The Game Stories
} The saying goes that it's tough to beat a team three times in a season.  That is the task at hand for Edinboro as the Fighting Scots host Mercyhurst in the first round of the PSAC Playoffs.  Not only must the Fighting Scots defeat a 16-12 Lakers team to keep their season alive, they must do so for the second time in four days after a 71-59 win on Wednesday.  That clinched the fourth seed and a home game for the Fighting Scots, who are 10-5 at McComb Fieldhouse.   Edinboro rallied for a 65-59 win at Mercyhurst on January 30.  It marks the first time Edinboro won both regular season games since Mercyhurst joined the PSAC in 2008-09.   

} Edinboro comes into the game with a two-game winning streak to improve to 17-9 overall and finish at 13-9 in the PSAC West.    

} Edinboro 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.   In addition, the 17 wins are the most since the 2008-09 squad finished at 18-10. 

} Head coach Greg Walcavich is in his 24th season in charge of the Fighting Scots, showing a 429-250 record.  Including stints at Birmingham Southern and West Virginia Wesleyan he is 583-313 overall as he is in his 31st season as a head coach. 

} The Edinboro-Mercyhurst game will feature a contrast in styles.  The Fighting Scots are third in the PSAC?in scoring at 75.8 ppg., while Mercyhurst is ranked 15th at 63.7 ppg.  However, the Lakers are third in scoring defense, allowing just 59.7 ppg.  The Lakers have allowed just five teams to score 70-or-more points, with 82 points the most allowed.  That came in a season-opening loss to Concord.
 
The PSAC Playoff Picture
} The winner of the Edinboro-Mercyhurst game will play at Indiana(Pa.), the top seed in the Western Division, on Tuesday, March 5.  The other first round winner of the California(Pa.)/Slippery Rock game will play at Gannon that same night.  The highest remaining seed from the Eastern Division will host the PSAC Championships on March 8-9.  The semifinals will feature the highest remaining seed in the West against the lowest remaining seed in the East, and the highest remaining seed in the East against the lowest remaining seed from the West.  Those winners will meet on Saturday, March 9 to determine the 2013 PSAC champion.

Scouting Mercyhurst
} Head coach Gary Manchel has parlayed a stingy defense into a team which is 16-12 overall and finished at 12-10 in the PSAC?West. The Lakers are ranked third in the PSAC?in scoring defense (60.1 ppg.).  Mercyhurst looks to snap a two-game losing streak after suffering a last-second 53-52 loss at California(Pa.) last Saturday, followed by Wednesday's loss at Edinboro.  The Lakers are a dangerous outfit, however, with recent wins against Slippery Rock and Gannon.  The Lakers are led by 6'5” forward Luis Leao, one of the players under consideration for player of the year honors in the Western Division.  The senior is the lone player in double figures, ranking fourth in the PSAC in scoring at 18.4 ppg.  He also leads the Lakers in rebounding (6.7 rpg.) and blocked shots (28), while shooting 82.0 percent from the line.  He spends quite a bit of time at the charity stripe, making 159 of 194.  He went over 1,000 points for his career earlier in January.  While Leao is been the lone constant for the Lakers, Manchel has mixed and matched to come up with solid play from a number of other performers.  In particular, Jonathan Ouegnin, a junior guard and a native of France, has played very well of late and is averaging 8.0 ppg. and 4.1 rpg., along with team highs of 112 assists and 55 steals.  Callon Dailey, a sophomore guard, adds 8.4 ppg., while Jean Onana (3.7 ppg.), a freshman guard from Cameroon, saw little action early in the year but has had several double-figure games of late.  He did not play in the first game, and alos missed Wednesday's contest.  Terrence Ingram is another guard who has seen plenty of action, starting 13 games.  He is averaging 6.5 ppg. and is the top 3-point threat with 32 in 94 tries.  Finally, Paul Bilbo is the biggest Laker at 6'9”,  and averages 7.4 ppg. and 3.3 rpg.   He had nine points and five rebounds on Wednesday.  
        

The Edinboro-Mercyhurst Series

} Edinboro leads 45-29
Edinboro holds the overall lead in the series with the Lakers, and has won the last three contests between the two. Edinboro snapped a three-game losing streak to the Lakers with a 73-64 triumph at the MAC in February 2012, as the two teams traded road wins in 2011-12.  Edinboro won the first meeting this year at the MAC, 65-59, and prevailed on Wednesday at McComb Fieldhouse, 71-59.  The Fighting Scots had not swept the Lakers in the regular season since they joined the PSAC in 2008-09.
 
The First Meeting

} January 30, 2013 --  Edinboro 65, Mercyhurst 59 
Isaiah Prince scored a career-high 37 points as Edinboro rallied from a 32-21 halftime deficit to win at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.  He was most of Edinboro's offense in the first half with 13 points, then really caught fire in the second half with 24 markers.  Along the way the Fighting Scots held Mercyhurst scoreless for 5 minutes, 18 seconds on their way to ten straight points, and all told used a 22-4 run to claim control.  Incredibly, Edinboro made just 4 of 27 2-point attempts, but won thanks to a 13 of 25 showing from beyond the 3-point arc.  Prince made 10 of 17 shots, including 7 of 10 3-pointers, and was 10 of 11 from the line.  He added a game-high seven rebounds, with three steals and a pair of blocked shots.  Backcourt mate Jay Fletcher added 16 points, making 4 of 8 3-pointers, while contributing five rebounds and four assists.  Luis Leao led Mercyhurst with 20 points, adding six rebounds.  Terrence Ingram scored 14 points.

The Second Meeting

} February 27, 2013 --  Edinboro 71, Mercyhurst 59 
Isaiah Prince was a thorn in the side of the Lakers once again, scoring a game-high 23 points from a variety angles and distances.  He made 9 of 12 field goals, including 2 of 4 3-pointers, and was 3 of 3 at the line.  Johnathan Logan made 3 of 9 field goals on his way to 13 points, with Bryan theriot recording his second straight double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.  Jay Fletcher contributed 10 points, seven rebounds and four assists.  Mercyhurst held an early one-point lead, but the Fighting Scots closed the second half with a 16-6 run to take a 35-20 lead at the half.  They would never lead by less than ten points in the second half.   Callon Dailey paced the Lakers with 17 points and Luis Leao added 15 points and nine 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 429-250 record at Edinboro and is 583-313 overall.  Walcavich has also previously served as the head coach at Birmingham Southern and West Virginia Wesleyan. (For an indepth bio see page 11) 
} Gary Manchel, Mercyhurst  -- has guided Mercyhurst to the PSAC?playoffs the last four years, with records of 18-10, 20-7, 18-10 a year ago, and now 16-12.  Now in his tenth season at Mercyhurst, he is the career leader in victories with a 164-114 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:  27-16
Gary Manchel vs. Edinboro: 7-9

On the Radio, TV

} WFSE FM?88.9 broadcasts most Edinboro basketball games, including the Mercyhurst playoff 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.