Edinboro Fighting Scots (12-9, 11-7 PSAC West) at Pitt-Johnstown Mountain Cats (14-8, 10-7 PSAC West)
Wednesday Febuary 10, 2016 7:30 PM | UPJ Sports Center | Johnstown, Pa.Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/edinboro/mbball/
Radio: WFSE-FM 88.9 (
http://streamdb4web.securenetsystems.net/v5/WFSE)
Video: http://136.142.229.86/VIDwb160.cfm
The Game StoryA battle for third place in the PSAC West is set to go Wednesday night when the Edinboro University men's basketball team travels to face Pitt-Johnstown at 7:30 p.m. The game is the last of a three-game road trip for the Fighting Scots, who look to end a three-game losing streak, their longest streak of the season. The Boro holds a 12-9 overall record and an 11-7 PSAC record and seek to avenge an 80-65 loss to UPJ on January 16 at McComb Fieldhouse. The Mountain Cats, winners of five of their last seven games, own a 14-8 mark with a 10-7 PSAC record.
Edinboro and Pitt-Johnstown are currently in third and fourth place, respectively, in the PSAC West standings. After losses to Mercyhurst and Slippery Rock, the Fighting Scots suffered a 94-73 defeat at first-place Indiana (Pa.) on Saturday to drop their third straight game. IUP clinched a PSAC Tournament spot with the win and leads the Western Division by three games. Mercyhurst (12-6) is one game ahead of Edinboro in second place. The top six teams from each division qualify for the PSAC Tournament, with the first and second seeds receiving a bye and the third and fourth seeds hosting a first-round tournament game. The Scots are two games ahead of fifth-place Clarion, who they will host on Saturday.
Pitt-Johnstown broke out to a 44-18 halftime lead on Edinboro in their first meeting this season, backed by a 61.5 first-half field goal percentage (16-for-26), including shooting 5-for-11 from 3-point range. The Fighting Scots were held to 0-for-6 from behind the arc and shot 26.9 percent (7-for-26) in the opening session. Edinboro would shoot just 35.5 percent (22-for-62) for the game while UPJ shot 57.8 percent (26-for-45). Redshirt sophomore guard
Jaymon Mason, who is currently the PSAC's third-leading scorer, was held to single digits in scoring for the first time this season with eight points. Senior guard Nate Snodgrass scored a game-high 23 points for the Mountain Cats.
Jaymon Mason and senior guard
Henri Wade-Chatman are the PSAC's leading-scoring tandem at a combined 40.8 ppg. Mason is third in the conference at 21.0 ppg. and is also third in free throw percentage at 86.8 percent (131-for-151). His 131 made free throws are third-most by an Edinboro player in a single season. He is nine free throws away from breaking the school record set by Billy Wade in 1989-90. Wade-Chatman, who is fourth in the conference at 19.8 ppg., registered 16 points at IUP on Saturday, moving him into 13th place on Edinboro's all-time career scoring list with 1,285 points. Either Mason or Wade-Chatman have scored at least 20 points in all but five games for Edinboro this season.
Sophomore forward
Quinn Lee Yaw netted a career-high 20 points off the bench Saturday at IUP, shooting 9-for-11 from the field in 33 minutes of play. Lee Yaw started in Edinboro's first three games before suffering an injury that sidelined him for nearly two months. His first game back was in the team's first meeting with Pitt-Johnstown on January 16.
The Mountain Cats own a 7-2 record on the road this season, but are 4-5 on their home court. UPJ is fourth in the PSAC in scoring at 79.4 ppg. and tenth in scoring defense at 73.7 ppg. They top the conference in free throw percentage at 76.9 percent (343-for-446) and in 3-point field goal percentage at 39.8 percent (193-for-485). They rank 13th and 27th in NCAA Division II in each category, respectively. The Mountain Cats are fifth in the PSAC in field goal percentage at 47.4 percent (605-for-1276).
Edinboro is sixth in the PSAC in scoring at 77.3 ppg. and 15th in scoring defense at 78.1 ppg. The Fighting Scots are 5-0 this season when shooting over 50.0 percent and 9-3 when holding teams to under 50.0 percent shooting. They rank second in the PSAC in free throw percentage, behind Pitt-Johnstown, at 74.6 percent (387-for-519) and sixth in 3-point field goal percentage at 35.8 percent (139-for-388).
On the Radio/Live StreamThe Edinboro-Pitt-Johnstown game can be heard live on WFSE FM 88.9, with Drew Patrick providing the play-by-play and Mike Lantinen handling the color commentary. The game will also be video streamed through Pitt-Johnstown athletics' website.
