INDIANA, PA -- IUP men's basketball program continues their home game stretch at the Kovalchick Convention & Athletic Center with a non-conference game against Lincoln University on November 27 at 7:30 PM.

GAMEDAY CENTRAL
IUP (4-2) vs. Lincoln (2-3)
Wednesday, November 27 – 7:30 PM – Kovalchick Convention & Athletic Center – Indiana, Pa.
Media Coverage: Live Video (PSAC: Digital Network) – Live Stats
Social Media Updated: @IUP_MBB on X (formerly Twitter)

COMING UP
IUP vs. USC - Beaufort
Monday, December 2 – 6:00 PM – Kovalchick Convention & Athletic Center – Indiana, Pa.
 

TIPOFF NOTES 

IUP had a fantastic start to conference play, defeating the Lock Haven Bald Eagles 80-70, and the Shippensburg Raiders 72-57.

>> University of New Hapshire transfer, Christian Moore, dominated the charts again during their contest against Lock Haven, putting up 23 points, five steals, and four assists. 

>> Freshman Tyler Grove was not far behind. Grove drained three 3-pointers and went 2-2 from the FT line, which allowed him to contribute 19 points to the Crimson Hawk's total. 

>> Freshman Ian Herring was third in points, posting ten points, and grabbing six rebounds for IUP. 

>> The starters Kymani Merraro, Sarp Furtun, and Damir Brooks all had solid games. Furtun tallied nine points with four rebounds, Brooks put up eight points, six rebounds, two blocks, and two steals, and Merraro posted eight points, eight assists, and six rebounds. Merraro did not take a single shot on the court, all of his points were from free throws. 

>> The Crimson Hawk's game against the Bald Eagles also marked the first game this season that Callum MacNamara appeared in. MacNamara did not see much action last year due to an injury. 

>> IUP's game against Shippensburg showed the versatility that the team has to offer. Four out of five started posted double-digit figures in scoring. 

>> On top of these impressive numbers, 68 points were scored by the starting team (Merraro, Moore, Grove, Brooks, Furtun). 

>> Merraro paved the way for IUP, totaling 18 points, followed by Moore scoring 15 points, Grove and Brooks both scoring 14, and Furtun scoring seven. 

>> The four bench points were scored by Mercyhurst transfer, Luke Triggs. Triggs also posted six rebounds for the Crimson Hawks.

>> Despite being tied at the half, IUP posted 15 more points than Shippensburg in the second half, leading to a 72-57 victory.
 

LINCOLN AT A GLANCE

Lincoln started their season at the CIAA/PSAC Challenge, defeating Kutztown 87-78, and losing to East Stroudsburg 68-88. The loss streak for the Lions continued, with a loss to Felician University 71-80, and a loss to Cal U 52-84. Lincoln got back on track with their most recent match up against Molloy University, beating the Lions 100-78. Lincoln averages 75.6 PPG, 37.8 RPG, and 17.6 TO/G. The Lions have racked up 64 assists, 38 steals, and 21 blocks this season. Lincoln shoots 42.7% from the field, 30.3% from the arc, and 69.4% from the line.

LINCOLN SERIES HISTORY 

Wednesday's game will be the second time the Crimson Hawks will face the Lions. Their first match up occurred in November of 2016. IUP defeated Lincoln 101-82. The Crimson Hawks posted 43 rebounds, 16 assists, and 12 steals. 

BATTLE OF THE BEST

Lincoln's top performer this season is senior guard, Bakir Cleveland. So far, Cleveland has posted 95 points, 34 rebounds, 13 turnovers, 11 assists, five blocks, and three steals. Cleveland shoots 52.9% from the field, 50.0% from the arc, and 80.0% from the free throw line. Following Cleveland is senior guard, Reggie Hudson, and senior forward, Ethan Garita. Hudson has scored 69 points this season and shoots 50.0 % from the field. Garita has scored 60 points for the season and shoots 58.1% from the field. IUP's top point scorer is junior guard, Christian Moore. Moore is leading the Crimson Hawks with 122 points. Moore averages 36.5 MPG and shoots 40.4% from the field. Following Moore is freshman forward, Tyler Grove, redshirt junior forward Damir Brooks, and freshman guard Kymani Merraro. Grove has scored 80 points this season, and has snagged 28 rebounds for the Crimson Hawks. Brooks and Merraro have both scored 72 points, with Brooks contributing 49 rebounds, nine steals, and seven blocks, and Merraro adding eight steals and 31 assists. 

THAT'S A LOT OF WINS! 

Since the 2018-19 season, IUP has gone 144-25 (.852) 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.

BROOKS BREAKOUT 

Standout Redshirt Junior Damir Brooks is taking advantage of his starting position. Brooks increased his PPG average by 8.8, and his RPG average by 5.5 since 2023-24 season. Brooks is also averaging double his MPG, increasing from 13.5 MPG in 2023-24 to 31.5 this season. 

GROVE IN THE GROOVE

Tyler Grove, the freshman from McDowell High School, is carving out a key role on Lombardi's team, averaging 13.3 PPG and 4.7 RPG. Grove led the team in scoring against Glenville St. with 17 points. He is shooting .469 from the field, second 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 (421-123) 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 (.774) 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
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