IUP MEN CLIMB IN RANKINGS AS FINAL ROAD TRIP ARRIVES

The IUP basketball teams hit the road for the final time in the regular season tonight, heading up I-79 to Edinboro for a doubleheader.

Coach Tom McConnell’s women’s team is coming off a double-overtime win Monday against Slippery Rock.  The women come into the game at 18-6, and 12-6 in the PSAC.  Monday’s win clinched a 16^th straight appearance in the PSAC tournament for the Crimson Hawks.  They have beaten Edinboro eight straight times and are looking for their fourth straight season sweep after having won, 76-67, at IUP on January 26^th.  Edinboro is 11-9, and 9-8 in the PSAC.  They lost to Gannon on Monday, 66-54.

The IUP men are 22-2, and 16-2 in the PSAC.  They are in first place in the PSAC West, with a two-game margin in the loss column over UPJ and Mercyhurst, who play each other tonight.  IUP beat Edinboro, 76-67, on January 26^th and is looking for its sixth straight season sweep of the Fighting Scots.

IUP moved up to number three in the national Division Two coaches poll released yesterday, and to number two in the nation in the media poll.

The season’s first NCAA regional rankings come out today.  The final rankings will determine the eight teams from each of Division Two’s eight regions that will earn NCAA tournament berths.  The IUP women are looking for their ninth NCAA tournament appearance since 2015.  The men are looking for their 11th since 2009.

You’ll hear the action tonight on 92.5 FM U92 and the U92 Sportschannel, starting with the pregame at 5:15.

FOSTER MAKES THE CUT

IUP’s Armoni Foster is on the Bevo Francis Top 50 watch list for the top small college player in college basketball in Division Two, Division III, the NAIA, USCAA, and NCCAA.  The Top 100 were named last month.  The semifinalists will be announced on March 15^th, the finalists, on April 2^nd, and the winner on April 4^th.