All-Time SeriesEdinboro leads 19-7First Meeting: 1969-70 - Edinboro 115, Pitt-Johnstown 55
Last Meeting: 2015-16 - Pitt-Johnstown 80, Edinboro 65
Current Streak: Pitt-Johnstown won the last meeting
Cleary vs. Clarion: 2-3
Last MeetingJanuary 16, 2016 - Pitt-Johnstown 80, Edinboro 65Pitt-Johnstown shot 61.5 percent from the floor (16-of-26) in the first half, including 5-of-11 3-pointers, to lead at halftime, 44-18. Edinboro made just 7-of-26 shots (26.9 percent) in the opening session and were guilty of nine turnovers, giving the Mountain Cats a 19-4 advantage in points off turnovers in the first half. The Fighting Scots finished the game with a 35.5 field goal percentage (22-of-62), including 4-of-19 3-pointers, while the Mountain Cats shot 57.8 percent (26-of-45), making 7-of-17 3-pointers. UPJ was also 21-for-24 on free throws.
Tommy Scales led Edinboro with 15 points and 11 rebounds for his fourth double-double while
Henri Wade-Chatman posted 14 points, despite playing just 25 minutes due to foul trouble.
Jaymon Mason was held to eight points, marking the first time this season he failed to score in double figures. UPJ's Nate Snodgrass ended the day with a game-high 23 points, making 8-of-13 field goals, including 3-of-5 3-pointers. A.J. Leahey added 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting and pulled down seven rebounds. Dale Clancy made 8-of-10 free throws on his way to 15 points and grabbed a team-high eight boards.
Last Time OutFebruary 6, 2016 - Indiana (Pa.) 94, Edinboro 73The Crimson Hawks held a 37-31 lead with four minutes remaining in the first half, but outscored the Fighting Scots, 11-4, to close out the half and lead, 48-35, at the break. They then used an 8-2 run to begin the second half to break the game open at 56-37. Edinboro never got any closer than 14 points of IUP's lead for the rest of the contest. The Crimson Hawks made 11-of-22 3-pointers, including 6-of-12 in the first half, and shot 53.8 percent for the contest (35-for-65) while the Fighting Scots connected on just 3-of-11 shots from long range and were 44.4 percent from the field (24-for-54).
Quinn Lee Yaw paced Edinboro with a career-high 20 points off the bench, netting 9-of-11 from the field.
Henri Wade-Chatman added 16 points despite being held to one field attempt in a scoreless first half. He played just 10 of the first 20 minutes due to foul trouble.
Jaymon Mason was held to 1-of-9 shooting for the game, but made 9-of-10 free throws for 12 points.
February 6, 2016 - Gannon 80, Pitt-Johnstown 79 (OT)Despite AJ Leahey recording a career-high 32 with 11 rebounds, the Mountain Cats were unable to hold on to a six-point overtime lead against the Golden Knights. Leahey scored the first six points in the extra session to put the Mountain Cats up, 74-68. Gannon responded with a 12-2 run and staved off a late UPJ threat for the one-point win. Nate Snodgrass, who was held to eight points and 2-of-9 shooting, was unable to convert on what would have been a game-winning 3-point attempt at the buzzer. Dale Clancy contributed 16 points and six rebounds while Isaac Vescovi went a perfect 4-for-4 from the field for 11 points.
The Head CoachesEdinboro: Pat Cleary (36-38, 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.
Pitt-Johnstown: Bob Rukavina (431-305, 27th Year)Before Bob Rukavina took over the men's basketball program in 1989, the Mountain Cats had only four winning seasons from 1969 to 1987. In 27 years, Rukavina, the 2006 National Independent Coach of the Year, has turned the Mountain Cats into one of the top Division II programs in the country. Pitt-Johnstown has made four NCAA Division II Tournament appearances and has posted seven 20-win seasons, including four in a row from 2005-06 through 2008-09. Rukavina ranks among the active Division II coaching leaders in wins and winning percentage.
The Fighting ScotsLast Game's StartersTop ReservesPlayers to WatchHenri Wade-Chatman (G, 6'2", Sr.) is 13th all-time at Edinboro with 1,285 career points in just 74 games. He has started every game of his Edinboro career. He is fourth in the PSAC with 19.8 ppg. and tenth in free throw percentage at 79.4 percent (100-for-126). The 6'2" senior is 13th in the PSAC in 3-point field goal percentage at 35.5 percent (43-for-121) and fourth in steals at 1.9 steals per game. He is seventh at Edinboro in career 3-pointers made (148) and eighth in career 3-pointers attempted (389). Wade-Chatman tied his career high of 32 points at Lock Haven on January 3. He has scored in double figures in all 21 games and has led the team in scoring in 10 contests. Wade-Chatman has scored at least 20 points in 10 games, including a stretch where he tallied at least 20 points in five straight contests. He was named the PSAC West Athlete of the Week for the week of December 28. Last year, he was named to the 2015 All-PSAC West first team after finishing second in the PSAC with 18.9 ppg., and third in total points with 511.
