The Game Stories
-After taking a break for final exams, Edinboro returns to the hardcourt for the first time since December 8, hosting Cheyney and West Chester in a pair of PSAC crossover games. The Fighting Scots are off to a 5-1 start. They opened the season with five straight wins, the longest streak since the 2008-09 team began the year with eight straight wins, before losing 82-71 at California(Pa.) in their last contest. Edinboro is 2-1 in PSAC action, winning at Mansfield, 66-65, then claiming an 85-72 win at Bloomsburg the next day. The Scots lead the PSAC in scoring at 83.8 ppg.
-Edinboro opened the season with three straight games at McComb Fieldhouse, then played their next three games on the road. Now the Fighting Scots end 2012 with three more games at McComb. Following the Cheyney and West Chester games they host Thiel on December 30, the final non-conference game. The final 22 games are against PSAC outfits.
-Head coach Greg Walcavich is in his 24th season in charge of the Fighting Scots, showing a 417-242 record. Including stints at Birmingham Southern and West Virginia Wesleyan he is 571-305 overall as he is in his 31st season as a head coach.
-Edinboro was picked to finish fourth in the PSAC West. West Chester was picked second in the PSAC East behind East Stroudsburg, while Cheyney was picked to finish eighth after ending the year at 4-22.
-Cheyney enters Tuesday's game with a 3-4 record and is 1-2 in the PSAC. The Wolves have lost back-to-back games after falling to Lincoln, 91-84, on December 9. They have played their last five games at home, and during that stretch picked up a 64-60 win over PSAC West favorite Indiana(Pa.) (64-60). In other PSAC games, the Wolves lost to California(Pa.), 64-59, and dropped a 94-91 decision to PSAC East favorite East Stroudsburg.
-Saturday's contest was originally scheduled for the end of the season but moved up to December 8 when the PSAC?changed its playoff format to 12 teams.
Scouting Cheyney
-Cheyney enters Tuesday's game with a 3-4 record and is 1-2 in the PSAC. The Wolves have lost back-to-back games after falling to Lincoln, 91-84, on December 9. They have played their last five games at home, and during that stretch picked up a 64-60 win over PSAC West favorite Indiana(Pa.) (64-60). In other PSAC?games, the Wolves lost to California(Pa.), 64-59, and dropped a 94-91 decision to PSAC East favorite East Stroudsburg. Five of their seven games have been decided by seven points or less, and three of their losses are by a combined 15 points. The Wolves will enter the two-game swing to Edinboro and Slippery Rock minus one of their top players, as junior swingman Rashaad Slappy (12.5 ppg., 7.0 rpg.) has been dismissed from the team. They still have plenty of firepower, begining with senior Jason Sabb. The 6'3” guard would rank third in the PSAC in scoring at 20.3 ppg., but he has only played in four games. He had 27 points against Lincoln. Brandon Norfleet is a 6'4” freshman who is averaging 14.1 ppg., as is 6'6” junior Deshawn Curtis, a transfer from Spalding University.
The Edinboro-Cheyney Series
-Cheyney leads 12-9
Edinboro has won two of the last three meetings, including last year's victory at Cheyney.
The Last Meeting
-December 4, 2011 -- Edinboro 90, Cheyney 82
The Fighting Scots came up with a big road win, overcoming a nine-point first half deficit in the process. Edinboro shot 57.1 percent from the floor in the second half and had a big day at the free throw line, making 23 of 35 free throws.
Bryan Theriot made 10 of 12 from the charity stripe on his way to a 26-point day. He added nine rebounds.
Cory Somerville added 21 points and seven boards.
Clint Nicholson was a third Fighting Scots to reach double figures, totaling 15 points, along with nine rebounds and five assists. Cheyney had just four players score. Rashaad Slappy came off the bench to finish with a team-high 22 points, and also led the way with nine rebounds. Jason Sabb and Jerrod Johnson had 21 points apiece. Brandon Baylor finished with 18 markers.
