INDIANA, Pa. -- The IUP men's basketball program returns to the KCAC for a matchup against the No.9 Gannon Golden Knights on Wednesday, January 8 with tipoff set for 7:30 p.m. 

GAMEDAY CENTRAL
IUP (7-7, 3-4 PSAC) vs. Gannon (12-2, 7-0 PSAC)
Wednesday, January 8 - 7:30 PM - KCAC - Indiana, 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. UPJ
Wednesday, January 15 - 7:30 PM - KCAC - Indiana, Pa.

IUP TIPOFF NOTES
>> The Hawks are currently averaging 73.2 PPG, 36.5 RPG, 11.9 APG, 7.5 SPG, and 3.6 BPG.   
>> IUP is shooting .424 from the field, .320 beyond the arc, and .714 from the free throw line. 
>> Top shooters for the Hawks are Damir Brooks (.602 FG), Ian Herring (.519 FG), and Kymani Merraro (.429 FG). 
>> Freshman Tyler Grove and Kymani Merraro have started all 14 games this season.   
>> Redshirt junior guard Damir Brooks was awarded PSAC West Defensive Player of the Week on December 2. 
>> IUP has played slightly better at home this season, winning five of six games in the KCAC, including three conference wins. 
>> IUP has two players with 20+ steals, including Ian Herring (23) and Christing Moore (21). Herring has grabbed four steals in three games this season, including the two most recent. Tyler Grove totaled five steals against Edinboro, a season high for him.  
>> Christian Moore has led the Hawks in scoring seven times this season.  
>> Brooks leads the team in both rebounds and blocks this season, each nine times.
>> Gannon is just one of two teams in the PSAC that is undefeated in conference play. They are 12-2 overall and are currently riding a 12-game winning streak.  
>> The Golden Knights opened PSAC West action with a 108-71 win over California (Pa.).  
>> Gannon is ranked 9th in the D2CCA latest poll, released Tuesday.  
>> Tasman Goodrick was named the PSAC West Athlete of the Week for the third time this season, announced Tuesday. 
>> Gannon has scored 100+ points on seven occasions this season, reaching a high of 113 points. 
>> Gannon is averaging 98.2 PPG, 19.1 APG, 44.3 RPG, 13.4 SPG, and 3.2 BPG. 

GANNON AT A GLANCE
Gannon is just one of two teams in the PSAC that is undefeated in conference play. They are 12-2 overall and are currently riding a 12-game winning streak. They just surpassed 500 made free throws, shooting .464 from the field, .355 beyond the arc, and .686 from the free throw line. The Golden Knights lead the PSAC in opponent turnovers, averaging 23.1 per game. They lead the conference with 188 steals and are averaging 13.43 per game. Gannon places three in the PSAC top 25 scoring including Ernest Shelton (17.9 PPG), Tasman Goodrick (15.4 PPG), and Pace Prosser (13.9 PPG). Goodrick is second averaging 11.2 RPG, while Damir Brooks sits in fifth averaging 8.0 RPG. Four of five of their starters have been consistent all season long.

SERIES HISTORY
This will be the team's 54th overall meeting, IUP holds the lead with 30 wins compared to Gannon's 23. The Hawks were on a five game winning streak until Gannon snapped it last January, and has taken all three meetings since. The most recent meeting was on March 6, 2024 in the PSAC Quarterfinals. Only Sarp Furtun saw action, he played for 26 minutes, grabbed five rebounds, had two assists, and two steals.

STANDOUT MOORE
Christian Moore, a transfer from New Hampshire, has led the team in scoring on seven occasions, six of which were 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 34.2 minutes per game, 3.7 RPG, 17.6 PPG, and has tallied 21 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 (34.7).

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 (8.0) and third in blocks per game (1.8). He has led the team in rebounds and blocks, both nine times this season. Brooks has has five double-rebounding games and has had five 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 13.4 PPG, 4.4 APG, 3.6 RPG, has grabbed 19 steals, and is shooting .429 from the field. With his free throw percentage, he ranks 17th in the PSAC (.784) and is fifth with 61 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 (25), Grove (7), Furtun (7), Truggs (5)
Steals: Herring (23), Moore (21), Merraro (19), Brooks (15)

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 (424-128) 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.