PSAC Release

LOCK HAVEN, PA – IUP men's basketball player Ashton Smith (Scarborough, ON/West Hill Collegiate) was named the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West Athlete of the Year, and Joe Lombardi was named the PSAC West Coach of the Year, it was announced by the conference Wednesday. In Addition, Julian Sanders (Medford, NJ/Shawnee) was named to the All-PSAC West first team for the first time. 

Smith was an All-PSAC West first team selection for the second straight season and is the third consecutive Crimson Hawk to be named athlete of the year after Darryl Webb (Elkridge, Md./Long Reach) received the honor in 2010-11 and Thomas Young was honored in 2009-10. Said Coach Lombardi of the athlete of the year streak, “it's all a byproduct of winning. We ask our players to sacrifice individual goals for the team, and they've embraced that”.

This is the second PSAC West Coach of the Year honor for Lombardi, who received the award in 2009-10 as well. Sanders is a two-time All-PSAC selection and first team selection for the first time after being named to the second team a year ago and PSAC West Freshman of the Year in 2008-09.

Heading into the semifinals of the PSAC Tournament this weekend, Smith ranks third in the PSAC in scoring at 18.6 points per game, and is shooting 43.4% from the field this season. Smith is second on the team in assists, dishing out 3.5 per contest. He is tied for third on the team in rebounding (4.1) and steals (32), and has scored in double-figures in every game this season. “I'm so proud and happy for all that Ashton has accomplished this season” remarked Lombardi.

A four-year starter for the Crimson Hawks, Smith's name is strewn throughout the pages of the IUP record books. He is the all-time leader in career assists (454), and is currently fifth on the all-time scoring list (1,608). On Friday, Smith will tie Darryl Webb (Elkridge, Md./Long Reach) for the most games played at IUP (126). He ranks sixth in program history in made free throws (399) and steals (133).

Sanders has been equally as impressive this season, ranking fifth in the conference in scoring (17.4), and first in made three-pointers (3.1 per game). Sanders is fifth in the PSAC in three-point percentage (42.8), and is an excellent rebounder from the guard position, pulling down 4.1 per contest. “I'm very happy for the progression Julian's made” said Lombardi. “He's been a freshman of the year, to All-PSAC West second team selection, to now receiving a first team selection”.

A prolific scorer throughout his career, Sanders sits in fourth place on the IUP all-time scoring list (1,622) and fourth in career free throw percentage (81.2). Earlier this season, Sanders became the IUP all-time leader in career three-pointers made (329), and his 122 games played at IUP rank third in program history.

Lombardi led the Crimson Hawks to their fourth consecutive season with over 20 wins this year, and 19 regular season conference wins.  He has compiled a .677 win percentage in career, and has the Crimson Hawks just two wins away from their third straight PSAC title.

Lombardi was appreciative of the coach of the year honor, but was quick to recognize the roles of his assistants and players on the success of IUP men's basketball. “It's an acknowledgement of our team and my three assistant coaches. As a head coach I give guidance, but they are able to carry it out and produce wins”.

Smith and Sanders have played major roles in the Crimson Hawks success over the past four seasons, leading IUP to over 100 wins in that span. “It's a shame that you can't have co-players of the year, because both Ashton and Julian are more than deserving of this award” said Lombardi. “Neither player pursues individual honors; their focus is solely on winning basketball games”.