The No. 10-ranked IUP men’s basketball team has a tough matchup tonight in Erie as they battle 7th-ranked Mercyhurst. IUP is 12-1 and 6-1 in the PSAC. The Lakers are 13-1 and 7-1 in the conference. Both teams enter with three-game win streaks.
The airtime on 92.5 FM U92 is 6:45, with tipoff at 7. IUP remained at number ten in the coaches poll released yesterday and moved up a spot to number eight in the Media Top 25.
From IUP Sports Information:
TIPOFF NOTES>> The Crimson Hawks survived a road scare on Saturday in Lock Haven, overcoming a tight 1-point lead with a 12-0 run to outlast the Bald Eagles. >> Jr. G Armoni Foster had a game-high 24 points, his third straight 20-point game of the season. It was his fifth 20-point performance in the last the last seven games (21.1 PPG). >> Jr. G Dave Morris posted his second straight 20-point game and is averaging 18.0 PPG over the last four games.>> This will be IUP’s first regular season game against a top-25 opponent since facing No. 25 Shippensburg (L 69-66) on the road on Dec. 21, 2019. IUP was ranked No. 3 at the time. >> IUP is 4-4 against top-25 teams in the regular season since 2016-17. The Crimson Hawks went 3-0 against ranked teams in 2018-19 en route to a PSAC title and No. 1 Atlantic Region seed.>> IUP HC Joe Lombardi is 20-10 lifetime against Mercyhurst, which included a 7-game win streak between the 2015-16 and the 2018-19 seasons. >> Lombardi and the Hawks are 6-7 against the Lakers in Erie since the 2006-07 season. The average score in those games is nearly identical – Mercyhurst 62.9, IUP 62.0. >> These teams split the 2019-20 series: IUP won 71-56 at home, Mercyhurst won 68-62 in Erie. >> The Crimson Hawks are 53-3 (.946) in January over the last six seasons, including a 28-2 mark on the road. WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE LAKERS>> Mercyhurst is 13-1 overall and the PSAC West Division leader with a 7-1 conference record.>> The Lakers are ranked No. 7 in the NABC coaches’ poll and No. 9 in the D2SIDA media poll.>> They are 3rd in the D2SIDA Atlantic Region rankings.>> The Lakers’ opened the year with 10 straight wins.>> Their only loss came to East Stroudsburg, 85-72 at home back on December 19. >> Mercyhurst has four common opponents with IUP: Bowie State (W 96-56), Shippensburg (W 80-67), Le Moyne (W 74-62), and Lock Haven (W 87-74).>> The Lakers lead the PSAC and rank 21st in Division II in points allowed at 63.9 PPG. In eight PSAC games, however, MU is giving up 71.9 PPG. IUP IN THE POLLS>> The Crimson Hawks are No. 8 in the D2SIDA Media Top 25 and No. 10 in the coaches’ rankings this week.>> IUP has been inside the top-10 of the media poll each week this year, including a four-week stretch at No. 3. >> This is the seventh straight week the Hawks are ranked in the top-10 of both polls.>> It’s the 41st time in the last 43 polls the Hawks have been eligible for that they rank in the top-10, dating back to the 2019-20 preseason poll. >> IUP spent the entire 2018-19 season in the top-5 of the media poll and all of 2019-20 in the top-10.IUP HAD 9-0 START TO THE SEASON>> The Crimson Hawks won their first five non-conference games and four straight to open the PSAC slate.>> It was the fifth time since the 2009-10 season that IUP has opened a season with at least 9 straight wins. >> IUP’s best start under Lombardi was 14-0 to open the 2017-18 and 2013-14 seasons.>> IUP started the 2019-20 season 9-0 and the 2009-10 season 11-0.HAWKS OFFENSE PROVIDES FIREWORKS>> IUP is 2nd in the PSAC and is 10th in DII at 87.9 PPG. >> The Hawks have scored at least 81 points 10 times in 13 games this season.