IUP basketball fans stormed the court Tuesday night in a sold-out Memorial Field House after junior Joe Rocco tossed the game ball toward the ceiling following IUP’s 84-72 win over West Liberty.
As it fell back to the ground, students had already begun leaping over the media table and celebrating, jumping on top of the school’s mascot painted at the center of the floor.
“I’m really proud of these guys,” Head Coach and recipient of the PSAC West Coach of the Year award Joe Lombardi said. “We just seem to be getting better week by week. We played [great] defense tonight, and I think that was the difference.”
The Crimson Hawks (31-2), have earned a ticket to the Elite Eight — which will be played in Springfield, Mass. — for the fifth time in school history. IUP will play the winner of the South Region, Valdosta State University (28-4), at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday. VSU defeated Rollins College 71-58 to advance.
“I’m just a guy leading these young men and trying to help them reach their team goals,” he said. “We have a community here that is extremely supportive in a lot of ways, and it is nice to thank them with success. It’s also great to be a part of a program that can create some spirit here at IUP and pull the community and the students together.”
Tournament most valuable player Darryl Webb tied his career-high total points in a game with 27 and grabbed 12 rebounds. Webb also shot 11-15 from the free-throw line.
Both seniors, Akida McLain and PSAC West Player of the Year Thomas Young, were named to the all-tournament team.
McLain scored 16 points and snatched six boards. Young put up four points and dished out seven assists.
“I don’t think I’ve ever felt anything like this,” McLain said. “It has definitely been a great experience. When I got here, I just wanted to help any way I could and add to what they already had.”
Julian Sanders sank five shots from beyond the arc and ended the night with 17 points. Kevin Stewart’s line read 11 points, six boards, six assists and two steals.
The Crimson Hawks gave WLU a heavy dose of tough defense. The offensive-juggernaut Hilltoppers averaged 103 points a game, ranked second in the nation and made 13 3-pointers a game, ranking first. But IUP thought otherwise. The Crimson Hawks held them to a season-low 72 points and just six 3-pointers.
The Crimson Hawks set an early tone, building a 13-3 lead seven minutes into the game, but the Hilltoppers weren’t rattled. They responded with a 9-2 run, cutting IUP’s lead to three, and shortly afterward Scott Mirich made a layup for WLU to tie the game at 20 with eight minutes left in the half. The Hilltoppers continued to linger, forcing IUP turnovers with full-court pressure.
Pelle gave WLU its only lead of the game, 33-32, with less than three minutes to play in the first half after draining two shots from the bonus line.
IUP responded with a Sanders’ 3-pointer, and the Hawks took a four-point lead, 39-35, into the break.
The Crimson Hawks came out and built another strong presence again, extending their lead to 14 with 14 minutes left in the game, ultimately ending WLU’s season.
“To beat a team like [IUP], we had to shoot the ball extremely well,” WLU Head Coach Jim Crutchfield said. “We made some shots, but not enough to win a game like this. Player for player, [IUP] is more talented than anyone we have seen this year, and they are probably the most talented team in Division II in the country.”
Valdosta State will be making its first Elite Eight appearance. It has knocked off the No. 1-ranked team in the country twice this season, the first occurrence against Augusta State and the
second against Arkansas Tech.
IUP advances to Elite Eight in front of raucous Memorial Field House crowd
Published: Friday, March 19, 2010
Updated: Friday, March 19, 2010
 "Photo: Brandon Oakes/ The Penn")
Brandon Oakes/ The Penn
Seniors Akida McLain (left) and Thomas Young led IUP to its fifth trip to the Elite Eight.
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