INDIANA, Pa. -- The IUP men's basketball program continues its home game stretch at the Kovalchick Convention Athletic Center with a non-conference game against the University of South Carolina Beaufort on December 2 at 6:00 p.m.
GAMEDAY CENTRAL
IUP (5-2) VS. South Carolina Beaufort (7-1)
Monday, December 2 – 6:00 PM – Kovalchick Convention & Athletic Center – Indiana, Pa.
Media Coverage:
Live Video (PSAC Digital Network) –
Live Stats (Stat Broadcast)
Social Media Updates: @IUP_MBB on X (formerly Twitter)
COMING UP
IUP vs. Shepherd
Friday, December 6 – 5:00 p.m. – Butcher Athletic Center, Shepherdstown, W.Va.
TIPOFF NOTES
>> IUP had a well deserved win against the Lincoln Lions last Wednesday, 61-57.
>> University of New Hampshire transfer, Christian Moore, dominated the charts again during their contest against Lincoln, putting up 23 points, four rebounds, and two steals..
>> Freshman Kymani Merraro also helped pave the way for the Crimson Hawks, putting up 12 points and five assists.
>> Redshirt Junior Damir Brooks stood out on the defense side. The Harlem native snagged 12 rebounds, three blocks, one steal, and one assist, all while scoring ten points.
>> Freshman Tyler Grove and sophomore Sarp Furtun added eight points to IUP's total, along with 13 rebounds, two blocks, one steal, and one assist.
>> The bench also had a major input in the game. Mercyhurst transfer, Luke Triggs, added four points, one block, and contributed six rebounds.
>> USCB started this season on a six-game winning streak until they saw a loss at Savannah State. The Sand Sharks bounced back with their latest meeting against Slippery Rock 70-64, on Saturday.
>> The Sand Sharks have posted two victories against PSAC West opponents, both Slippery Rock and Pitt-Johnstown.
>> The Sand Shark's largest margin of victory was against Voorhees College, 109-81, 28 points. South Carolina Beaufort has scored above 100 points in four of their eight games this season.
USCB AT A GLANCE
USC Beaufort has had a very commendable start to their season. The Sand Sharks are currently 7-1 overall, and 0-0 in the conference. USCB has reached paramount levels for the program, scoring over 100 points in a game four times so far. These games were against Francis Marion, Emory & Henry, UPJ, and Voorhees College. The only loss for the Sand Sharks occurred November 26 against Savanah State. USCB lost 69-80. USCB's game against IUP will be the third team they face in the PSAC. The Sand Sharks defeated UPJ earlier in the season, shutting out the Mountain Cats 106-88. USCB also had a close win against Slippery Rock, 70-64. The Sand Sharks are averaging a whopping 92.3 PPG, 35.8 RPG, and 13.9 SPG. They have also tallied 128 turnovers (16.0/G), 129 assists (16.1/G), 23 blocks (2.9/G).
BATTLE OF THE BEST
Despite coming off the bench in every contest this season, USCB's top point scorer is senior guard, Kenney Gaines. Gaines has posted 105 points for the Sand Sharks this season. He is shooting .557 from the field, .273 from the arc, and .649 from the free throw line. On top of his points, Gaines has contributed 20 assists, 10 steals, and two blocks. Following Gaines is junior guard, Kevaughn Price. The Butler County Community College transfer is making his mark at USCB, starting all eight games this season. Price is averaging 12.6 PPG, 3.4 RPG, and 1.3 APG. Price has a FG% of 49.4, a 3PT% of 42.9%, and a FT% of 65.4%. 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 145-25 (.853) 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 season 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, averaging 31 minutes in each contest. Brooks posts a .569 field goal percentage,11 assists, and 10 steals. He currently ranks fourth in the PSAC with 61 rebounds and seventh with 10 blocks.
GROVE IN THE GROOVE
Tyler Grove, the freshman from McDowell High School, is carving out a key role on Lombardi's team, averaging 11.7 PPG and 5.0 RPG. Grove led the team in scoring against Glenville State with 17 points. He is shooting .431 from the field, ranking fourth 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 (422-123) 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
For up-to-date information, visit IUPAthletics.com and follow men's basketball on X (Twitter) @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUP_MBB.
