Bloomsburg (8-4) at #6 IUP (12-0)
Wednesday, January 8, 2014 - 7:30 p.m.
Indiana, PA

INDIANA, Pa. – The Bloomsburg men's basketball team (8-4) completes PSAC crossover play with a road test vs. nationally-ranked IUP (12-0) on Wednesday evening. Bloomsburg opened 2014 by splitting a pair of crossover games last weekend, defeating Clarion before dropping a 71-69 decision in the final seconds vs. Pitt-Johnstown on Saturday.
 
TWEETABLES (Huskies facts in 140 characters or less)
-Jon Riles (Philadelphia/Academy of the New Church) has at least one assist in all 12 games this season.
 
-Riles is averaging 15.3 points per game over the past three contests.
 
-Alssene Saintilus (Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) has scored in double figures in eight of the past nine games.
 
-IUP leads @PSACsports in defense, allowing 57.5 ppg while Bloomsburg is fourth at 65.3 ppg.
 
-Lorenzo Christmas (Norristown/Norristown) (1,081) needs eight points to pass Larry Webster for 20^th all-time in BU scoring.
 
-The Huskies will play back-to-back games vs. nationally-ranked teams: at No. 6 IUP and then will host No. 10 ESU on Jan. 15.
 
-Eight of Bloomsburg's 12 games have been decided by single digits including five straight contests.

BU PSAC PLAYER RANKINGS
-Lorenzo Christmas (Norristown/Norristown) ranks 11th in the PSAC in 3-point shooting at over 35.7 percent (25-for-70) and ninth in 3-point field goals per game (2.1).
 
-Jon Riles (Philadelphia/Academy of the New Church) is eighth in assists per game (3.5) and 12th in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.3). He also ranks fourth in free throw percentage (.854)

-Dontahe Jordan (Williamsport/Williamsport) is 16th in scoring at 15.3 points per game and 12th in rebounding at 7.1 rpg.

DE-FENSE
The Huskies are allowing opponents an average of 65.3 points per game this season, a total which ranks fourth in the PSAC and 20th in all of NCAA Division II.

SANOW RETURNS TO IUP
Huskies head coach John Sanow is a 1987 graduate of IUP and led the school, then known as the Indians, in scoring and was a PSAC All-Conference First Team selection in 1986. Sanow also set numerous three-point shooting records while playing at IUP.
 
SCOUTING IUP
The Crimson Hawks, the preseason favorite in the PSAC West, entered the week ranked sixth in the national polls after winning 12 straight to begin the year. IUP had perhaps its toughest test in the last time out, trailing for the first time all year at the half before rallying to win 70-64 at Lock Haven on Saturday with 46 second half points. Defense has been a calling card for the Crimson Hawks as they surrender just 57.5 points per game, ranking as the top defense in the PSAC. IUP has three players averaging double-figure points: Senior forward Marcel Souberbielle (17.4 ppg), Gonzaga transfer Mathis Keita (17.1 ppg) and junior guard Devante Chance (11.5 ppg).
 
THE BLOOMSBURG-IUP SERIES
IUP leads, 27-26
IUP scored a 60-42 victory at the Kovalchick Complex on Dec. 18, 2012. IUP used second chance points and offensive rebounds as the difference with 16 offensive boards and a 14-0 advantage in second chance points. Lorenzo Christmas (Norristown/Norristown) led the Huskies with 10 points. Bloomsburg was a 66-64 winner on Dec. 3, 2011 at IUP, upsetting the eighth-ranked Crimson Hawks when Christmas drilled a 3-pointer with seven-seconds remaining.