GAME 19

IUP (14-4 | 10-3 PSAC) vs Penn State DuBois (8-14 | 6-6 PSUAC)
Wednesday, February 4, 2026 | 7:30 p.m.
Indiana, Pa. | Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex

Stream: PSAC Digital Network with Carson Lejeune and Riley Yonchiuk
Radio: U92 FM with Jack Benedict and Tony Coccagna

THE GAME AT A GLANCE
The IUP men's basketball team opens up February with a home matchup against Penn State DuBois. Tipoff is set for February 4 at 7:30 PM inside the KCAC.

IUP maintains their perfect streak of winning their following matchup after suffering a loss with a conference win on the road. Penn State DuBois recently blew-out their most recent opponent by 28-points and looks to carry that momentum to Indiana.

TIP OFF NOTES
>> IUP head coach Joe Lombardi is in his 20th season leading the Crimson Hawks. He ranks among the top five active Division II coaches in wins with 445, including 276 in PSAC play.
>> Redshirt senior Dallis Dillard has recorded four 25+ point games this season.
>> This will be the second matchup all-time between IUP and Penn State DuBois
>> IUP averages 87.1 PPG while at home.
>> Senior guard Christian Moore scored a season-high 24 points against Slippery Rock earlier this year. Moore was two points shy of his IUP career high of 26.
>> Moore ranks second in the PSAC in 3-PT FGs with 3.4, shooting the 3-PT FGs efficiently. Moore is ranked seventh in the conference in 3-PT FG% (.411).
>> IUP holds a strong defensive presence on the court. Damir Brooks ranks second in the PSAC in blocked shots (22)while Dillard leads the PSAC in steals (51).
>> Dissecting IUP's elite defense. The Crimson Hawks have recorded eight games with 10 or more steals this season, going 7-1 in those contests. The team's season high is 15 steals in a victory over D'Youville.
>> IUP is 4-0 in games following a defeat this season

PENN STATE DUBOIS AT A GLANCE
Penn State DuBois travels to the KCAC to face IUP with an overall record of 8-14 and a conference record of 6-6.
Leading scorer for the Nittany Lions is forward Ashton Fortson. Averaging 20.1 PPG, Fortson has been on a hot-streak scoring 20+ points in four of the last five matchups.
Penn State DuBois most recently faced against fellow PSUAC member, Penn State Beaver and comfortably went home with a 90-62 victory.

SERIES HISTORY
This matchup between the Crimson Hawks and Nittany Lions will mark as the second time in program history both teams have faced each other.
IUP welcomed Penn State DuBois to the KCAC in the 2024-25 season for their first meeting in history. The Crimson Hawks came away with an 88-70 victory after entering the half with a 15-point lead and never looked back.
Five Crimson Hawks logged 10+ points in the matchup and leading scorer was tied at 16-points between Damir Brooks and Tyler Grove. PSAC Freshman of the Year, Kymani Merraro recorded an 11-point, 11-assist double-double.

DILLARD DOMINATION
After being out for the last two seasons with injury, redshirt senior Dallis Dillard has elevated his play to the elite level for the Crimson Hawks and has been flourishing. Dillard leads the team in total points (352), assists (87), field goals made (123) and total minutes played (582). Dillard has been named to the top 25 watch list for the Trevor Hudgins Award, a prestigious award presented annually to a senior who has compiled the best four or five year career in small college basketball.

BALL HAWKS
Lombardi's aggressive defensive stratagem has paid off successfully for IUP's defense throughout the year. The Crimson Hawks find themselves fourth in the PSAC in steals per game (9.17) and second in turnover margin (+3.56). Leading the defensive efforts for IUP is Dillard who has accumulated 53 steals throughout the season so far. Six other Crimson Hawks have also notched 15+ steals.

ONE OF THE BEST
Head coach Joe Lombardi has established himself as one of the most successful coaches in Division II basketball during his 20-year career. Lombardi ranks among the top five active coaches with 445 wins and a .759 winning percentage. His 445 victories are most in program history.

A GOOD MIX
IUP's starting lineup features three seniors: Dillard, Damir Brooks and Christian Moore. Four of the Hawks' key players are seniors, including Luke Triggs, who scored 16 points against Slippery Rock in the PSAC Tournament last season. The other four players who average double-digit minutes are sophomores, including 2025 PSAC Freshman of the Year Kymani Merraro.

CONSISTENT THREAT
Senior guard Christian Moore has quietly been one of the most productive scorers in the PSAC, as well as for IUP. He has reached double figures in all but one game this season.