The Game Stories
} Edinboro split its final PSAC crossover doubleheader this weekend, defeating Kutztown in double overtime, 78-77, before suffering an 85-75 loss to PSAC East-leading East Stroudsburg.  The Fighting Scots won five of eight games against the Eastern Division, and bring a record of 9-4 and 5-4 in the PSAC West into the Gannon game.  The Fighting Scots are 6-2 at McComb Fieldhouse. 
} Edinboro concludes a three-game homestand with the renewal of its rivalry with Gannon.  Head coach Greg Walcavich not only hopes for a win over the Golden Knights, but would also love to see a healthy roster.  The Fighting Scots had just eight players in uniform on Friday for the Kutztown game, and nine for Saturday's affair with East Stroudsburg.  Alex Moore, a starter in the first six games, has now missed the last five contests due to an injury and is out indefinitely.  Jay Fletcher, the PSAC assists leader, missed the Kutztown game with the flu.  He would return against East Stroudsburg, but after playing just ten minutes in the first half, he was unable to return.  The Scots previously played short-handed against Millersville, with Johnathan Logan suffering from the flu.
} Head coach Greg Walcavich is in his 24th season in charge of the Fighting Scots, showing a 421-245 record.  Including stints at Birmingham Southern and West Virginia Wesleyan he is 575-308 overall as he is in his 31st season as a head coach.
} Gannon has a 12-3 record and is 6-3 in the PSAC West.  The three losses have been by a total of 15 points to East Stroudsburg, Indiana(Pa.), and West Chester.
} The Edinboro-Gannon contest pits the top scoring offense in the PSAC against the team ranked second in the conference in scoring defense.  Edinboro is averaging 80.8 ppg., scoring 80-or-more points in seven games.  Gannon is allowing just 58.4 ppg. and has held eight teams under 60 points.  No one has scored more than 72 points against the Golden Knights.
} Edinboro was picked to finish fourth in the PSAC?West, while Gannon was voted third.  The Golden Knights received one first place vote.
 
Scouting Gannon
} Despite having a seven-game winning streak snapped on Saturday by a last-minute jumper at West Chester, the Golden Knights are off to a fast start at 12-3 overall and 6-3 in the PSAC West.  It's even more impressive given that Adam Blazek, the PSAC West Freshman of the Year and a second team All-PSAC West choice a year ago, has missed the last nine games with a broken hand.  The 6'0” sophomore was averaging 12.7 ppg. when he went down.  This is a typical John Reilly-coached team, featuring hard-nosed defense and great rebounding.  The Golden Knights rank first in the PSAC in field goal percentage defense (37.6 pct.) and are second in scoring defense (58.4 ppg.) and rebounding margin (+9.5).  In addition, Gannon leads the conference in field goal percentage at 50.3 percent.  If they have an achilles heel, it's ranking 14th in turnover margin (-3.3).  Darrell Blanton, a 6'4” senior, is the leading scorer (16.4 ppg.) and ranks second in rebounding (6.5 rpg.).  He is shooting 63.2 percent from the floor.  Robert Wilson, a transfer from Urbana, adds 13.9 ppg. and a team-leading 7.1 rpg.  The 6'3” junior went over 1,000 points for his career at West Chester, the majority of that total at Urbana.  Oscar Macias, a 6'3” senior, is also in double figures at 10.3 ppg. and is the team's top three-point threat with 27 in 59 attempts.
 
The Edinboro-Gannon Series
 
} Gannon leads 60-34
In a series that first began in 1948-49, Gannon holds a sizeable but deceiving lead.  Edinboro has won four of the last five games and eight of the last 13 meetings.  Gannon won 24 of the first 27 meetings through 1962-63.  The two teams split last year's meetings, winning on each other's home court.
(For complete series scores see page 7)
} Greg Walcavich Record vs. Gannon -- 18-22
} John Reilly's Record vs. Edinboro -- 5-7
 
