Edinboro Fighting Scots (8-4, 7-2 PSAC West) vs. Bloomsburg Huskies (7-5, 5-3 PSAC East)
Wednesday, January 6 2016 7:30 PM | McComb Fieldhouse | Edinboro, Pa.Live Stats: http://sidearmstats.com/lhup/mbball/
Radio: WFSE-FM 88.9 (http://streamdb4web.securenetsystems.net/v5/WFSE)
The Game StoryThe Edinboro University men's basketball team hosts Bloomsburg in a PSAC game on Wednesday, January 6 at 7:30 p.m. in McComb Fieldhouse. The Fighting Scots are 8-4 overall and 7-2 in the PSAC West while Bloomsburg holds a 7-5 record and a 5-3 record in the PSAC East.
The game marks the first matchup between the two since December 17, 2013, with the Fighting Scots defeating the Huskies, 70-61. That contest was also at McComb Fieldhouse. Edinboro has won the last two contests against Bloomsburg and hold a 14-10 lead in the all-time series, which dates back to the 1963-64 season.
The Fighting Scots have won six out of their last seven PSAC contests to take hold of first place in the PSAC West. After falling to Indiana (Pa.) on December 19 by an 82-74 score, Edinboro has won their last two games. They ended 2015 with a 78-72 victory over Thiel on December 30, and opened 2016 with an 87-78 win at Lock Haven on Sunday, 87-78. The latter contest came against a Lock Haven team which had won eight of its last nine games. The Fighting Scots were picked to finish third in the PSAC West preseason poll. So far, they have wins at PSAC West preseason favorite Mercyhurst, plus road victories over the top two teams in the PSAC East preseason poll, East Stroudsburg and West Chester.
Senior guard
Henri Wade-Chatman tied his career high with 32 points at Lock Haven, also handing out a season-high six assists. For his efforts, he was named the PSAC West Athlete of the Week. Redshirt sophomore guard
Jaymon Mason added 25 points and pulled down nine rebounds. Senior center
Tommy Scales, who played just two minutes against Thiel due to an injury, made a quick recovery and came off the bench to contribute 12 points and nine rebounds, one board shy of his fourth double-double of the season.
Wade-Chatman and Mason are the PSAC's highest-scoring tandem, combining for 43.7 ppg. Mason is second in the conference in scoring at 22.8 ppg., while Wade-Chatman is third at 20.9 ppg. They combine for 53 percent of Edinboro's total scoring output.
Wade-Chatman recently topped the 1,000-point mark for his career and currently ranks 25
th in career scoring with 1,121 points in just 65 games. He ranks fourth in the PSAC in steals (2.3 per game) and is 17th in 3-point field goal percentage at 37.2 percent. Wade-Chatman ranks ninth in career 3-pointers at Edinboro with 132, and is ninth in career 3-pointers attempted (346).
Mason is fourth in the PSAC in free throw percentage at 87.6 percent (78-of-89). In addition, he is 13th in field goal percentage at 47.5 percent and is ranked 12th in the conference in 3-point field goal percentage at 40.3 percent. He has been named the PSAC West Athlete of the Week twice this season.
Scales has been Edinboro's main threat down low, averaging 11.8 ppg. and ranking ninth in the PSAC with 8.2 rpg. He has posted three double-doubles this season, including 10 points and a career-high 15 rebounds against Indiana (Pa.).
The Fighting Scots are fifth in the conference in scoring at 79.5 ppg. and are 15
th in scoring defense with 78.5 ppg. They stand second in the PSAC in free throw percentage (75.1 pct.) are are fourth iin 3-point field goal percentage at 36.4 percent.
On the RadioThe Edinboro-Bloomsburg game can be heard live on WFSE FM 88.9, with Mike Fenner providing the play-by-play and Joshua Kaufer handling the color commentary.
All-Time SeriesEdinboro leads 14-10First Meeting: 1963-64 – Edinboro 72, Bloomsburg 71
Last Meeting: 2013-14 - Edinboro 70, Bloomsburg 61
Current Streak: Edinboro has won the last two meetings
Cleary vs. Bloomsburg: 1-0
Last MeetingDecember 17, 2013 – Edinboro 70, Bloomsburg 61With the score knotted at 31-31 at halftime, Edinboro and Bloomsburg traded runs early in the second half, with the Huskies grabbing a 40-39 lead. It would turn out to be their lone lead of the second half, as the Fighting Scots responded with eight unanswered points and extended their lead to as much as 12 points twice during the remainder of the contest. Bryan Theriot led four Fighting Scots in double-digits with 19 points. Johnathan Logan posted 17 markers while making 5-of-9 3-pointers. He also recorded eight rebounds. Jonny Marsh scored all 11 of his points in the second half to go along with six assists. Xavier Churnac added 10 points and five rebounds, with.
