FULL MEDIA NOTES

The Game Stories
} After falling just shy of an upset against ninth-ranked Indiana(Pa.) last Wednesday, Edinboro didn't come up short against Slippery Rock.  The Fighting Scots came all the way back from an 11-point deficit in the second half, then survived a harried last few moments, to upset Slippery Rock, 62-59.   The Fighting Scots have played the last three games without leading scorer and rebounder Bryan Theriot, who is averaging 20.4 ppg. and 10.6 rpg.  

} With Bryan Theriot missing the last three games with an injury suffered against Gannon,  the senior backcourt of Jay Fletcher and Isaiah Prince has stepped up.  Fletcher had a pair of outstanding efforts recently.   He had a then season-high 27 points and pulled down a career-high 12 rebounds at Lock Haven.  He scored 20 of his points in the second half as the Scots rallied from a 39-31 halftime deficit.  Last Wednesday he matched his career-best with 30 points against IUP, making 8 of 15 3-pointers after drilling 5 of 10 at Lock Haven.  Fletcher scored 25 of his points in the second half.  Prince, meanwhile, was selected the PSAC?West Player of the Week after scoring 49 points in the games against IUP and Slippery Rock.  The 6'0” senior had 21 points and six rebounds vs. IUP.  Three days later he recorded a season-high 28 points, the lone Scot in double figures, as Edinboro upset Slippery Rock.  That included 5 of 15 3-pointers, and he had five rebounds.  Prince's two free throws with three seconds left sealed the win, just moments after he had blocked an SRU 3-point attempt that would have given The Rock the lead.    

} The Fighting Scots come in with an 11-6 record and are 7-6 in the PSAC West.  They won five of eight games against the Eastern Division, but had lost to California(Pa.) and Gannon in the Western Division prior to the recent win over Lock Haven.  The 10-5 ledger is the best after 15 games since 2008-09.

} Edinboro concluded a stretch of five home games in six contests with a brutal three-game set that started out with PSAC West co-leaders Indiana(Pa.) and Slippery Rock.  Now the Fighting Scots face local rival Mercyhurst, one of the surprises of the PSAC after being picked to finish sixth in the Western Division.  

} Head coach Greg Walcavich is in his 24th season in charge of the Fighting Scots, showing a 423-247 record.  Including stints at Birmingham Southern and West Virginia Wesleyan he is 577-310 overall as he is in his 31st season as a head coach. 

} Mercyhurst nearly pulled off a big upset of its own on Saturday before coming up just short at IUP.  The Lakers trailed the ninth-ranked Crimson Hawks, 47-30, before pulling to within a point.  They ultimately lost, 57-54, when Callon Dailey's 3-pointer at the buzzer fell short. The loss left the Lakers with an 11-8 record overall and a 7-6 chart in league play.  Mercyhurst looks to snap a three-game losing streak in which their offense has gone stagnant.  The Lakers are averaging just 48.0 ppg. over that three-game period.   

} The Edinboro-Mercyhurst game will feature a contrast in styles.  The Fighting Scots lead the PSAC?in scoring at 78.3 ppg., while Mercyhurst is ranked 15th at 66.8 ppg.  However, the Lakers are third in scoring defense, allowing just 61.4 ppg.  The Lakers have allowed just four teams to score 70-or-more points, with 82 points the most allowed.  That came in a season-opening loss to Concord.  Mercyhurst has held its last five opponents to less than 60 points.   

} Edinboro was picked to finish fourth in the PSAC?West.  Mercyhurst, meanwhile, was chosen sixth in the Western Division coaches poll.

Scouting Mercyhurst
} Head coach Gary Manchel has parlayed a stingy defense into a team which is 11-8 overall and 7-6 in the PSAC?West. The Lakers are ranked third in the PSAC?in scoring defense (61.4 ppg.).  Mercyhurst comes in having lost its last three games despite not giving up more than 57 points in any of those contests.  The Lakers are led by 6'5” forward Luis Leao, one of the favorites for player of the year honoprs in the Western Division.  The senior is the lone player in double figures, ranking third in the PSAC in scoring at 20.2 ppg.  He also leads the Lakers in rebounding (6.8 rpg.), is shooting 52.5 percent from the floor and 83.3 percent from the line.  He spends quite a bit of time at the charity stripe, making 120 of 144.  Leao has been injury-plagued throughout his career, missing both of last year's games, but in 2010-11 he had 50 points and 22 rebounds in the two meetings.  He went over 1,000 points for his career earlier in January.  While Leao is probably the lone constant for the Lakers, Manchel has mixed and matched to come up with solid play from a number of other performers.  Junior Paul Bilbo, a 6'9” center, has emerged to rank second in scoring (8.4) ppg. while shooting 58.1 percent from the floor.  Junior guard Jonathan Ouegnin adds 8.3 ppg., and the native of France leads the team with 66 assists and 38 steals.  He is shooting 58.7 percent from the floor.  Freshman guard Beau Samuelson (6.3 ppg.) is the top 3-point threat with 23 in 49 tries, while Callon Dailey, a sophomore guard, has made 21 of 51 while averaging 8.1 ppg.      
  