Last Year's Meetings
 
} January 11, 2012 --  Edinboro 76, Gannon 72
The Fighting Scots used a 22-4 second half run to hand Gannon a 76-72 defeat at the Hammermill Center.  It marked Edinboro's fourth straight win in the series.  Gannon grabbed a 37-30 lead at the half, and built that lead to 49-36 at the 16:46 mark.  The lead was still ten points at 62-52 with 10:55 to play when Edinboro went on its game-deciding run to take a 74-66 lead.  The Golden Knights weren't finished, however.  Brandon Belt hit back-to-back long three-pointers and Gannon was suddenly within two points at 74-72 with 35 seconds to play.  Jay Fletcher was fouled with 23 seconds left and made one of two free throws for a 75-72 lead.  The Knights had one last chance, but Sam Moore stepped up and recorded a steal to snuff out the comeback hopes.  Fletcher made one of two free throws with four seconds remaining for the final score.  Fletcher matched his season-high with 19 points to pace five Fighting Scots in double figures.  The 6'1” junior made 5 of 9 three-pointers while playing all 40 minutes.  Moore scored 11 points, making 3 of 4 field goals and 5 of 5 free throws, adding six assists and five rebounds.  Clint Nicholson contributed 14 points, 10 of those in the second half, and pulled down a team-high seven rebounds.  Bryan Theriot, the leading scorer in the PSAC, was held to 11 points and six rebounds.  Cory Somerville added 10 points.  Darrell Blanton led Gannon with 24 points before fouling out, and Belt ended the night with 16 points and eight rebounds.  Oscar Macias finished with 10 points.  Edinboro shot 46.4 percent from the floor while limiting Gannon to 38.6 percent.  The Golden Knights ruled the boards, outrebounding Edinboro 44-33.
 
} February 8, 2012 --  Gannon 77, Edinboro 73  ot
In a reversal of form from the year's first meeting, Edinboro grabbed a large lead at the half, only to see Gannon come back and eventually send the game into overtime on Adam Blazek's jumper with 21 seconds to play.  The extra session featured three lead changes, and the contest was tied at 71-71 with a minute to play.  Blazek hit a pair of free throws to give the Golden Knights the lead for good, and after an Edinboro miss he added two more freebies.  Isaiah Prince would pull the Fighting Scots within two points with 13 seconds to play, but Blazek made two more free throws to close out the game.   Prince dropped in 26 points for the Fighting Scots, his third straight game with over 20 points. He would add six rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a steal to finish his stat line.  Jay Fletcher and Cory Somerville were the only other Fighting Scots to reach double digits on the night, as Fletcher recorded 20 points and Somerville hit 14 points and pulled down seven rebounds. Blazek led the Golden Knights with 26 points and seven rebounds.  Darrell Blanton and T.J. Wilson both recorded double-doubles with the former scoring 15 points and grabbing 10 boards and the latter scoring 15 points and grabbing 16 boards.  The game was decided on the glass, with Gannon outrebounding a Bryan Theriot-less Edinboro, 55-38, and outscoring the Scots, 22-1, in second chance points.                              
 
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 421-245 record at Edinboro and is 575-309 overall.  Walcavich has also previously served as the head coach at Birmingham Southern and West Virginia Wesleyan. (For an indepth bio see page 8 of game notes)
} John Reilly, Gannon  -- took over as Gannon's 18th head coach in 2005-06, and has led the Golden Knights to a 131-82 record during his eight seasons.  He previously served as the head coach at Brecia University for 12 seasons, compiling a 232-145 record.  He led the NAIA?program to five twenty-win seasons.  Reilly entered the 2012-13 campaign ranked 37th among Division II coaches in victories, and he is now third in career victories at Gannon.  He enjoyed his finest season at Gannon in 2008-09, as the Golden Knights set a school record for wins, finishing 30-4 and advancing to the NCAA?Division II?Elite Eight.   Gannon was ranked No. 5 in the final National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC)/Division II Top 25 poll, marking the highest final ranking in school history.  The Golden Knights won the PSAC Western Division regular-season, the PSAC Tournament and the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional championships during the season. As a result, Reilly was named NABC Atlantic Region Coach of the Year.  His 2007-08 squad ended the year with a 26-5 record.
The Last Time Out
 
} East Stroudsburg 85, Edinboro 75 -- a depleted Fighting Scots squad staged a valiant comeback against PSAC?East-leading East Stroudsburg before coming up short. Edinboro fell behind 25-8 midway in the first half as the Warriors scored 18 straight points.  The Fighting Scots, with just nine players dressing and starting point guard Jay Fletcher playing just ten minutes due to the flu, would use a 17-4 run to get back into game.  In the second half, ESU would surge, going ahead by double figures, only to see Edinboro rally.  The Scots closed to within four at 79-75 with 1:49 to play but couldn't complete the final rally.  Bryan Theriot turned in a huge effort with 28 points and 15 rebounds.  Isaiah Prince added 18 points, six rebounds and four steals, and Johnathan Logan ended the night with 12.           
} West Chester 66, Gannon 64  -- the Golden Knights saw their seven-game winning streak snapped on a West Chester basket with twenty seconds remaining.  Gannon was unable to hold a seven-point halftime lead.  Darrell Blanton paced the Golden Knights with 19 points, adding seven rebounds.  Robert Wilson added 15 points and a team-high nine boards, in the process scoring his 1,000th point while also playing at Urbana.  Oscar Macias was also in double figures with 12 points.  The Golden Knights held a commanding 38-24 advantage on the glass but were hurt by 25 turnovers..