Lock Haven (5-14, 3-13 PSAC) at Edinboro (13-7, 9-7 PSAC)
The Game Stories
} Edinboro saw its three-game winning streak snapped on Wednesday as California(Pa.) edged the Fighting Scots, 73-72. As has been the case in recent games, Edinboro trailed by double figures in the second half before staging a comeback.
Jamal Bailey's tip-in with 18 seconds left gave the Scots a 72-71 lead, but two free throws with 4.8 seconds left spelled defeat.
Jay Fletcher raced downcourt and threw up a floater that bounced high of the glass as the horn sounded.
} The Fighting Scots had won the previous three games thanks to strong defensive efforts. They held Slippery Rock, Mercyhurst and Clarion to 59, 59 and 54 points, respectively.
} One positive that came from Wednesday's loss was the return of
Bryan Theriot. The 6'9” junior played 19 minutes after missing the previous five games with a knee injury. He led Edinboro with 20 points, adding six rebounds.
} The Fighting Scots come in with a 13-7 record and are 9-7 in the PSAC West. The 13-7 ledger is the best after 20 games since 2008-09.
} With the PSAC playoff field expanding to 12 teams in 2013, Edinboro is on the verge of its first playoff in four years. The three-year drought was the longest in Greg Walcavich's tenure at Edinboro, but that string can be snapped with an Edinboro win.
} Head coach Greg Walcavich is in his 24th season in charge of the Fighting Scots, showing a 425-248 record. Including stints at Birmingham Southern and West Virginia Wesleyan he is 579-311 overall as he is in his 31st season as a head coach.
} Lock Haven comes in with a 5-14 record, 3-13 in the PSAC West after suffering a 57-40 loss to Mercyhurst on Wednesday. That represented the tenth straight loss for the Bald Eagles. That stretch includes an 81-74 loss to Edinboro.
} Edinboro was picked to finish fourth in the PSAC?West. Lock Haven, meanwhile, was picked to finish eighth in the Western Division coaches poll.
Scouting Lock Haven
} The Bald Eagles have lost ten straight games to fall to 5-14 overall and 3-13 in the PSAC West. However, this is still a dangerous team, as evidenced by a 68-58 win over East Stroudsburg, the only loss the PSAC East leader has in league play. Lock Haven opened the season with a 95-74 win over Salem International to snap a 44-game losing streak. In addition, the 94-87 win over Shippensburg on December 2 snapped a 43-game losing streak in PSAC play that stretched back to February 6, 2010. The Bald Eagle program has been revitalized by a pair of transfers who are combining for over 36 points per game. Sophomore Wali Hepburn, a 6'3” guard, is leading the conference in scoring at 21.6 ppg. He adds 6.3 rpg., and leads the team with 76 assists and 27 steals. He is a frequent visitor to the free throw line, making 121 of 145 free throws. Kasheef Festus, a 6'5”, 245 lb. juunior, comes in at 15.0 ppg. and a team-leading 6.5 rpg. He is shooting 54.4 percent from the floor.
The Edinboro-Lock Haven Series
} Edinboro leads 92-19
The Fighting Scots have dominated the all-time series, but Lock Haven proved in 2009-10 that you can never take anything for granted. The Bald Eagles swept the season series that year, snapping a nine-game winning streak by the Fighting Scots. Edinboro has since come back to win the last five meetings.
The Last Meeting
} January 19, 2013 -- Edinboro 81, Lock Haven 74
Jay Fletcher pumped in 27 points and pulled down a career-best 12 rebounds, and backcourt mate
Isaiah Prince added 19 points to lead a depleted Edinboro men's basketball team to the win at Lock Haven. The Fighting Scots had just seven players available due to injury, and
Will Marrow played just six minutes. Included in the missing was
Bryan Theriot. Fletcher exploded for 20 points in the second half. Prince kept the Fighting Scots in striking distance with 15 first-half markers. Edinboro trailed by ten points late in the first half and was behind 39-31 at the half. The Lock Haven lead was still seven points at 43-36 when the Fighting Scots went on a 14-0 run to grab the lead for good at 50-43. Fletcher capped the run with one of his five 3-pointers. All told, Edinboro outscored the Bald Eagles, 27-8, over a seven-minute stretch. That left the Fighting Scots with their biggest lead of the day at 63-51 with just over ten minutes to play. Fletcher hit three 3-pointers during the outburst and
Johnathan Logan closed it with a pair of trifectas. Lock Haven would never pull closer than six points the rest of the way. Fletcher made 8 of 16 field goals, including 5 of 10 three's, and was 6 of 8 from the line. He also had four assists and three steals while playing all 40 minutes. Prince made 8 of 17 field goals, including 3 of 7 3-pointers, while adding seven rebounds and four assists. Logan, held scoreless in the first half, scored 12 points in the second half.
Alex Moore returned after missing six games with an injury and contributed seven points and nine rebounds.
Bobby Davis matched his career-high with 12 rebounds in place of Theriot. PSAC scoring leader Wali Hepburn was “held” to 21 points, just slightly under his average, while hauling in 11 rebounds. Dave Garcia had 17 points and Kasheef Festus finished with 14.
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 425-248 record at Edinboro and is 579-311 overall. Walcavich has also previously served as the head coach at Birmingham Southern and West Virginia Wesleyan. (For an indepth bio see page 10)
} Mike Nestor, Lock Haven -- is beginning to revive the Bald Eagle program after a recent history of losing. The former Shippensburg player and assistant coach took over the Lock Haven program a year ago and persevered through a 0-25 season. A former two-year captain for the Red Raiders, he served as an assistant coach at his alma mater from 2000-11.
The Last Time Out
} California(Pa.) 73, Edinboro 72 --
Jay Fletcher's fullcourt dash and floater at the buzzer failed after Cal made two free throws with 4.8 seconds left, snapping a three-game winning streak. Edinboro failed to score for over four minutes to finish the first half as the Vulcans scored the final nine points for a 39-30 lead. Edinboro would rally in the second half and took a 72-71 lead on
Jamal Bailey's tip-in with 18 seconds left. The Fighting Scots pulled down 24 offensive rebounds while holding a 46-35 rebounding edge, and turned the ball over a season-low nine times, but couldn't overcome a poor shooting night (35.1 pct.).
Bryan Theriot returned after missing the previous five games to score 20 points, while
Jay Fletcher had 14 points and seven assists.
Johnathan Logan scored 11 points and Bailey pulled down a season-high 11 rebounds.
} Mercyhurst 57, Lock Haven 40 -- the Bald Eagles suffered their tenth straight loss while being held to a season-low 40 points. They trailed just 25-20 at the half but Mercyhurst pulled away in the second half as Lock Haven shot just 33.3 percent for the game. In addition, the Bald Eagles were outrebounded 39-25. Wali Hepburn was the lone Bald Eagle in double figures with 18 points as only five players scored.
On the Radio, TV
} WFSE FM?88.9 broadcasts most Edinboro basketball games, including the Lock Haven game. In addition, ETV, Edinboro's student-run television station, will stream many home games live, with the Lock Haven game one of those. Go to
www.edinboro.tv to view the game. Live stats are available for home games on Edinboro's website at
www.gofightingscots.com.
