Indiana, Pa. -- The IUP men's basketball program goes on the road to the Convocation Center for a pivotal PSAC matchup against Danny Sancomb and the California (PA) Vulcans. Tipoff is set for January 29 at 7:30 p.m.

GAMEDAY CENTRAL
IUP (10-9, 5-6 PSAC) vs. California (PA) (10-10, 5-7 PSAC)
Wednesday, January 29 - 7:30 p.m. - California, Pa. - Convocation Center
Social Media Updates: @IUP_MBB on X (formerly Twitter)
Media Coverage: Live Video (PSAC Digital Network) - Live Stats (Stat Broadcast) - Radio (U92.5FM)

COMING UP
IUP vs Penn St. DuBois
Wednesday, Feburary 5th - 7:30 PM - KCAC - Indiana, Pa.
Social Media Updates: @IUP_MBB on X (formerly Twitter)

IUP TIPOFF NOTES
>> The Hawks are averaging 73.6 PPG, 37.3 RPG, 12.1 APG, 7.6 SPG, and 3.7 BPG.
>> IUP is shooting .450 from the field, .333 beyond the arc, and .697 from the free throw line.
>> The top three shooters for IUP include Damir Brooks (.600 FG), Tyler Grove (.478 FG) and Kymani Merraro (.420 FG).
>> Freshmen Tyler Grove and Kymani Merraro have started all 19 games this season for the Crimson Hawks.
>> Redshirt junior guard Damir Brooks was awarded PSAC West Defensive Player of the Week on December 2nd.
>> Brooks is ranked 4th in the PSAC in blocked shots, recording 32 in 19 games.
>> IUP has three players with 20+ steals, including Ian Herring (35), Christian Moore (28) and Kymani Merraro (27). 
>> Herring, Moore, and Merraro rank 6th, 19th, and 20th respectively in the PSAC in steals.
>> Freshman Merraro hit the game-winning three pointer against Seton Hill on January 18th. 
>> Freshman Guard Ian Herring was named PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Week on January 21st. 
>> IUP plays significantly better at home this season, recording eight of their ten wins at home, including all six of their conference wins.
>> At home, the Crimson Hawks average 76.5 PPG, on the road, the Hawks average 70.3 PPG
>> The Hawks have struggled on the road, winning just two of their five away games. 
>> IUP has a negative scoring margin of -54 when on the road compared to a positive margin of +90 at home.
>> The Hawks are 8-1 when leading at halftime.
>> IUP is 10-4 when they shoot better than their opponent and 0-4 when they shoot worse.
>> With Moore, Merraro, Grove, Brooks, and Furtun as starters, IUP's record is 9-5.
>> Four games this season have been decided by less than three points. With IUP being 3-1 in those contests.

CALIFORNIA (PA) AT A GLANCE
After a two game losing skid on the road against Pitt-Johnstown and Edinboro, Danny Sancomb and the Vulcans seek to recuperate at home with a three game home stand, facing Lombardi and the Crimson Hawks first in a PSAC West showdown. 
Donald Whitehead Jr. leads the Vulcans in scoring with 19.1 PPG and led the team in minutes on their recent road trip, averaging 40 minutes in both games. Cam Polak, the Redshirt Junior for the Vulcans has started every game this year for California (PA), Polak's game primarily revolves around the three point line, shooting 154 shots from deep this season, and 57 going in, averaging to 37%. The Vulcans are an extremely potent offense, ranking 3rd in the PSAC in scoring offense with 84.8 PPG. To reach this high level, California (PA) is averaging 29.2 attempts at the three point line. Sancomb makes sure his players don't miss their free throws at practice either, California (PA) is ranked 1st in the PSAC and 8th nationally in free throw percentage, coming in at a total of 79.7%. 

SERIES HISTORY
IUP leads the overall series 57-43, the last matchup between the two teams was an IUP seven point loss to the 8th ranked Vulcans. The Hawks gained a one point lead six minutes into the game, but the Vulcans rallied back and the Crimson Hawks never regained the lead. 

STANDOUT MOORE
Christian Moore, a transfer from New Hampshire, has led the team in scoring on nine occasions, six of which were above 20 points. His highest-scoring game came against Tiffin where he scored 26 points and shot 57.1% from the field. Moore is averaging 33.7 minutes per game, 17 PPG, 3.9 RPG, and has tallied 25 steals. Moore is currently ranked fifth in the PSAC in minutes at 638 total minutes played this season.

BROOKS BREAKOUT
Redshirt junior guard Damir Brooks was awarded PSAC West Defensive Player of the Week on December 2nd for his defensive efforts against Lincoln. Brooks has blown his previous years stats out of the water, currently ranked 6th in the PSAC and leading the team in rebounding averaging 7.8, and recording six double-doubles this season and having five games with a minimum of three blocks. 

FRESHMEN ON THE RISE
Merraro has made an impressive start to his collegiate career, scoring fifteen or more points in ten games, Merraro has also led the team in assists twelve times this season, including four games with 7+ assists, totaling 84 assists overall. All while playing diligently on defense, recording 27 steals so far this season for the Crimson Hawks. Grove broke his previous scoring record of 17 against Clarion, scoring 19 and recording his first double double of his career in the process. The true freshman keeps stacking accolades to his impressive freshman year. Herring has proved himself as a valuable sixth man for the Crimson Hawks with his unrelentless defensive skills, Herring has logged in 12 blocks and 35 steals so far this season. On January 21st, Herring was named the PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Week for his rigorous efforts against Pitt-Johnstown and Seton Hill. 

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 (427-130) 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 (.766) 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.

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 194-29 (.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's team have won:
    >> 8 of 10 games in 2024-25 (8-2)
    >> 11 of 18 games in 2023-24 (11-7)
    >> 17 of 18 games in 2022-23 (17-1; lone loss in Atlantic Region Championship) 
    >> 21 of 22 games in 2021-22 (21-1)
    >> 2 of 2 games in 2020-21 (2-0)
    >> 16 of 16 games in 2019-20 (16-0)
    >> 19 of 21 games in 20218-19 (19-2)

DEFENSIVE STANDOUTS
Blocks: Brooks (32), Herring (12), Furtun (8), Grove (8), Triggs (8)
Steals: Herring (35), Moore (28), Merraro (27), Brooks (19)

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