The IUP men's basketball team finishes their neutral site matchups against Ashland at Point Stadium and then comes
home for their season opener against D'Youville at the KCAC. Tipoff for Ashland is set for 3:30 PM on November 22
while tipoff for D'Youville is set for 5:30 PM on November 23.
 
GAMEDAY CENTRAL
IUP vs Ashland
Saturday, November 22 – Pitt-Johnstown – Johnstown, PA
COVERAGE: Live Video (PSAC Digital Network) – Live Stats – Radio (1160 WCCS)
 
IUP vs D'Youville
Sunday, November 23 – KCAC – Indiana, PA
Coverage: Live Video (PSAC Digital Network) – Live Stats (Stat Broadcast) – Radio (U9.5 FM)
 
IUP TIPOFF NOTES
>> IUP returns five players who started at least 25 games last season.
>> The Crimson Hawks return four players who averaged double-digit points last season, including leading scorer Christian Moore.
>> This season will mark IUP Head Coach Joe Lombardi's 20th year at the helm for the Crimson Hawks. He ranks in the top five in
active Division II coaches in wins with 433 wins, 267 of which came in PSAC play.
>> Ashland's men's basketball head coach John Ellenwood and Joe Lombardi will combine for over 40 years of head coaching
experience.
>> IUP men's basketball defeated Ashland in their only matchup, 75-72, in the 2024-25 season.
>> IUP men's basketball has never faced D'Youville in program history.
>> Kymani Merraro was the first Crimson Hawk to be named PSAC Freshman of the Year, as he was awarded for his performance,
starting all 30 games for the Crimson Hawks in 2024-25, and ranked fourth in the PSAC in assists.
>> Dillard, after missing most of last season with an injury, has come out of the gates on fire for the Crimson Hawks, averaging 23.0
PPG in his first two games back.
>> The top three scorers for the Crimson Hawks include Dillard (23.0), followed by Merraro (16.5), and Christian Moore (13.5)
>> Ian Herring averages near a double-double with 10.0 PPG and 9.5 REB/G while averaging only 24.5 MPG.
>> Merraro leads the team in assists, dishing out an average of 4.0 AST/G.
>> Lombardi has been utilizing his deep bench, seven Crimson Hawks average a minimum of 20.0 MPG.
>> Emphasizing efficiency first, five Crimson Hawks are shooting above .500, Brooks leads the way with a sharp .750 FG%.
 
NOTES
ASHLAND AT A GLANCE
Ashland enters this weekend's matchup against IUP with a
2-1 record after posting wins over Wayne State and Salem.
The Eagles are 0-1 on a neutral court, a setting they will see
in both games this weekend.
The Eagles are led by head coach John Ellenwood, who is
in his 17th season at the helm. He has a 75-175 record at
Ashland.2
Marco Williams leads Ashland in scoring with 19.7 points
per game. The Eagles also have two other starters averaging
double figures, and all three players in double-digit scoring
are averaging more than five rebounds per game.
PREVIOUS CONTEST VERSUS ASHLAND
The teams have met once before, in 2024, when IUP edged
Ashland 75-72 on the road. The Eagles scored 43 points in
the first half, but the Crimson Hawks responded with 39 in
the second while holding Ashland to 29.
Christian Moore led all scorers with 25 points and added five
assists and five rebounds.
D'YOUVILLE AT A GLANCE
D'Youville enters the weekend at 0-3, with losses to Goldey-
Beacom and Wilmington. The Saints carry a minus-13.0
scoring margin, due largely to a 90-68 loss to Goldey-Beacom.
Their second game of the season was a one-point
overtime defeat.
Head coach Andy Stark is in his fourth season and has
won 19 games during his tenure. Elisha Warren leads the
Saints with 18.7 points per game, and two other players are
averaging double figures.
PREVIOUS MATCHUPS VERSES D'YOUVILLE
This is the first matchup between IUP and D'Youville.
I'M BACK
After missing more than a year due to injury, IUP redshirt
senior Dallis Dillard is back with a vengeance. Dillard is
leading the Crimson Hawks with 23 points in 29 minutes per
game. He has totaled five steals and 10 rebounds through
two games.
Dillard suffered a knee injury during the 2023-24 season
but averaged double-digit points in 10 games before going
down.
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARDS
IUP sophomore Ian Herring has taken rebounding to another
level, averaging 9.5 boards per game through two contests.
In a win over Lincoln (Pa.), Herring pulled down 15 rebounds
and served as a defensive spark for the Crimson Hawks. He
ranks second in the PSAC in rebounding through two games.
LIFE-LONG COACHES
In IUP's matchup against Ashland, the two head coaches
combine for nearly 40 years of experience. IUP's Joe Lombardi
is in his 20th season leading the Crimson Hawks, while
Ashland's John Ellenwood is in his 17th season. Together,
they have more than 650 career wins, with Lombardi reaching
400 and Ellenwood at 275.
KCAC OPENER
IUP will make its first appearance of the season in the KCAC
on Sunday. Last season, the Crimson Hawks went 10-4 at
home, with 10 of their 14 victories coming inside the KCAC.