The IUP Crimson Hawks found a way to win once again, beating California (PA), 68-59, Tuesday night to win their seventh Atlantic Regional Championship. It marked the fourth time IUP beat Cal, matching 1995 when they won what was then the East Regional title. The Hawks had to overcome 23 turnovers, but they held California to 33 percent shooting, and out-rebounded the Vulcans, 37-31.
The game was tight throughout with no lead larger than six points until the final minutes. The Vulcans led 54-53 with 3:40 to play, but tournament MVP Ethan Porterfield gave IUP the lead for good with jumper with 3:11 to play. Porterfield then hit his first and only three pointer in the game with 1:57 to play to make it 58-54, part of a nine-point run that gave IUP a 62-54 lead and they never looked back, much to the delight of 2,557 fans that rocked the KCAC.
Armoni Foster had 19 points for IUP (32-2), Ethan Porterfield posted 16 points, five rebounds, two assists, and one blocked shot, and David Morris added 12 points and seven rebounds.
With the victory, the Crimson Hawks will play in the NCAA Division II Elite 8 in Evansville, Indiana beginning Tuesday with the quarterfinals. The tournament seedings and game times are expected to be announced Wednesday.
NOTES: Dave Morris joined Porterfield on the all-tournament team. The Atlantic Regional Title was the first since 2015, and also the first won at the Kovalchick Complex. … This is IUP’s 18th NCAA Tournament appearance and are 34-16 all-time in the tourney. It’s the 11th NCAA Tournament appearance under Joe Lombardi since 2009. Lombardi is 21-9 all-time in NCAA Tourney games with 3 regional championships and 2 national title game appearances (2010, 2015). … IUP is 7-1 in home NCAA tournament games, winning the 2010 regional championship across the parking lot at the old Memorial Field House. … The Hawks were one of three NCAA teams with 31 wins entering the game. D1 Arizona and DIII Randolph Macon are the others. Make it 32. … This is IUP’s 4th 30-win season under Lombardi including a program record 33-3 mark in 2009-10. … IUP is 39-1 in its last 40 home games dating back to the start of the 2019-20 season. … The Hawks will take a 17 game winning streak with them to the Hoosier State for the Elite 8 tournament.