Scouting West Chester
-West Chester plays at Slippery Rock on Tuesday night then makes the short trek up I-79 to play at Edinboro on Wednesday. The Golden Rams are 4-3, with a 2-3 record at home but 2-0 on the road. They are 2-1 in league play, opening with an 83-78 win over California(Pa.), followed by a 71-52 loss to Indiana(Pa.). In their last game on december 8 they handed Mansfield an 84-65 defeat. Corey Blake led WCU in scoring the first six games. The burly 6'5”, 235 lb. guard is the lone player scoring in double figures, averaging 12.9 ppg. He also leads the Golden Rams in rebounding (5.9 rpg.). Jon Breeden, a 5'11” senior, comes in at 9.9 ppg.
The Edinboro-West Chester Series
-West Chester leads 9-8
While the Golden Rams own a slim lead in the series, Edinboro has won the last four meetings at McComb Fieldhouse.
The Last Meeting
-December 9, 2011 -- Edinboro 92, West Chester 86
Five players scored in double figures to lead the Fighting Scots to the win at McComb Fieldhouse. Edinboro shot a sizzkling 56.9 percent from the floor, but needed an 11-3 run down the stretch to hold off the Golden Rams. Jay Fltcher and
Bryan Theriot scored points each and
Sam Moore started the rally with a three-pointer. Fletcher and
Clint Nicholson led the Fighting Scots with 19 points, with Fletcher handing out five assists and blocking a pair of shots. Theriot added 15 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks, while
Cory Somerville contributed 14 points and five blocks. Moore bounced off the bench to have one of his best games as a Fighting Scot, totaling 13 points, six rebounds and six assists. Jaleel Mack burned the Boro for 25 points, with Carl Johnson (16), Corey Blake (14) and Jon Breeden (12) also in double digits.
The Coaches
-Greg Walcavich, Edinboro -- is in his 24th season at the helm of the Fighting Scots and his 31st overall as a head coach. He has a 417-242 record at Edinboro and is 571-305 overall. Walcavich has also previously served as the head coach at Birmingham Southern and West Virginia Wesleyan. (For an indepth bio see page 7)
-Dominique Stephens, Cheyney -- took over as the interim head coach at Cheyney in 2008-09 and proceeded to lead the Wolves to an 18-9 finish. He is now in his fifth campaign and shows a 60-56 record. His 2010-11 squad finished 19-9. He served the previous five seasons as an assistant coach at Cheyney before taking over the head coaching duties.
-Damien Blair, West Chester -- the former West Chester standout is in his fifth season at his alma mater, owning a 71-46 record. As a player for the Golden Rams he set seven individual records and scored 2,025 career points, second all-time at WCU and ninth in the PSAC. He was named the PSAC?Player of the Year in 1994 and '95. Last season Blair led the Golden Rams to the PSAC Championship game before losing to East Stroudsburg, 90-85.
The Last Time Out
-California(Pa.) 82, Edinboro 71 -- the Fighting Scots saw their five-game winning streak to start the season come to an end. The culprit was poor shooting. For starters, Edinboro made just one of its first 18 shots and found itself behind by 22 points at 27-5 midway through the first half. The Fighting Scots closed the gap to 11 at the half, and at one stage moved to within four points at 63-59, but could not finish the rally.
Bryan Theriot ended the day with 18 points and nine rebounds.
Jay Fletcher had 13 points, seven rebounds and six assists, while
Johnathan Logan finished with 13 points.
-Lincoln 91, Cheyney 84 -- playing their fifth game in nine days, the Wolves fell behind by17 points in the first half, then pulled to within two points before falling short in the Battle of the Firsts. Lincoln made 32 of 42 free throws while Cheyney was 16 of 20 from the charity stripe. Jason Sabb paced Cheyney with 27 points. The Wolves also got double digit efforts from Brandon Norfleet (14), Deshawn Curtis (12), and Calvin Brown (11).
-West Chester 84, Mansfield 65 -- six Golden Rams scored in double figures as WCU won for the fourth time in five games. In a game which featured 54 fouls, Harley Williamson came of the bench to lead the Golden Rams with 14 points and eight rebounds. Troy Hockaday, another reserve, added 13 points. (NOTE: WCU plays at Slippery Rock on Tuesday, December 18)
