GAME 28 PSAC SEMIFINALS

IUP (22-6 | 15-5 PSAC) vs GANNON (27-2 |  119-1 PSAC)
Saturday,  March 7, 2026 | 5:00 p.m.
Erie, Pa | Highmark Events Center

Stream: PSAC Digital Network
Radio: U92 FM with Jack Benedict and Tony Coccagna

THE GAME AT A GLANCE
IUP men's basketball is back in the final weekend of the PSAC Tournament for the first time since claiming the PSAC championship in 2023. IUP, the No. 3 seed in the West and the No. 6 seed in the Atlantic Region, enters Erie this weekend after winning two PSAC Tournament games.

The Crimson Hawks defeated Edinboro at home Monday, 85-66, before earning a clutch 71-70 victory over West Chester on Wednesday. IUP will look to solve Gannon, which won both regular-season meetings between the teams this season.

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.
>> Redshirt senior Dallis Dillard was named PSAC West Athlete 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.
>> IUP dropped both regular-season matchups against Gannon, most recently losing to the Golden Knights 87-69 on Feb. 28 in Indiana.
>> Damir Brooks and Dallis Dillard are looking for their third PSAC Championship as a Crimson Hawk. The pair won the Tournament in 2022 and 2023
>> IUP head coach Joe Lombardi has won seven PSAC championships, including four consecutive from 2019-23. Lombardi has more PSAC championships (seven) than the rest of the conference's current head coaches combined (six).

GANNON AT A GLANCE
Gannon enters the PSAC semifinals riding a 14-game winning streak and ranked in the top five nationally. The Golden Knights won the PSAC West regular-season title, with their lone conference loss coming on the road to California (Pa.).

Head coach Easton Bazzoli was named PSAC West Coach of the Year, while the Knights had three players selected to the All-PSAC team. Gannon is led by sophomore Pace Prosser, who ranks sixth in the PSAC in scoring at 17.6 points per game. The Golden Knights lead the PSAC by forcing 24.2 turnovers per game with their patented press. In the most recent matchup, Gannon forced IUP into 23 turnovers.

SERIES HISTORY
The Crimson Hawks have lost eight straight games to the Golden Knights dating back to 2024. The last time the programs met in the PSAC Tournament was the 2015 championship, when Gannon outlasted IUP 69-66 at the KCAC.

Gannon won both regular-season meetings this year, defeating IUP by an average of 22.5 points per game. The Golden Knights forced 40 total turnovers in the two matchups against the Crimson Hawks. Gannon ranks No. 1 in the country in turnovers forced per game (24.2) and turnover margin (10.2).

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 453 wins and a .760 winning percentage. His 453 victories are most in program history. Lombardi is making his 18th appearance in the PSAC Tournament. The lone year IUP did not make the tournament under Lombardi was his first season as head coach.

PSAC WEST ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Dallis Dillard was named PSAC West 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 Crimson Hawks have a 29-10 record in the PSAC Tournament in the Joe Lombardi era with now 18 appearances. Seven of thoser runs have ended with a PSAC Championship.

The team has also had a deep run in the NCAA Tournament, going 24-10 with three trips to the final four, and two appearances in the National Title game.