GAME 30 NCAA ATLANTIC REGIONAL FIRST ROUND

IUP (24-7 | PSAC SEMIFINALIST) vs Gannon (30-3 |  PSAC RUNNER-UP)
Tuesday,  March 17, 2026 | 7:00 p.m.
Erie, Pa | Highmark Events Center

Stream: NCAA.com
Radio: U92.5 FM with Mark Bertig and Tony Coccagna

THE GAME AT A GLANCE
IUP remains at Erie to face the one-seeded Gannon Golden Knights in the Atlantic Regional Championship. Tipoff is set for 7:00 P.M. inside of the Highmark Events Center. The winner of this contest advances to the Elite Eight in Pittsburgh, PA.

The Crimson Hawks advanced to the Atlantic Regional Championship after an overtime victory against Virginia Union. Gannon was able to get revenge on PSAC Champions California (PA), advancing to their third straight regional final.

TIP OFF NOTES
>> Joe Lombardi is in his 20th season leading the IUP Crimson Hawks men's basketball. The program has reached the NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Tournament 13 times in the last 17 years, including a run to the Final Four in 2022.
>> Redshirt senior Dallis Dillard was named PSAC West Athlete of the Year and D2CCA Atlantic Region Player of the Year. Dillard is the only player in the PSAC averaging more than 20 points per game.
>> Two more Crimson Hawks earned all-conference honors, as senior Christian Moore was named first-team All-PSAC and 2025 PSAC Freshman of the Year Kymani Merraro was selected to the second team.
>> This contest marks the fourth meeting this season between IUP and Gannon.
>> Merraro and Dillard both logged 20+ point performances against Gannon in the PSAC Tournament matchup.
>> The IUP Crimson Hawks men's basketball program is no stranger to March, winning the PSAC Men's Basketball Tournament seven times in the past 16 years. The rest of the 18-team Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference has combined for nine championships during that span.
>> Moore was responsible for 30 of IUP's 66-points in the overtime victory against Virginia Union
>> IUP's diligent defense was a major factor in the Crimson Hawks' advance to the Atlantic Region Championship. IUP limited Virginia Union to a FG% of .306.

GANNON AT A GLANCE
The Gannon Golden Knights were runner-ups in the PSAC tournament, but have reignited their winning streak in the Atlantic Region tournament. As the one seed, Gannon rolled past Charleston (WV) 83-58, and took revenge against California (PA) 89-73.

Gannon holds one of the best scoring offenses in the country, averaging 97.1 PPG which puts the Golden Knights as the third-highest scoring offense. Gannon's offensive rebounding capabilites is the best in Division II, grabbing an average of 17.35 offensive rebounds per game.

Four Golden Knights average double figures in scoring, led by Pace Prosser with 18.2 points per game and 599 total points in 33 games. Prosser acquired a season-high 30-points in Gannon's victory against California (PA).

SERIES HISTORY
The IUP Crimson Hawks men's basketball and the Gannon Golden Knights have met 60 times in series history, with IUP holding a 32-28 advantage. The two programs last met each other in the postseason in the 2024-25 season, which saw Gannon advance. Gannon has held momentum recently in the series, winning the last nine contests.

ONE OF ONE
Dallis Dillard was named PSAC West, and D2CCA Player of the Year and is one of the top players in Division II. One of 25 finalists for the Trevor Hudgins Award, Dillard is the only player in the country averaging at least 20 points, six rebounds, five assists and 2.5 steals per game. He is also the only player in the PSAC averaging more than 20 points per game.

Dillard has put together a season to remember after sitting out the 2024-25 season due to injury.

ALL PSAC PERFORMERS
Senior Christian Moore and sophomore Kymani Merraro joined Dallis Dillard as All-PSAC selections, as announced by the conference Thursday. Moore ranks among the top 10 in scoring in the PSAC, averaging 17 points per game. He hit a game-tying 3-pointer with less than a minute remaining against West Chester to help propel the Crimson Hawks to the win.

Merraro is part of a three-headed backcourt that has proven to be one of the best in the region. He is averaging more than 11 points per game while showcasing an old-school midrange scoring approach.

MADE FOR MARCH
The IUP Crimson Hawks men's basketball has reached the NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Tournament 13 times in the past 17 seasons under head coach Joe Lombardi. The program made a run to the Division II Final Four in 2022.

Lombardi is joined by three members of the program who were part of that Final Four run. Dallis Dillard and Damir Brooks were freshmen on that team, while current assistant coach Armoni Foster served as the team's primary offensive option.

During the 2022 tournament run, Foster averaged 17.8 points per game while adding 6.5 assists and 4.9 rebounds per contest. He scored a team-high 19 points in the Atlantic Regional final against the California (PA) Vulcans men's basketball.