INDIANA, Pa. – The IUP men's basketball team will officially open its 2026-27 campaign this weekend as the Crimson Hawks host the Hilton Garden Inn Classic, taking on Concord on Friday evening at the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex (KCAC) before facing Point Park on Saturday at Memorial Field House.
IUP enters the new season looking to build on another successful campaign after advancing to the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional championship game last season. The Crimson Hawks went 2-0 at the Hilton Garden Inn Classic a year ago, including a 93-74 victory over Concord in their season opener at Memorial Field House.
That opening victory helped set the tone for a postseason run that saw IUP advance to the Atlantic Regional final before falling to eventual national champion Gannon.
The Crimson Hawks return several key contributors from last season, highlighted by two-time All-PSAC point guard Kymani Merraro, who enters his first season as an upperclassman.
The 2025 PSAC Freshman of the Year has established himself as one of the conference's top young guards, averaging nearly 12 points per game while playing approximately 29 minutes per contest last season. Merraro will once again be counted on to direct the IUP offense as the Crimson Hawks look to continue their success under longtime head coach Joe Lombardi.
IUP will open the weekend against a Concord team that enters Friday's matchup following an 80-76 victory over Fayetteville State, giving the Mountain Lions their first win of the season.
Concord featured a balanced offensive effort in the victory, with four players reaching double figures. Kody Frey and Kam Bender led the way with more than 20 points apiece, while Frey connected on three shots from beyond the arc.
The Mountain Lions relied heavily on their starting lineup for offensive production, receiving just 10 points from their bench.
Saturday's opponent, Point Park, enters the weekend looking to bounce back from a season-opening loss to D'Youville. The Pioneers fell to the Saints by 12 points despite having three players score in double figures.
Obi Okafor led Point Park with a double-double, recording 16 points and 11 rebounds while adding a game-high three blocked shots. The Pioneers received most of their offensive production from a limited group of contributors, with just six players making at least two field goals in the contest.
The two games will provide IUP with an early opportunity to establish its identity against a pair of nonconference opponents before beginning an extended stretch away from home.
This weekend's contests will be IUP's only home games during November. Following the Hilton Garden Inn Classic, the Crimson Hawks will not return home until Dec. 4-5, when they host Shippensburg and Bloomsburg in a PSAC crossover weekend at Memorial Field House.
Friday's season opener against Concord is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the KCAC, while Saturday's matchup with Point Park will take place at Memorial Field House due to the PSAC Women's Volleyball Championships being held at the KCAC.
