The Game Stories
} After a demanding three game road swing which saw the Fighting Scots play at the top three teams in the Western Division, Edinboro concludes the regular season with a pair of home games.  Clarion visits McComb Fieldhouse on Saturday, and Mercyhurst comes to town on Wednesday, February 27 in wht could be a preview of the first round of the PSAC Playoffs.  With wins in its final two games Edinboro can secure the fourth seed and a home game in the first round of the PSAC Playoffs on March 2.  

} Both Edinboro and Clarion suffered losses on the road on Wednesday.  The Fighting Scots dropped a 78-70 decision at 14th-ranked Indiana(Pa.), and the Golden Eagles were a 75-68 loser at Lock Haven.  Edinboro looks to snap a two-game losing streak and is now 15-9 overall and 11-9 in the PSAC West.  Clarion has also lost its last two contests to fall to 6-18 and 4-16, respectively.     

} Edinboro has qualified for the PSAC Tournament for the first time since 2008-09.  The three-year drought had been the longest in Greg Walcavich's 24-year tenure as head coach.  

} Head coach Greg Walcavich is in his 24th season in charge of the Fighting Scots, showing a 427-250 record.  Including stints at Birmingham Southern and West Virginia Wesleyan he is 581-313 overall as he is in his 31st season as a head coach.

The Playoff Picture
} The good news is Edinboro has clinched a spot in the PSAC Playoffs.  The bad news is the Fighting Scots are currently fifth in the Western Division standings, with the third and fourth seeds hosting first round games.  The good news is Edinboro controls its own destiny.  The bad news is Mercyhurst, the team the Fighting Scots are battling with for the fourth seed, as suddenly awoken and has defeated Indiana(Pa.) and Gannon its last two games.  The good news is Edinboro has wins over Slippery Rock and Gannon, plus a win over Mercyhurst.  That last victory is the key.  Put simply, forget all the good and bad news.  Should Edinboro win its final two games, Saturday vs. Clarion and Wednesday vs. Mercyhurst, the Fighting Scots will capture the fourth seed and host a first round playoff game against non other than Mercyhurst on March 2 by virtue of sweeping the season series with the Lakers.  For the record, right now Mercyhurst is fourth at 12-8 in league play, with Edinboro  fifth at 11-9.  California(Pa.) is next at 9-11, and should the Scots lose their final two games they would slip into a tie with the Vulcans and become the sixth seed, having lost twice to Cal.

Scouting Clarion
} The Golden Eagles have hit a difficult stretch, winning just once in their last eight games.  The scary thing is that one victory was a 27-point triumph over Mercyhurst.  The Lakers have since gone on to defeat Indiana(Pa.) and Gannon.  Overall Clarion is 6-18 and 4-16 in the PSAC?West.  On Wednesday Lock Haven used a 12-3 run to end the game to hand the Golden Eagles a 75-68 defeat.   

Coach Ron Righter's team ranks last in the conference in scoring offense at 62.9 ppg., but are allowing just 67.8 ppg.  Mike Kromka, who was named second team Capital One Academic All-American eralier in the week, is the team's leading scorer and rebounder.  The 6'6” junior comes in at 12.5 ppg., along with 8.8 rpg., good for fifth in the PSAC.  Marques Jones, a 5'10” sophomore who transferred from NJIT, adds 10.5 ppg.  He burned Mercyhurst for a career-high 26 points, making 8 of 10 3-pointers.  He has made 52 of 148 3-pointers and has a team-high 55 assists.  Leonard Patterson, a 5'10” senior, comes in at 9.4 ppg.     Aaron Johnson, a 6'4” freshman who was previously at Princeton, contributes 9.0 ppg., including a team-high 11 in the first meeting with the Scots.  He adds 5.5 rpg.   
           

The Edinboro-Claron Series

} Edinboro leads 94-70
The Fighting Scots have won the last two meetings with the Golden Eagles, including a 67-54 decision on February 2.  This marks the 165th meeting between the two schools.
 
The Last Meeting

} February 2, 2013 --  Edinboro 67, Clarion 54 
The Fighting Scots rode a 27-4 first-half run to the win at Tippin Gymnasium.  Edinboro trailed 20-13 less than seven minutes into the game, but would take a 40-26 lead at the half.  Clarion would close the margin to ten points just once in the second half, and made the score more respectable with the final ten points of the game.  Edinboro held the Golden Eagles to 32.8 percent shooting from the floor and held a 48-36 advantage on the glass.  That included 19 offensive rebounds.  Johnathan Logan snapped out of a slump with a season-high 20 points, making 5 of 8 3-pointers.  He added five rebounds, three assists and a pair of steals.  Isaiah Prince and Jay Fletcher added 12 points apiece, with Fletcher contributing seven assists and six rebounds and Prince adding five rebounds and four steals.  Xavier Churnac was also in double figures with 10 points.  Aaron Johnson led Clarion with 11 points, with Mike Kromka adding nine points and 12 rebounds.

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 427-250 record at Edinboro and is 581-313 overall.  Walcavich has also previously served as the head coach at Birmingham Southern and West Virginia Wesleyan. (For an indepth bio see page 10) 

} Ron Righter, Clarion  -- is in his 25th season as the head coach at Clarion, showing a 396-278 ledger during that period.  Since taking over the Clarion program in 1988-89 he has guided the Golden Eagles to 17 seasons of at least 15 wins and three 20-win campaigns.  Clarion won the PSAC?West in 1997, 2000 and 2005 under his guidance, along with the PSAC championship in 2001.  He was named the PSAC?West Coach of the Year in 1997 and again in 2005.  Righter's coaching background include assistant coaching stints at Washington State and USC, along with Lafayette and Lehigh.  He also served as the head coach at Wilkes for two years, posting a 24-24 record to give him a career record of 420-302 in 27 years.

The Last Time Out

} Indiana(Pa.) 78, Edinboro 70 -- Jay Fletcher tried to lead the Fighting Scots back from 14-point second half deficit, but they came up just short against the 14th-ranked Crimson Hawks.  IUP held a 12-point lead at 66-54 with just under six minutes remaining, but Edinboro went on a 12-4 run to pull to within four at 70-66 with 1:40 remaining.  Unfortunately, IUP followed with the next six points to subdue the Scots.  Fletcher finished with 24 points, making 7 of 11 3-pointers, but it wasn't enough to overcome a huge inside advantage by the Crimson Hawks.  IUP outscored Edinboro, 38-12, in the paint and held a 46-30 edge in rebounds.  Isaiah Prince added 12 points and six rebounds, with Xavier Churnac pitching in 10 points and seven boards and Johnathan Logan 10 points.        
 
} Lock Haven 75, Clarion 68  -- Lock Haven closed the game with a 13-2 run to pick up the home victory in a battle of the Eagles.  Mike Kromka led three Golden Eagles in double figures as he finished with 16 points.  Leonard Patterson added 14 points and Evan Battle finished with 10 markers.  

On the Radio, TV

} WFSE FM?88.9 broadcasts most Edinboro basketball games, including the Clarion game.  In addition, ETV, Edinboro's student-run television station, will stream most 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.