>> They have scored 100+ points three times and have five more 90-point efforts. >> The 107 points against Pitt-Greensburg is a season-high. IUP also scored 106 against Le Moyone and 103 at West Chester. >> Five times this year at least five Crimson Hawks have scored in double-figures. >> Four of IUP’s starters are averaging double-figures.KNOCKING DOWN THE “3”>> IUP leads the PSAC with 9.2 made 3FGs per game.>> IUP’s 36.4 3FG% is 2nd in the conference. >> The Hawks made a season-high 14 3-pointers in the 84-71 comeback win at Cal U on Jan. 5. >> IUP has five games of 11+ 3-pointers made and has made at least 6 in every game this year.>> Six players have made at least 10 3-pointers this season.>> So. F Ethan Porterfield has a team-best 28 3FGs made and leads all Hawks with a 50.0 3FG%.SHOOTING THEIR SHOT>> IUP is 2nd in the PSAC and ranks 13th in DII with a 50.6 FG%. >> The Hawks have shot at least 50 pct. six times in 13 games this year, going 6-0 in those games.>> IUP had a season-high 67.8 FG% in the win over Virginia State, the 4th best percentage in program history.>> The Hawks also had a 63.5 FG% in the win over Le Moyne. >> So. F Ethan Porterfield is 4th in the PSAC and 51st in Division II with a 58.2 FG%PROVIDING THE ASSIST>> IUP leads the PSAC and ranks 9th in Division II with 18.7 assists per game.>> The Hawks have assisted on 58.3 pct. (243-417) of their made buckets this season.>> IUP has double-figure assists in 12 of its 13 games.>> The Hawks have five outings with 20+ assists, including a season-high 28 in the win over Virginia State.>> Five players have dished out at least 20 assists with Jr. G Armoni Foster (78) and Jr. G Dave Morris (50) on top.MAKING PLAYS ON “D”>> IUP is 14th in Division II with 10.0 steals per game. >> The Hawks have seven games of 10+ steals, including a season-high 16 against Concord and at West Chester.>> Jr. G Dave Morris leads the PSAC and ranks 3rd in Division II with 3.5 steals per game. >> Morris (42) is one of six Hawks with double-digit steals. >> The Hawks’ 4.4 blocks per game ranks 4th in the PSAC and 28th in Division II. >> They tallied a season-high 9 blocks in the win over Pitt-Greensburg on New Year’s Eve.>> So. F Ethan Porterfield ranks 4th in the PSAC with 1.7 blocks per game, including 5 against Virginia State.>> Jr. G Armoni Foster has 12 blocks on the year with four games of at least 2+ swats.BATTLE OF THE BOARDS>> IUP leads the PSAC and ranks 8th in Division II with a +9.5 rebounding margin.>> IUP has won the rebound battle is 11 of 13 games.>> IUP has a +5.0 margin in seven conference games.>> The Hawks posted a season-best 61 boards and +37 margin in the win over Pitt-Greensburg.IUP SUCCESSFUL AT HOME>> With their loss to Shippensburg, the Crimson Hawks saw a 24-game home win streak come to a close.>> IUP’s longest home win streak during the Lombardi Era is 30 straight victories. That streak ran from the 2008-09 to the 2010-11 seasons.>> IUP is 44-3 (.936) at home since 2018-19 and 130-17 (.884) since the 2012-13 season. >> IUP has two undefeated home seasons under Lombardi – 18-0 in 2009-10 and 16-0 in 2019-20. FOSTER GETTING IT DONE ALL OVER THE COURT>> Jr. G Armoni Foster is averaging 19.8 PPG, 6.5 RPG and 6.0 APG, to go along with 16 steals and 12 blocks.>> He ranks 2nd in the PSAC in scoring, 2nd in assists, and 20th in rebounding.>> Foster earned back-to-back PSAC West Athlete of the Week honors (Nov. 29, Dec. 6).