Jaymon Mason (G, 6'3", R-So.) was named the Division II Bulletin Player of the Month for the month of January. He is also a three-time PSAC Athlete of the Week honoree this season, most recently for the week of January 18. Mason is third in the PSAC and 32nd in NCAA Division II in scoring at 21.0 ppg. and currently has 834 career points through 48 games. He had a career-high 39 points against Kutztown, along with 36 points versus Seton Hill and 35 points in the first meeting with Gannon. Mason has scored in double digits in 19 of 21 games this season. The 6'3" guard leads the PSAC and is 18th in Division II with 131 free throws made, which puts him third in Edinboro's single-season record books and nine free throws away from the school record. Mason ranks third in the PSAC in free throw percentage at 86.8 percent (131-for-151). He is ranked eighth in the conference in 3-point field goal percentage at 39.8 percent (45-for-113). Mason has led the team in scoring nine times and has scored 20-or-more points on ten occasions. He was named the 2015 PSAC Freshman of the Year, the first Fighting Scot to receive this honor since Dan Grabill in 2002.
Tommy Scales (C, 6'8", Sr.) leads the Scots and is 13th in the PSAC in rebounds with 6.8 rpg. He is third on the team in scoring at 11.8 ppg. and fourth in the PSAC in field goal percentage at 53.6 percent (103-for-192). Scales set a career high with 23 points at Seton Hill on January 24. In the last four games, however, he has totaled just 30 points. Scales has posted four double-doubles, including consecutive double-doubles at Mercyhurst (15 points, 11 rebounds) and at East Stroudsburg (16 points, 11 boards). The former transfer from Fairmont State has led the team in rebounds in ten games.
Scouting Pitt-Johnstown Since defeating Edinboro on January 16 to snap a three-game losing streak, Pitt-Johnstown has won five of their last seven games, with the two losses coming in overtime. The Mountain Cats were riding a four-game winning streak before losing to Gannon in overtime on Saturday, 80-79. Their only other loss in that stretch came at Slippery Rock, a 72-70 overtime decision. UPJ is 7-2 on the road, but is just 4-5 on their home court.
Head coach Bob Rukavina has kept four of his starting five intact for all 22 games this season. The Mountain Cats' defense is tenth in the conference at 73.7 ppg. Pitt-Johnstown is the PSAC's fourth-highest scoring team at 79.4 ppg., with four players averaging double figures. The Mountain Cats have found solace from behind the arc and the charity stripe this year, leading the PSAC in free throw percentage at 76.9 percent (343-for-446) and in 3-point field goal percentage at 39.8 percent (193-for-485) and. They rank 13th and 27th in NCAA Division II in each category, respectively. They also rank first in the PSAC in 3-pointers made. UPJ ranks fifth in the conference in field goal percentage at 47.4 percent (605-for-1276).
Junior forward A.J. Leahey leads UPJ in both scoring and rebounding at 17.7 ppg. and 7.7 rpg. That's good for sixth and seventh in the conference, respectively. Against Gannon on Saturday, Leahey scored a career-high 32 points with 11 rebounds for his third double-double of the season. The 6'7"-220 lb. forward ranks fourth in the PSAC in 3-point field goal percentage at 43.8 percent (56-for-128) and seventh in field goal percentage at 49.8 percent (137-for-275). Last season, Leahey topped the conference in 3-point field goal percentage at 51.0 percent (76-for-149).
Pitt-Johnstown ranks second in the conference and 11th in Division II in assists at 17.6 assists per game. Sophomore guard Dale Clancy is fifth in the PSAC in assists at 4.4 assists per game and is the team's third-leading scorer at 13.9 ppg. Senior guard Nate Snodgrass ranks 15th in the conference with 3.2 assists per game and averages 14.0 ppg.