The Edinboro-Mercyhurst Series

} Edinboro leads 44-29
Edinboro holds the overall lead in the series with the Lakers, but Mercyhurst has won five of the eight meetings between the two teams since joining the PSAC in 2008.  that includes winning three of the last four meetings.  Edinboro snapped a three-game losing streak to the Lakers with a 73-64 triumph at the MAC last February, as the two teams traded road wins in 2011-12.
 
Last Year's Meetings

} January 25, 2012 --  Mercyhurst 76, Edinboro 62 
It was not home sweet home for the Fighting Scots as Edinboro managed just a one-point lead on two occasions in the first half.  Mercyhurst led the rest of the game, building a 45-31 lead at the half and then boosting it to as much as 20 points in the second half at 62-42 with 14:41 remaining.  Edinboro staged a spirited rally, using an 18-6 run to cut the lead to 68-60, but could climb no closer.  Clint Nicholson led the Scots with 22 points and 11 rebounds.  Bryan Theriot finished with 12 points and nine rebounds and Isaiah Prince came off the bench to finish with 12 points.  Matt Lee burned the Scots for 29 points, adding seven rebounds.  Jonathan Ouegnin had 14 points and Bill Weaver 12. 

} February 22, 2012 --  Edinboro 73, Mercyhurst 64 
Edinboro snapped a three-game losing streak to the Lakers thanks to a big second half at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.  The Mercyhurst grabbed a 41-34 lead at the half, but the Fighting Scots roared back over the final twenty minutes, outscoring the Lakers, 39-23.  Defense was the difference, as the Lakers were held to just seven field goals in 33 attempts (21.2 percent) in the second half.  Five Boro players scored in double figures, led by Clint nicholson, who finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds.  Isaiah Prince added 17 points, with Alex Moore contributing 12 points and six rebounds.  Cory Somerville and Sam moore had 10 points apiece.  Matt Lee and Andrew Rickard led Mercyhurst with 10 points apiece.     
                             
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 423-247 record at Edinboro and is 577-310 overall.  Walcavich has also previously served as the head coach at Birmingham Southern and West Virginia Wesleyan. (For an indepth bio see page 9) 
} Gary Manchel, Mercyhurst  -- has guided Mercyhurst to the PSAC?playoffs the last three years, with records of 18-10, 20-7 and 18-10 a year ago.  Now in his tenth season at Mercyhurst, he is the career leader in victories with a 159-110 record.  The 20-7 finish in 2010-11 was the fourth 20-win campaign in school history for Mercyhurst and helped Manchel earn PSAC?West Coach of the Year honors.  He also served as the head coach at Massachusetts-Lowell for nine years, compiling a 131-125 ledger.  He led Lowell to three-20-win seasons and one NCAA?Division II?playoff berth.  In between the Lowell and Mercyhurst jobs, Manchel was an assistant coach for two years at Ohio University.   
Greg Walcavich vs. Mercyhurst:  25-16
Gary Manchel vs. Edinboro: 7-7

The Last Time Out

} Edinboro 62, Slippery Rock 59 -- the Fighting Scots upended Slippery Rock, tied for first place in the PSAC?West, after trailing by eleven points in the second half.  Jay Fletcher would come up with a steal and feed Johnathan Logan for the 3-pointer that would give Edinboro the lead for good at 59-57 with 29 seconds left.  Isaiah Prince would then block an SRU 3-point attempt with 18 seconds to play, and his two free throws with three seconds left sealed the win.  Prince would finish as the lone player in double digits, scoring a season-high 28 points.  Logan had eight points and pulled down a season-high 10 rebounds.  Jamal Bailey turned in a strong showing off the bench with seven points and six rebounds in 16 minutes.    
       
} Indiana(Pa.) 57, Mercyhurst 54  -- the Lakers fell just short of pulling off the upset at ninth-ranked IUP, rallying from a 47-30 deficit to pull to within one point.  Callon Dailey's three-point attempt at the buzzer came up short.  Luis Leao led the Lakers with 19 points, including 8 of 10 shooting from the free throw line.  Terrence Ingram added 14 points and Paul Bilbo had 10.

On the Radio, TV

} WFSE FM?88.9 broadcasts most Edinboro basketball games, including the Mercyhurst game.  In addition, ETV, Edinboro's student-run television station, will stream many home games live.  Go towww.edinboro.tv to view the game.  Live stats are available for home games on Edinboro's website at www.gofightingscots.com.