>> He’s the only Division II player – and one of two in all of the NCAA – with two triple-doubles this year.>> Foster tallied his latest triple-double with 25 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists against Pitt-Greensburg.>> He also had 22 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds against Virginia State. >> Foster also has four double-doubles this year, his latest coming in the win at Cal U – 20 points, 10 assists.>> Foster has six 20-point performances this season, tying a career-high with 33 at West Chester.>> Foster went over 1,000 career points during the win at Kutztown. He’s currently 26th in IUP history with 1,159 points (Marcel Souberbielle, 25th, 1,169). PORTERFIELD IS MR. INSIDE AND MR. OUTSIDE>> So. F Ethan Porterfield is averaging 16.7 PPG and 7.5 RPG, has 28 3-pointers and 22 blocks.>> He was named PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Week on Dec. 20 (11.0 RPG, 5 blocks, 3 steals).>> He’s 4th in the PSAC with a 58.2 FG% (82-141).>> He leads the PSAC with a 50.0 3FG% (28-56).>> Porterfield’s 1.7 blocks per game is 4th in the PSAC.>> He had back-to-back double-doubles against Shepherd (16 pts, 14 reb) and Shippensburg (19 pts, 12 reb).>> He has a career-high 23 points twice this season – vs. Millersville and at Cal U.>> He’s averaging 19.0 PPG over the last seven games.MORRIS IS A TWO-WAY POINT GUARD>> Jr. G Dave Morris is averaging 12.2 PPG and is 2nd on the team with 50 assists.>> His 4.2 APG ranks 8th in the PSAC. >> Morris has a season-high 8 assists in a game twice – at West Chester, vs. Shepherd.>> Morris leads the PSAC and ranks 3rd in Division II with 3.5 steals per game. His 42 steals is 4th in DII.>> He has nine games of 3+ steals this year, tying a career-high with 6 against Concord and Lock Haven.>> He has four straight double-digit scoring games, averaging 18.0 PPG during that span.>> Morris scored a career-high 22 points at Cal U.DEMOGERONTAS A DOUBLE-DOUBLE THREAT>> 5th yr. F Tommy Demogerontas is averaging 13.2 PPG and a team-best 7.9 RPG this year.>> He posted his 3rd double-double of the year with 15 points and 12 boards against Millersville. >> He has five double-doubles in 20 games at IUP.>> He is 8th in the PSAC with a 54.3 FG% (70-129).>> Demogerontas had a career game with highs of 23 points and 15 rebounds at Bowie State.JONES WILL NOT RETURN IN 2021-22>> Sr. G Shawndale Jones will miss the remainder of the 2021-22 season after suffering an injury at West Chester.>> At the time of his injury, Jones led the PSAC and ranked 6th in Division II with 25.0 PPG. >> He had five 20-point games, including a career-high 37 points at Bowie State.>> He’s one of four IUP players this century to score at least 37 points in a game. >> He was also 9th in the PSAC with a 57.4 FG%, 4th with an 86.8 FT%, and 4th with 33 free throws made. POLCE STEPPING INTO STARTING 5>> Fr. G Kyle Polce took Jones’ spot in the lineup and has seven starts this season.>> He’s averaging 3.3 PPG and 3.7 RPG with 7 assists since taking over for Jones.>> Polce has a 3.8-1 assist-turnover ratio this season.OFF THE BENCH>> Fr. G Bryce Radford is averaging 4.9 PPG and has made 13 3FGs in 10 games off the bench. >> Radford scored a season-high 14 points in the season-opening win over WV Wesleyan.>> Fr. F Tomiwa Suliaman is averaging 2.9 PPG and 3.9 RPG with 9 steals and 7 blocks in 13 games. >> Jr. F Ousmane Diop is averaging 3.4 PPG and 2.9 RPG in 10 games. He has a 68.2 FG% (15-22) and went for 10 points, 8 rebounds and 4 blocks against Pitt-Greensburg.
