ASHLAND, Ohio -- The IUP men's basketball team travels to Ashland, Ohio for the Ashland University Classic, taking place November 16 and 17 at the Sherill Hudson Court at Kates Gymnasium. The Hawks face Tiffin on November 16 at 7:30 p.m. and Ashland on November 17 at 5:00 p.m. to wrap up the weekend.

The tip off challenge will also feature two other matchups including a Saturday (Nov.16) contest against Ashland and Miami-Middletown at 5:30 p.m. On Sunday (Nov.17) the matchup is between Miami-Middleton and Tiffin at 3:00 p.m.

GAMEDAY CENTRAL  
IUP (0-2) vs. Tiffin (0-2)
Saturday, November 16 – 7:30 p.m. – Kates Gymnasium –Ashland, Ohio – Ashland University Classic
Game Coverage: Live Video (Great Midwest Digital Network) – Live Stats
Social Media Updates: @IUP_MBB on X (formerly Twitter)

IUP (0-2) vs. Ashland (1-0)
Sunday, November 17 – 5:00 p.m. -- Kates Gymnasium –Ashland, Ohio – Ashland University Classic
Game Coverage: Live Video (Great Midwest Digital Network) – Live Stats
Social Media Updates: @IUP_MBB on X (formerly Twitter)

COMING UP
IUP vs. Shippensburg
Friday, November 22 – 5:00 p.m. – KCAC -- Indiana, Pa.

THE GAME AT A GLANCE
The IUP men's basketball team goes on the road to Ashland, Ohio for another neutral site matchup with two G-MAC teams. The Tiffin Dragons led by new head coach Desmond Balentine and the Ashland Eagles. Tipoff against Tiffin is on Saturday, November 16 at 7:30 PM and tipoff for Ashland is on Sunday, November 17 at 5:00 PM.

TIPOFF NOTES

>> IUP drops two close matchups against MEC opponents Glenville State and Charleston (WV) by a combined 8 points.
>> This is the first time since the 2017-18 season that the Crimson Hawks lost the first two games in season opener, the 2017-18 season concluded in an overall record of 22-8, sole possession of the PSAC West one seed and ranked sixth in the NCAA Atlantic Region Rankings.
>> Against Glenville State, freshman Tyler Grove led the team in scoring with 17 points shooting 50% from the field and nearly recorded a double-double ending the game with 9 rebounds.
>> Damir Brooks recorded his first career double double against the Pioneers, also recording 5 steals in the process, and currently leads the team in scoring average with 18.0 PPG.
>> Brooks also leads the team in offensive and defensive rebounds with seven and thirteen respectively.
>> IUP dominated in the paint against Glenville State, outscoring the Pioneers 40-24.
>> Against Charleston (WV), Redshirt Junior Damir Brooks recorded a career high 23 points and played a total of 40 minutes for the Crimson Hawks.
>> Freshman Ian Herring for IUP scored 16 efficient points for the Hawks against Charleston (WV), shooting seven for eight on the field.
>> This will be the first time the Men's Basketball program has played Tiffin or Ashland.
>> Against both Glenville State and Charleston, 4 starting Hawks scored 10 or more points.
>> In the second half, the Crimson Hawks outscored their opponents by 21 combined points in both matchups
>> Four of the starters for the Crimson Hawks are either transfers or freshman.
>> New Hampshire transfer Christian Moore is averaging the second most points on the team, averaging 16.5 PPG.

TIFFIN AT A GLANCE
• Tiffin looks to their new head coach Desmond Balentine who served the last two seasons as assistant coach for the Dragons.
• Dekyre Fuller leads Tiffin in PPG, RPG and APG at 12.3, 5.0, and 3.0.
• Tiffin is ranked second in the G-MAC in FG% defense at 40.7%.
• The Dragons also force 14 turnovers per game which is third in the G-MAC

ASHLAND AT A GLANCE
• Long-time headcoach John Ellenwood is back for another season with the Eagles, securing a nailbiting 68-66 victory against Grand Valley St to start the season.
• 2023-24 second-team All-GMAC selection Maceo 
Williams is averaging a double double at 22 PPG and 12 RBG
• The Eagles are only allowing 66 PPG which is ranked first in the G-MAC.

TIFFIN & ASHLAND SERIES HISTORY
• IUP will be facing the Tiffin Dragons and the Ashland Eagles for the first time in program history.

THAT'S A LOT OF WINS!
• Since the 2018-19 season, IUP has gone 140-25 (.848) 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 30th win since 2009-10, the most of any team in the PSAC.

BROOKS BREAKOUT
• Standout Redshirt Junior Damir Brooks is taking advantage of his starting position. Having a 15 PPG increase from the 2023-24 season from 3.2 to 18.0.
• Brooks is recorded a double double in the matchup against Glenville St with thirteen points and ten rebounds.
• Brooks also recorded a career high 23 points against Charleston (WV)

GROVE IN THE GROOVE
• Tyler Grove, the freshman from McDowell High School is carving out a key role in Lombardi's team averaging 13.5 PPG and 7.0 RPG.
• Grove led the team in scoring against Glenville St with 17 points.
• Grove is shooting five from eleven or 45% from the 3-point line which is the highest on the team.

HERRINGLY EFFICIENT
• Freshman Ian Herring off the bench leads the Crimson Hawks in FG% at 73.3%.
• Herring has taken fifteen total shots, and eleven have gone in for him.
• The freshman is also averaging 7.5 RPG which is second most on the team.

LOMBARDI AMONG TOP COACHES IN COLLEGE BASKETBALL

• Now in his 43rd 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 19th season at the helm of the Crimson Hawks, Lombardi is the program's all-time leader in wins (417-123) 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, ranking third on the conference's all-time wins list. 
• Lombardi ranks fifth among NCAA DII active head coaches in winning percentage (.772) with at least 10 years of experience and in the top 20 among all-time among all NCAA divisions in winning percentage with at least 10 years of experience.

FOLLOW  
For up-to-date information, visit IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP men's basketball on X (Twitter) @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUP_MBB.