Henri Wade-Chatman chipping in a game-high six assists. Edinboro out-rebounded the Huskies, 46-38, paced by Alex Moore's game-high nine boards. The Fighting Scots held Bloomsburg to 37.3 percent shooting, as the Huskies entered the game shooting 47.7 percent for the season, good for the second-best percentage in the PSAC. Lorenzo Christmas and Alssene Saintilus each led the Huskies with 12 points.
Last Time OutJanuary 3, 2016 – Edinboro 87, Lock Haven 78Henri Wade-Chatman scored a season-high 32 points, tying his career high, as the Fighting Scots cooled off a Lock Haven team which had won eight of his last nine games. The senior guard added a season-high six assists, along with four rebounds and three steals while playing all 40 minutes.
Jaymon Mason added 25 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the floor, plus 8-for-9 at the line. The redshirt sophomore guard pulled down a game-high nine rebounds, as well. It marked the second straight game that Wade-Chatman and Mason each scored 20 points in a game, and the fourth time this year. Edinboro never trailed in the game and grabbed the lead for good with just over 15 minutes remaining in the first half at 14-12 on
Daryan Robinson's jumper. The Fighting Scots would lead 48-38 at the half. That advantage would grow to as much as 13 points twice in the second half, the last at 81-68 with 5:18 to play, before Lock Haven responded with a 10-2 run to cut the margin to 83-78 with 1:28 remaining. The Fighting Scots would score the last four points of the game as the defense forced three Lock Haven misses. Edinboro shot 50.8 percent from the floor (33-of-65), including 5-of-11 on 3-pointers. Lock Haven made 10-of-20 shots from outside the arc, while shooting 41.5 percent for the game (27-of-65).
Tommy Scales came off the bench to contribute 12 points, nine rebounds, and four steals in 27 minutes.
Art Cook joined Mason and Scales with nine rebounds as Edinboro held a 44-31 edge on the glass.
January 3, 2016 – Bloomsburg 70, Slippery Rock 67Bloomsburg never trailed in the contest, but had to overcome a subpar performance at the free-throw line to hold off a late Slippery Rock comeback bid. The Huskies led at the half, 35-28. Christian Mortellite was the only Husky to score in double digits, finishing the afternoon with a team-high 19 points. He converted on 10-of-11 foul shots in the contest, while the rest of the Huskies combined to make 8-of-22 free throws. The Huskies turned 17 Slippery Rock turnovers into 26 points, outscoring The Rock, 26-4. Slippery Rock, meanwhile, was able to stay in the contest thanks, in large part, to its rebounding. The Rock held a 55-34 advantage in the rebounding department, including 22 offensive boards that they turned into 25 second-chance points. Bloomsburg did not score a single second-chance point on Sunday. Mortellite pulled down six rebounds and had six assists. Malik Garner, Charles Haigler, and Donell Diggs each finished with eight points.
The Head CoachesEdinboro: Pat Cleary (32-33, 3rd Year)Pat Cleary sat at the right side of Edinboro head men's basketball coach Greg Walcavich for 14 years. On March 26, 2013, Cleary was officially introduced as Edinboro's tenth head coach after Walcavich announced his retirement. Cleary's first season ended with a 10-16 record. Edinboro lost three games to nationally-ranked teams and suffered a number of close losses, including two overtime losses and two defeats at the buzzer. Season number two saw the Fighting Scots make the PSAC playoffs as the number five seed after being picked to finish eighth in the PSAC coaches' poll. Edinboro ended the year with a 14-13 record, falling at Slippery Rock, 64-60, in the first round of the PSAC Playoffs. Among the victories was a 79-77 overtime upset of 16th-ranked Indiana (Pa.). The Crimson Hawks would go on to reach the NCAA Division II national championship game.
Bloomsburg: John Sanow (108-146, 10th season)Former Indiana(Pa.) standout John Sanow is in his tenth season as the head coach at Bloomsburg and has helped guide the Huskies to three straight PSAC post-season appearances from 2012-14. That is the longest streak since an eight-year run from 1995-2002. Sanow was named PSAC East Coach of the Year in 2011-12 after leading the Huskies to 19 victories. Sanow's previous coaching stops were at the University of Vermont, Gannon, and Pitt-Johnstown as an assistant coach. He also spent 11 years as an assistant at St. Francis of Pennsylvania.
The Fighting ScotsLast Game's StartersTop Reserves Players to WatchHenri Wade-Chatman (G, Sr.) was named to the 2015 All-PSAC West first team after finishing second in the PSAC in 2014-15 with 18.9 ppg., and third in total points with 511. Wade-Chatman is 25
th all-time at Edinboro with 1,121 career points through 65 games. He has started every game of his Edinboro career. He is third in the PSAC with 20.9 ppg. and second in steals per game (2.3 per game), along with 17th in 3-point field goal percentage at 37.2 percent (29-for-78). He is ninth at Edinboro in career 3-pointers attempted (344) and ninth in career 3-pointers made (131). Wade-Chatman tied his career high of 32 points at Lock Haven on January 3. He has scored in double figures in all twelve games and has led the team in scoring in seven contests. Wade-Chatman has scored at least 20 points in each of the last five games. He was named the PSAC West Athlete of the Week on Monday.
