LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – IUP senior guard Brandon Norfleet (Virginia Beach, Va. /Landstown) was named the 2016 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division Men's Basketball Athlete of the Year, while fellow guard Dante Lombardi (Indiana, Pa./The Kiski School) earned Freshman of the Year honors, as the league's postseason awards were announced on Wednesday.
 
In addition, senior forward Daddy Ugbede (Gardena, Calif./Serra) was named second team All-PSAC West. With Norfleet landing on the first team, it's the ninth straight season that IUP has put at least two players on postseason all-conference teams.
 
One of the best players in the Atlantic Region, Norfleet has led the Crimson Hawks to their ninth consecutive PSAC tournament appearance and the opportunity to capture the program's 10th conference championship in its glorious history. This year also marks the eighth straight 20-win season for IUP.

"Receiving this award is a huge honor," said Norfleet. "There are a lot of talent in this conference and several other players had great years. This just shows that hard work pays off. Coach (Joe) Lombardi and the coaching staff did a great job in preparing me for this challenge and I wouldn't have done this without my teammates."
 
Norfleet is putting up one of the finest scoring seasons in IUP history, as he leads the PSAC and ranks in the top 20 in the nation in scoring at 22.5 points per game. His 630 points through 28 games is the third highest single season total in program history, and he's within striking distance of Randy Allen's (1973-74) record of 643 as IUP continues in the postseason.
 
Norfleet has reached 20 points 20 times this season, including four 30-point performances. His season and career-high came against Seton Hill back on Jan. 20, dropping 38 points on 15-of-23 shooting. He also scored 31 points twice against Pitt-Johnstown, while another 31-point performance at Edinboro on Dec. 19 led to a huge road victory and was the catalyst of a 13-game midseason win streak.
 
His 22.5 scoring average is currently the sixth best total in single season program history, while his 230 field goals made this year is fifth all-time.

 

The do-it-all guard also averages 4.5 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game, and is one of only two players in the Atlantic Region with 600 points, 100 rebounds and 100 assists this season. He's one of only three players in program history to record at least 600 points and 125 assists in one season.
 
Norfleet is a 46.4 percent shooter, including a 41.3 percent three-point percentage, and is converting 78.9 percent of his foul shots. He's second on the team with 37 steals, has a 1.5 assist-to-turnover ratio, and averages 36.7 minutes per game.
 
Norfleet becomes the eighth player in program history to be named the conference's top player, including the second straight and fifth in the last seven seasons. 
 
Lombardi headlines the 2015-16 PSAC West freshman class, leading all rookies with 8.5 points per game this season. An adept shooter, he's drilled 46 three-pointers and is shooting 34.6 percent from beyond the arc. Lombardi has made a triple in all but three games this year, including a season-best 5-of-6 effort against Clarion in January.
 
Lombardi has won four PSAC West Freshman of the Week awards this season and has seven double-digit scoring games, with a season-high 19 points in that game against Clarion. He also scored 18 against defensive-minded teams in Mercyhurst and Slippery Rock, and has five games of six assists. His 81 dishes on the year is second on the team only to Norfleet.

"I am very grateful and appreciative to receive this award," said Lombardi. "I feel that Cobo (Diaz) was just as deserving as me, and I owe a lot to him, the rest of my teammates and the coaching staff to this season. I'm exctied that I was able to help my team to another 20-win season and a PSAC West regular season championship."
 
An integral part of the Crimson Hawks' success, he's excelled both as a starter and off the bench, ranking third on the team in minutes played (800) and minutes per game (28.6). He's shooting 76.3 percent from the foul line and has 27 steals on the year.

 

Lombardi is the sixth player in program history to be named the conference's top rookie, and the first since Julian Sanders was named Freshman of the Year following the 2008-09 season.
 
The PSAC has given out rookie/freshman of the year honors every year since 1990, but only six previous times has a team had both the freshman of the year and athlete of the year in the same season. This year marks the first time since California in 2004 (Michael Johnson, POY; Sharif Bray, ROY) of that accomplishment.
 
Not to be outdone, Ugbede earns his first career all-conference honor with a dominating season in the post. The senior forward is second on the team with 12.1 points per game, despite averaging less than 20 minutes per contest. His per 40 minute scoring average is 24.6 point.
 
Arguably the most efficient low-post scorer in program history, Ugbede's 70.1 field goal percentage this year is currently the highest mark in IUP history. His two-year shooting percentage of 67.3 percent also ranks first in IUP's career records.
 
With the ability to dominate a game any night, Ugbede has reached double-figures in scoring in 18 of his 26 games played. He tied a career-high with 26 points at Seton Hill, and also has 20-point performances against Slippery Rock and Gannon. Playing games both off the bench and as a starter, Ugbede is also shooting 71.7 percent from the foul line and averages 4.3 rebounds per game.
 
The all-conference release comes on the heels of the Crimson Hawks' 77-66 PSAC quarterfinals win over Pitt-Johnstown on Tuesday night. IUP (21-7) will head to West Chester this weekend to face the Golden Rams in the semifinals. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
 
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP Men's Basketball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPMens_Bball.