INDIANA, Pa. - The IUP men's basketball program opens PSAC West play against the Edinboro Fighting Scots, tipoff is set for 3:00 PM inside the McComb Fieldhouse. 

GAMEDAY CENTRAL
IUP Crimson Hawks (7-6, 3-3 PSAC) at Edinboro Fighting Scots (6-7, 3-4 PSAC)
Monday, January 6 - 3:00 PM - McComb Fieldhouse - Edinboro, Pa.
Media Coverage: Live Video (PSAC Digital Network) – Live Stats (Stat Broadcast) - Radio (U92.5FM)
Social Media Updates: @IUP_MBB on X (formerly Twitter)

COMING UP 
IUP vs. Gannon
Wednesday, January 8 - 7:30 PM - KCAC - Indiana, Pa. 

IUP TIPOFF NOTES
>> The Hawks are currently averaging 73.8 PPG, 37.7 RPG, 12.0 APG, 7.1 SPG, and 3.5 BPG.  
>> IUP is shooting .448 from the field and .322 beyond the arc.
>> Top shooters for the Hawks are Damir Brooks (.616 FG), Ian Herring (.532 FG), and Kymani Merraro (.444 FG).
>> Tyler Grove and Kymani Merraro, both freshmen, have started all 13 games this season.
>> Redshirt junior guard Damir Brooks was awarded PSAC West Defensive Player of the Week on December 2. In the past three games, Brooks has totaled 12 blocks. 
>> IUP has done slightly better at home this season, winning five of six games in the KCAC.
>> IUP began the season with five wins in November but lost four of the five games in December. 
>> IUP began the new year with a dominant 93-58 win over the Thiel Tomcats on Thursday. 
>> The Hawks have won six games when the starters have been Moore, Merraro, Grove, Brooks, and Furtun.
>> Three players on the team have grabbed 19 steals a piece. Ian Herring had four steals against Thiel on Thursday. 
>> Four of five of their starters have been consistent all season long for Edinboro.
>> The leading scorer for the Fighting Scots is Cenker Evran, averaging 14.5 PPG, 12.2 RPG, shooting .663 from the field, and has posted eight steals and 12 blocks. 
>> Two players on team have above 20 steals, Steve Kelly has 22, and Evan Berger leads the team and ranks fifth in the PSAC with 27. 

EDINBORO AT A GLANCE

Edinboro's overall record is 6-7 and 3-4 in the PSAC. They have won their previous two games and dropped the three before. The Fighting Scots are coming off wins against Bloomsburg and Clarion, both road wins. They are currently averaging 78.5 PPG, 8.8 points more than their opponents. They are averaging 47.2 RPG, 14.8 APG, 12.1 turnovers per game, 7.4 steals, and 2.1 blocks per game. They are shooting .459 from the field, .370 beyond the arc, and .755 at the free throw line. 

Four of five of their starters have been consistent all season long. Leading scorer for the Fighting Scots is Cenker Evran, averaging 14.5 PPG, 12.2 RPG, shooting .663 from the field, and has posted eight steals and 12 blocks. Two players on team have above 20 steals, Steve Kelly has 22, and Evan Berger leads the team and ranks fifth in the PSAC with 27. 

SERIES HISTORY

This will be the team's 188th overall meeting, IUP leads with 110 wins compared to Edinboro's 77. IUP is currently on a 10-game winning streak, and has won 30 of the past 33 matchups. The Hawks last defeated Edinboro in February of 2024, 75-67. Both Damir Brooks and Sarp Furton saw action in the matchup.

STANDOUT MOORE

Christian Moore, a transfer from New Hampshire, has led the team in scoring on six occasions, all above 20 points besides the latest lead was with 19 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 35.2 minutes per game, 3.8 RPG, 17.5 PPG, and has tallied 19 steals with five coming against Lock Haven. Moore ranks in the PSAC top 25 in multiple categories including a fifth-place rank in three-pointers made per game (2.7) and fourth in the PSAC for minutes per game (34.2).

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 marked 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 fifth in rebounds per game (8.2) and fourth in blocks per game (1.7). He has led the team in rebounds and blocks eight times this season. Brooks has had five double-rebounding games and has had four double-doubles. 

MERRARO ON THE RISE

Freshman Merraro has had a hot start to his collegiate career. He has scored 15 points or more in six games, including his high of 21 points against USC Beaufort and Thiel. He currently averages 14.0 PPG, 4.5 APG, 43.9 RPG, has grabbed 19 steals, and is shooting .444 from the field. With his free throw percentage, he ranks 16th in the PSAC (.792) and is sixth with 58 assists. He grabbed six steals at Millersville. Merraro has scored double figures 11 times this season and has led the team in points scored on three occasions. 

DEFENSIVE STANDOUTS

Blocks: Brooks (22), Grove (6), Furton (6), Triggs (5)
Steals: Moore (19), Herring (19), Merraro (19), Brooks (14)

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 (424-127) 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 (.770) 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.