IUP Crimson Hawks men's basketball team is a Division II basketball program who represents Indiana University of Pennsylvania. The program has been in the NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Championship nineteen times making the Sweet 16 ten times, Elite 8 seven times, the Final Four five times, and has appeared in the National Championship game twice, coming up short both times in 2010 and 2015. The team's first season was 1927-28 when the team went 4âÂÂ9.
The Crimson Hawks play their home games at Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex in Indiana, Pennsylvania. They are currently coached by Joe Lombardi. In 2010, Joe Lombardi was named the Basketball Times Division II Coach of the Year, following the team's finish as national runner-up.
The program's inaugural season was in 1927. The team has played every season since 1927 except two seasons during World War II due to the players needing to enlist.
The overall record of this program is 1479âÂÂ764.
The Crimson Hawks have had a history of eight head coaches. The current head coach is Joe Lonbardi.
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The Crimson Hawks have played nine NCAA Division I men's basketball teams going 1âÂÂ11 in 12 games played all scheduled as exhibition games. The Crimson Hawks led going into half time once in 2012 vs Maryland leading 23âÂÂ21 then being outscored 52 to 38 in the second have and tied once at 37 points with South Florida in 2014. IUP's only win vs Division I opponent came against Bucknell when Kevin Stewert hit a game-winning three pointer.