Last Game's Starters| P / No. | Player | Ht/Wt/Yr | Hometown | PPG / RPG |
| F / 33 | A.J. Leahey | 6-7/220/Jr. | Lilly, Pa. | 17.7 / 7.7 |
| F / 30 | Isaac Vescovi | 6-6/205/R-So. | Patton, Pa. | 10.8 / 4.8 |
| G / 10 | Rasaun Mosley | 6-3/165/Jr. | York, Pa. | 2.0 / 2.0 |
| G / 0 | Dale Clancy | 5-10/165/So. | Pittsburgh, Pa. | 13.9 / 4.0 |
| G / 3 | Nate Snodgrass | 6-1/175/Sr. | Butler, Pa. | 14.0 / 1.7 |
Top Reserves| G / 5 | Olando King, Jr. | 6-4/175/Fr. | Dallas, TX | 5.8 / 4.0 |
| G / 22 | Jake Laravie | 6-1/180/Jr. | Kettering, Ohio | 5.5 / 1.4 |
| F / 54 | Dom Keyes | 6-7/200/Fr. | Homestead, Pa. | 3.6 / 2.3 |
Booka in the Record BooksHenri Wade-Chatman, better known as "Booka", is 13th on Edinboro's all-time career scoring list with 1,285 points. He is 59 points away from passing Dan Petchel for 12th all-time and 77 points away from cracking the top 10. Wade-Chatman ranks in the top ten in career 3-pointers made and 3-point attempts at seventh and eighth, respectively. He is 17 3-pointers away from tying Tyrone Mason, the father of teammate
Jaymon Mason, for fifth all-time.
Career Points| 1 | Tyrone Mason (1993-96) | 1,954 |
| 2 | Walt Askins (1956-60) | 1,739 |
| 3 | Tim Smiley (1973-77) | 1,553 |
| 4 | Kenny Tate (1999-02) | 1,552 |
| 5 | Don Lovett (1976-80) | 1,496 |
| 6 | Joe Jones (2006-09) | 1,465 |
| 7 | Billy Wade (1986-90) | 1,446 |
| 8 | Edwin Wright (1980-84) | 1,420 |
| 9 | Daren Tielsch (2004-07) | 1,377 |
| 10 | Bryan Theriot (2010-14) | 1,362 |
| 11 | Jakim Donaldson (2001-05) | 1,355 |
| 12 | Dan Petchel (1961-65) | 1,344 |
| 13 | Henri Wade-Chatman(2013-pres) | 1,285 |
| 14 | Fred Riley (1969-72) | 1,279 |
| 15 | Jesse Ogden (1994-98) | 1,246 |
Career 3-Pt. Field Goals Made| 1 | Jesse Ogden (1994-98) | 334 |
| 2 | Duke Gartrell (1999-03) | 176 |
| 3 | Blake Johnson (2000-02) | 168 |
| 4 | Joe Jones (2006-09) | 166 |
| 5 | Tyrone Mason (1993-96) | 165 |
| 6 | Adam Kaufman (1997-01) | 161 |
| 7 | Henri Wade-Chatman(2013-pres) | 148 |
| 8 | Jose Davis (1986-88) | 134 |
| 9 | Torry Mitchell (2004-06) | 133 |
| 10 | Dan Grabill (2001-06) | 127 |
Career 3-Pt. Field Goals Attempted| 1 | Jesse Ogden (1994-98) | 815 |
| 2 | Duke Gartrell (1999-03) | 518 |
| 3 | Tyrone Mason (1993-96) | 486 |
| 4 | Adam Kaufman (1997-01) | 467 |
| 5 | Joe Jones (2006-09) | 466 |
| 6 | Blake Johnson (2000-02) | 448 |
| 7 | Torry Mitchell (2004-06) | 396 |
| 8 | Henri Wade-Chatman(2013-pres) | 389 |
| 9 | Johnathan Logan (2012-14) | 354 |
| 10 | Jay Fletcher (2011-13) | 326 |
Mason in the Record BooksJaymon Mason connected on 9-of-10 free throws at Indiana (Pa.) Saturday, moving him into third all-time at Edinboro with 131 single-season free throws made. He is nine free throws away from breaking the single-season school record set by Billy Wade in 1989-90.Season Free Throws Made| 1 | Billy Wade (1989-90) | 139 |
| 2 | Bryan Theriot (2013-14) | 137 |
| 3 | Jaymon Mason (2015-16) | 131 |
| 4 | Bryan Theriot (2012-13) | 129 |
| 5 | Dwayne Butler (1997-98) | 128 |
| Derek Walton (1990-91) | 128 |
| 6 | Jakim Donaldson (2004-05) | 127 |
| Jim Prokell (1969-70) | 127 |
| 7 | Dan Petchel (1964-65) | 126 |
| 8 | Tyrone Mason (1994-95) | 124 |
| 9 | Earl Minor (1984-85) | 123 |
| 10 | Jose Davis (1987-88) | 122 |
