Matt Durisko

Men's Basketball 11/8/2018 10:45:00 AM Bob Shreve, Sports Information Director

New-Look Fighting Scots to Debut Against Thiel on Saturday

Head coach Pat Cleary was named the PSAC West Coach of the Year after leading Edinboro to an 18-11 record a year ago. It marked the finest year of his five-year reign after Edinboro had been picked to finish eighth in the Western Division. The Fighting Scots would finish 13-9 in PSAC action, good for fourth place. They went on to defeat Pitt-Johnstown in the opening round, followed by an upset of top-seeded Indiana(Pa.) in the quarterfinals. Edinboro would lose to eventual PSAC champion East Stroudsburg in the semifinals.
Cleary will have his work cut out for him in 2018-19 after suffering major losses. Gone are leading scorers Keshawn Liggins (23.8 ppg, 10.4 rpg.) and Jaymon Mason (16.3 ppg.), both first team All-PSAC selections, along with three-year starter Mike Beck (6.3 ppg.). The trio combined for 1,348 points, or just over 58 percent of the team's scoring.
Edinboro will greatly rely on returning second team All-PSAC West selection Anthony Coleman. The 6'3" guard emerged as one of the top 3-point threats in the PSAC in his first season. He finished third on the team and 24th in the PSAC in scoring at 15.2 ppg., while leading the team in 3-pointers, making 72-of-174 (41.4 pct.). He ranked sixth in the PSAC in 3-point field goal percentage and was tied for seventh in 3-point field goals made per game (2.5).
Several newcomers are expected to make immediate impact, including junior college transfers Daylon Harris and DeAnthony Owens. Harris is a 6'5" junior who played at Western Nebraska CC, while Owens, a 6'4" junior, played at New Mexico JC.

On the Radio/Video

The Edinboro-Thiel game can be heard on WFSE-FM 88.9, with Chris Rosato on the play-by-play and Luke Boniger providing color commentary. In addition, the game will be streamed live on Stretch Internet and Edinboronow.com as part of the PSAC Network. All men's and women's basketball games will be streamed live through Stretch Internet.

All-Time Series vs. Thiel

Edinboro leads 35-10
First Meeting: 1935-36 – Thiel 42, Edinboro 24
Last Meeting: 2017-18 – Edinboro 86, Thiel 77
Current Streak: Edinboro has won the last 18 meetings.
Cleary vs. Thiel: 5-0

Last Meeting
Nov. 11, 2017 – Edinboro 86, Thiel 77 at Edinboro BOX SCORE | RECAP

Edinboro opened the 2017-18 season with its 18th straight win over the Tomcats. The contest counted as an exhibition for Division III Thiel.
Keyshawn Liggins scored 34 points in his Edinboro debut. A transfer from Idaho State, made 12-of-19 field goals, including a 3-pointer, and was 9-of-12 at the free throw line for his 34 points. The 6'5" senior forward added seven rebounds.
Edinboro led by as many as 11 points in the first half at 21-10, but the first twenty minutes would end with the two teams tied at 34-34.
Liggins opened the second half with a bucket for a 36-34, but Thiel answered with 3-pointers by Matt Ozkaynak and Tyreik Burton to take its largest lead of the game. Burton proved a major nemesis for the Fighting Scots all night. The 5'9" senior, the 2017 Presidents Athletic Conference Player of the Year, finished with 29 points, making 12-of-12 field goals, including 6-of-7 3-pointers, and 3-of-3 free throws.
Edinboro would build the lead back up to eight points at 51-43, but a gritty Tomcats squad refused to fold. Thiel closed to within one at 53-52 thanks to a 9-2 run, but Edinboro rebuilt the lead to nine points at 65-56 thanks to a run of seven straight points, the last five by Jaymon Mason.
Mason was hampered by an injury and playing at less than 100 percent, but after failing to score in the first half and missing all six of his field goal attempts, the senior guard contributed 14 points in the second half. He added six rebounds and three assists.
A 3-pointer by Burton closed the gap to 74-73 with 3:25 left to play, but Edinboro closed the game on a 12-4 run. Anthony Coleman scored on a layup and Liggins followed with a jumper in the paint. Burton would cut the margin to three points at 78-75 with a pair of free throws, but Edinboro extended the lead to 84-75 on a Coleman tip-in, a layup by Liggins, and two Mason free throws with 36 seconds to play.
Coleman, another first-year performer by way of Cincinnati State Community College, joined Liggins and Mason in double figures with 14 points, making 6-of-9 field goals. He scored 10 points in the second half. Maceo Baston II came off the bench to contribute nine points, while Jack Frank pulled down a team-high eight rebounds.
Thiel featured four players in double digits. In addition to Burton, Ozkaynak had a double-double with 14 points and 10 assists, while Avril Campbell had 12 points and 10 rebounds. Alonzo Brown also scored 12 points.

