or more rebounds in seven consecutive contests.

   
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 (408-112) 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 four 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 (.785) 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. .859 -- Jim Crutchfield (West Liberty/Nova Southeastern) (506-83, 18 yrs) *
2. .834 – Mark Few (Gonzaga) (699-139, 24 yrs) *
3. .824 – Clair Bee (Rider/LIU Brooklyn) (412-88, 21 yrs)
4. .822 – Adolph Rupp (Kentucky) (876-190, 41 yrs)
5. .811 – Bucky Harris (Jefferson) (240-56, 13 yrs)
T6. .810 – Dolph Staley (Beloit) (238-56, 12 yrs)
T6. .810 – Tom Brown (West Texas A&M) (248-58, 10 yrs) *
8. .809 – Ben McCollum (Northwest Missouri State) (376-89, 14 yrs) *
9. .808 – Matt Logie (Whitworth/Point Loma/Montana State) (282-67, 12 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) (496-130, 20 yrs) *
13. .787 -- Josh Schertz (Indiana State (384-104, 16 yrs) *
T13 .786 – Dave Robbins (Virginia Union) (713-194, 30 yrs)
15. .785 – Joe Lombardi (IUP) (408-112, 18 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. .859 – Jim Crutchfield (West Liberty/Nova Southeastern) (506-83, 18 yrs)
2. .810 – Tom Brown (West Texas A&M) (248-58, 10 yrs)
3. .809 – Ben McCollum (Northwest Missouri State) (376-89, 14 yrs)
4. .792 – Bob Bolen (Glenville State (496-130, 20 yrs)
5. .785 – Joe Lombardi (IUP) (408-112, 18 yrs)
6. .757 – Jeff Young (Walsh) (445-143, 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)
4. 408—Joe Lombardi (IUP; 2006-Present) *
5. 391 – 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 (6th; 18.2), rebounds per game (3rd; 9.2), double-doubles (1st; 6), minutes/game (3rd; 36:15), total three-point field goals made (4th; 32) and assist/turnover ratio (5th; 1.71).
• 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 (10th), field goals made (6th), three-point field goals made (8th), 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)
9. 1,564 -- Jack Crossan (1952-56)
10. 1,555 -- Ethan Porterfield (2019-Pres)
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)
5. 585 – Sam Scott (1977-82)
6. 583 -- Ethan Porterfield (2019-Pres)
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
7. 195 -- Geoff Evans (1998-01)
8. 193 -- Ethan Porterfield (2019-Pres)
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)
6. 739 -- Ethan Porterfield (2019-Present)
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 Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUP_MBB. 
 

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