Tommy Scales (C, Sr.), a former transfer from Fairmont State, leads the Scots and is ninth in the PSAC with 8.2 rpg. He is third on the team in scoring at 11.8 ppg. He is ninth in the conference in field goal percentage at 49.6 percent (57-for-115). After leaving the game against Thiel on December 30 due to injury, Scales came off the bench Sunday and nearly had his fourth double-double of the season at Lock Haven, tallying 12 points and grabbing nine rebounds. Scales posted consecutive double-doubles at Mercyhurst (15 points, 11 rebounds) and at East Stroudsburg (16 points, 11 boards), and had his third double-double against IUP with 10 points and a career-high 15 rebounds. Scales has led the team in rebounds in eight games.
Jaymon Mason (G, R-So.) was named the 2015 PSAC Freshman of the Year, the first Fighting Scot to receive this honor since Dan Grabill in 2002. Mason is second in the PSAC and ranks 24
th in Division II in scoring at 22.8 ppg. and currently has 665 career points through 39 games. He is fourth in the PSAC in free throw percentage at 87.6 percent (78-for-89). He is ranked 12th in the conference in 3-point field goal percentage at 40.3 percent (27-for-67). He has registered two 30-point games this season, including a career-high 39 points against Kutztown, along with 35 points against Gannon. He has been named the PSAC West Athlete of the Week twice. Mason has led the team in scoring five times and has scored 20-or-more points on seven occasions, including 25 points at Lock Haven on Sunday.
Scouting BloomsburgBloomsburg is fourth in the PSAC East with a 5-3 record and is 7-5 overall. The Huskies defeated Slippery Rock on Sunday, 70-67, marking their third win in four games. That stretch includes PSAC wins against Gannon and Mansfield. Their lone loss in that stretch was at West Chester. Prior to that, Bloomsburg had lost two consecutive conference games, the first to East Stroudsburg and then a lopsided 88-48 defeat to Mercyhurst. Their other two conference wins were against Seton Hill and California (Pa.).
Bloomsburg is 12
th in the PSAC in scoring at 74.7 ppg., while allowing 72.1 ppg., good for eighth in the conference. Rebounding has been one of Bloomsburg's largest deficiencies. The Huskies are 16
th in the PSAC in rebounding margin at minus 4.3.
Bloomsburg's defense keyed Sunday's win over Slippery Rock. SRU shot just 32.8 percent from the floor (22-of-67) and 23.5 percent from behind the arc (4-for-17). The Huskies forced 17 turnovers, leading to 26 points.
Redshirt sophomore Christian Mortellite was the only Husky to score in double digits against Slippery Rock, tallying 19 points, along with six rebounds and six assists. The 6'5" swingman is Bloomsburg's main shooting threat. He is ranked fifth in the PSAC in scoring at 19.2 ppg. He is seventh in the conference in 3-point field goal percentage at 43.4 percent (33-for-76), and second in the PSAC in 3-point field goals at 2.8 field goals per game. In addition, he ranks third in free throw percentage at 89.7 percent (61-for-68).
Six-foot-seven sophomore Kyle Michael Rose is second in the conference in blocks at 1.8 blocks per game, while junior forward Malik Sneed is ninth at 1.3 blocks per game. Junior guard Donnell Diggs is 13
th in the PSAC in assists at 3.8 assists per game. Alex Prislupsky is ninth in the conference in steals at 1.8 steals per game.
Last Game's Starters| P / No. | Player | Ht/Wt/Yr | Hometown | PPG / RPG |
| F / 15 | Christian Mortellite | 6-5/220/R-So. | Hammonton, N.J. | 19.2 / 4.0 |
| F / 22 | Malik Garner | 6-6/220/Sr. | Philadelphia, Pa. | 7.3 / 4.8 |
| F / 24 | Wes Lyons | 6-6/225/R-Sr. | Millville, Pa. | 5.0 / 2.8 |
| G / 3 | Donnell Diggs | 5-11/170/Jr. | Washington, D.C. | 9.3 / 1.7 |
| G / 5 | Alex Prislupsky | 6-1/180/So. | Olyphant, Pa. | 5.8 / 2.2 |
Top Reserves| F / 30 | Charles Haigler | 6-4/175/Sr. | Charles Town, W.V. | 8.3 / 3.3 |
| G / 00 | Malik Sneed | 6-7/200/Jr. | Washington, D.C. | 4.4 / 5.1 |
| G / 33 | Tyriek Steward | 6-4/180/R-Fr. | Wilkes-Barre, Pa. | 6.9 / 2.4 |
| F / 35 | Kyle-Michael Rose | 6-7/200.So. | Middletown, De. | 2.8 / 3.3 |
