INDIANA, Pa. -- The IUP men's basketball program returns to conference play with two road matchups this weekend. The Hawks face the Shepherd Rams on December 6 at 5:00 PM and the West Chester Golden Rams on December 7 at 3:00 PM.

GAMEDAY CENTRAL
IUP (5-3, 2-0) vs. Shepherd (4-3, 2-0) 
Friday, December 6 – 5:00 PM –  - Butcher Athletic Center - Shepherdstown, W.Va
Game Coverage: Live Video (PSAC Digital Network) –  Live Stats 
Social Media Updated: @IUP_MBB on X (formerly Twitter)

IUP (5-3, 2-0) vs. West Chester (5-2, 2-0)
Saturday, December 7 – 3:00 PM – Hollinger Field House - West Chester, Pa.
Game Coverage: Live Video (PSAC Digital Network) –  Live Stats 
Social Media Updated: @IUP_MBB on X (formerly Twitter)
 

TIPOFF NOTES

>> The Hawks post a 5-3 overall record and 2-0 in the PSAC.
>> USC Beaufort knocked off IUP from their five game winning streak after dropping the season's first two games.
>> Redshirt junior guard Damir Brooks was awarded PSAC West Defensive Player of the Week on December 2 for
his defensive efforts against Lincoln.
>> The Hawks are currently averaging 74.5 PPG, 41.0 RPG, 12.9 APG, 6.6 SPG, and 3.0 BPG.
>> IUP is shooting .442% from the field and .313% beyond the arc.
>> Top shooters for the Hawks are Damir Brooks (.587 FG%), Ian Herring (.540 FG%), and Christian Moore (.426 FG%).
>> Kymani Merraro is solid from the free throw line, shooting .771% from 48 attempts.
>> Consistent starters for the Hawks have been Moore, Merraro, Tyler Grove, and Brooks. Each rank in the PSAC top 25 in minutes played. Both Moore (2nd - 36.1) and Merraro (4th - 34.4) are ranked in the top five.
>> West Chester and Shepherd are the top two teams in the PSAC East, being the only two teams undefeated in conference play.
>> The Golden Rams are first in the PSAC averaging 43.1 rebounds per game. Elijah Allen ranks 11th in the PSAC averaging 17.7 points per game. In their most recent matchup, they scored just three shy of 50 points in the second half.
>> Shepherd's Chase Paar is averaging nine rebounds per game, ranking fourth in the PSAC and second in the East. Against California (Pa.) Shepherd posted a second half comeback after posting 44 points in the second compared to their 22 in the first half.

SHEPHERD AT A GLANCE / SERIES HISTORY
Shepherd's overall record in 4-3 and 2-0 in the PSAC with wins against Seton Hill and California (Pa.). The Rams are averaging 65.1 PPG, .401 FG%, 37.3 RPG, 12.1 APG, 4.9 steals per game, and 2.3 blocks per game. Their lead scorer is Chase Pase who is averaging 12.3 PPG, 8.4 RPG, shooting .525% from the field, and totals eight blocks.

IUP has matched up with the Rams on five occasions and has won all, two at home and three on the road. The most recent matchup was this past season where the Hawks won at home 78-48, a 30-point margin.

WEST CHESTER AT A GLANCE / SERIES HISTORY
West Chester's overall record is 5-2 and 2-0 in the PSAC with wins against Slippery Rock and Edinboro. They are currently on a five game winning streak. The Golden Rams are averaging 80.6 PPG, .430 FG%, 43.1 RPG, 14.4 APG, 7.6 steals per game, and 3.0 blocks per game. Elijah Allen is the lead scorer averaging 17.7 PPG, shooting .430% from the field, and grabbing 4.1 boards per game.

IUP has won nine of the last 12 matchups against the Golden Rams, with three wins coming on the road. The most recent matchup was in 2022, IUP won 69-55.

STANDOUT MOORE
Christian Moore, transfer from New Hampshire, has led the team in scoring on five occassions, all above 20 points. His highest scoring game came against Tiffin where he scored 26 points, shot .571% from the field and made four three pointers. Moore is averaging 36 minutes per game, 4.1 RPG, 21.3 PPG, and has tallied 14 steals with five coming against Lock Haven. Moore ranks in the PSAC top 25 in seven categories, including three top 10 rankings in PPG (5th), 3PT MPG (2nd), and 3PT FG% (9th).

BROOKS NAMED PSAC WEST DEF. ATH. OF THE WEEK
Redshirt junior guard Damir Brooks was awarded PSAC West Defensive Player of the Week on December 2 for his defensive efforts against Lincoln. Brooks posted his third double-double this season with 12 rebounds and 10 points. His 12 rebounds mared a career high for him along with matching his personal best of three blocks. He also added an assist and steal playing 30 minutes. Brooks has also been climbing the rankings among the PSAC, currently ranked sixth in rebounds per game (8.3) and ninth in blocks per game (1.3).

MERRARO ON THE RISE 
Freshman Merraro has had a hot start to his collegiate career. He has scored 15 points or more in three games, including his high of 21 points against USC Beaufort. He currently averages 13.1 PPG, 5.3 APG, 4.9 RPG, has grabbed eight steals, and is shooting .405% from the field. With his free throw percentage, he ranks 18th in PSAC (.771) and is 4th with his assists.

DEFENSIVE STANDOUTS
Blocks: Brooks (10), Furton (5), Grove (3), Triggs (3), Herring (2), Moore (1)
Steals: Moore (14), Brooks (10), Herring (10), Merraro (8), Furton (4), Grove (4), Triggs (3)

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 seven setbacks last season, IUP boasts a 190-28 (.872) mark in home games since the venue opened, including postseason games.
>> IUP has not lost more than seven 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.
    >> 52 of their last 62 (52-10)
    >> 68 of their last 78 (68-10)
    >> 87 or their last 99 (87-11)
    >> 99 of their last 115 (99-16)
    >> 115 of their last 134 (115-19)

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 (422-124) 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 third among NCAA DII active head coaches in winning percentage (.773) 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.