GAME 27

IUP (20-6 | 15-5 PSAC) vs Edinboro (13-14 |  9-11 PSAC)
Monday,  March 2, 2026 | 7:00 p.m.
Indiana, Pa. | KCAC

Stream: PSAC Digital Network with Riley Yonchiuk and Dock Brown AND Renda Digital TV with Jack Benedict and Tony Coccagna
Radio: U92 FM with Jack Benedict and Tony Coccagna

THE GAME AT A GLANCE
The Indiana (Pa.) men's basketball team will make its 17th appearance in the PSAC Tournament over the last 18 seasons when the Crimson Hawks host Edinboro in a first-round matchup at the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex.

The only season IUP did not qualify for the conference tournament during that span was the COVID-shortened 2020-21 campaign. The Crimson Hawks will open tournament play at home for the first time since the 2022-23 season as they look to make a postseason run on their home floor.

Fans unable to attend can watch the game on the PSAC Digital Network, with Riley Yonchiuk and Dock Brown on the call. The game will also be broadcast on Renda Digital Media and U92.5 FM, with Jack Benedict and Tony Coccogna providing radio coverage.

TIP OFF NOTES
>> IUP head coach Joe Lombardi is in his 20th season leading the Crimson Hawks. This is his 18th appearance in the PSAC Tournament. The only full season the Crimson Hawks didn't make the PSAC Tournament under Lombardi was his first season as head coach in 2006-07.
>> Redhshirt Senior Dallis Dillard, a Top-15 Finalist for the Trevor Hudgins Award, has scored double-figures in every game this season. The only Crimson Hawk to do so.
>> Dilard is the only player in the PSAC to average over 20 points per game.
>> IUP is coming off it's longest losing streak of the season, dropping the last two games to Cal (Pa.) and Gannon.
>> The Crimson Hawks defeated Edinboro in both regular season matchups this season by a combined 40 points.
>> Damir Brooks and Dallis Dillard are looking for their third PSAC Championship as a Crimson Hawk. The pair won the Tournament in 2021-22 and 2022-23.

EDINBORO AT A GLANCE
Edinboro enters Monday's PSAC Tournament first-round matchup against IUP looking to snap a two-game losing streak after suffering a buzzer-beating loss to Seton Hill in its regular-season finale.

The Fighting Scots are led by freshman Rowan Carmichael, a Pittsburgh native with strong basketball roots. Carmichael is the son of Hermie Carmichael, the head men's basketball coach at La Roche, and has emerged as one of Edinboro's top contributors during his first collegiate season.

Edinboro has been considerably stronger on its home floor this year, posting a 9-5 record in Edinboro, compared with a 4-8 mark in road contests. The Fighting Scots' last road victory came Feb. 14 with a win at Pitt-Johnstown.

SERIES HISTORY
The Crimson Hawks won both regular-season matchups against Edinboro this season, defeating the Fighting Scots by 20 points in each game. Dallis Dillard and Christian Moore each averaged more than 20 points in the two meetings. Dillard averaged 24 points, including a 30-point performance at Edinboro, while Moore averaged 20 points with a high of 24 in IUP's home victory.

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 452 wins and a .759 winning percentage. His 451 victories are most in program history. Lombardi is making his 18th appearance in the PSAC Tournament, and the first time IUP men will host a game since 2022-23.

ALL-AROUND ELITE SQUAD
With the return of Dillard combined with the development of the younger players, Lombardi's squad have solidified into an formidiable unit that plays at the elite level on both sides of the ball. Presenting a strong effort on the offensive side of the ball, IUP is ranked fourth in the PSAC in scoring offense (84.2). Putting up an even better show on defense, IUP is ranked fourth in the conference in scoring defense (73.5). The Crimson Hawks point margin of +10.6 is third best in the PSAC.

DILLARD DOMINATION
Dallis Dillard has elevated his play on both sides of the court to the elite level for the Crimson Hawks, only getting hotter as the regular season continues. Dillard leads the PSAC in points-per-game (21.0) and steals (65). Obtaining national attention for absolute domination inside the PSAC, Dillard has been named to the top 15 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. Dillard has also been named as a top 50 finalist for the Bevo Francis Award, another honorary award presented to the top player across small college basketball.

BALL HAWKS
Lombardi's aggressive defensive stratagem has paid off successfully for IUP's defense throughout the year. The Crimson Hawks rank thrid in turnover margin (+2.62) in the PSAC. Four Crimson Hawks have accumulated 20+ steals.