The Head Coaches
Edinboro: Pat Cleary (Edinboro '99) -- 65-69, 6th Year

Pat Cleary was introduced as Edinboro's tenth head coach on March 26, 2013 after head coach Greg Walcavich announced his retirement. Cleary served as Walcavich's assistant coach for 14 years.
Cleary's first three teams improved each year since his appointment, with his 2015-16 team earning the third seed in the PSAC West Tournament with a 15-11 overall record and 14-8 league mark. Two years ago the Fighting Scots came in at 8-18 overall and 6-16 in the PSAC West, with injuries forcing the Fighting Scots to suit up as few as seven players in February.
The 2017-18 Fighting Scots were picked to finish eighth in the PSAC West Coaches' Preseason Poll. They would surprise the league with a fourth place finish at 13-9 in league play, and 18-11 overall. Edinboro would defeat Pitt-Johnstown in the opening round of the PSAC Tournament, then hand top-seeded Indiana(Pa.) a defeat in the quarterfinals. The playoff run came to an end with a loss to eventual PSAC champion East Stroudsburg in the semifinals. It marked Edinboro's first appearance in the PSAC Final Four since 2008.
Cleary was named the PSAC West Coach of the Year. The 18 wins were the most by the Fighting Scots since the 2012-13 team won 18 games.
He guided Edinboro to the PSAC Tournament for the first time in 2014-15 with a 14-13 record, a four-game improvement over his first year, after being chosen to finish eighth in the PSAC West preseason poll. His first Boro squad finished 10-16 in 2013-14.

Thiel: Tim Loomis (Lock Haven '76) -- 139-160, 13th year; 273-351, 24th Year Overall

The long-time head coach is in his 24th season overall and 13th at Thiel. He owns a 139-160 record at Thiel, and his overall record is 273-351.
A year ago, Thiel finished with an uncharacteristic 7-17 record, with eight of the losses by five points or less. In 2016-17, Loomis led the Tomcats to a 16-9 finish, the most wins since his 2011-12 edition won 16 games. In 2010-11, he led Thiel to a 20-7 record and was named the Presidents Athletic Conference Coach of the Year.
He has coached two PAC Players of the Year, Blair Rozenblad in 2011 and Tyreik Burton last year.
His background includes stints as the head coach at California (Pa.) and Florida Atlantic, leading Florida Atlantic from Division II to Division I status. He was also an assistant coach at Cal, and in 2007 was inducted into the Cal Hall of Fame.
He served as an assistant coach at Penn State from 1986-89. In addition, he enjoyed a very successful tenure as the head coach at Kennedy Catholic High School, leading the Golden Eagles to the PIAA playoffs all five years, including two trips to the championship game

Scouting the Fighting Scots

Edinboro ended the 2017-18 season with an 18-11 record. That included a 13-9 record in league contests, as the Fighting Scots finished fourth in the PSAC West after being picked to finish eighth in the coaches' preseason poll.
Edinboro was once again picked to finish eighth in the PSAC West in the coaches' preseason poll this year.
The Fighting Scots must replace three starters, and two nof the top players to perform in recent years in Jaymon Mason, Keshawn Liggins, and Mike Beck. Mason and Liggins were first team All-PSAC West selections a year, with Mason departing as Edinboro's all-time leading scorer with 2,005 points. Liggins led the PSAC in scoring at 23.8 ppg. and was third in rebounding at 10.4 ppg. Beck was a three-year starter who was the 2018 PSAC Champion Scholar.
The Fighting Scots return a pair of starters in seniors Anthony Coleman and Jack Frank. Coleman, a 6'3" guard, is one of the top 3-point threats in the PSAC. He finished third on the team and 24th in the PSAC in scoring at 15.2 ppg., while leading the team in 3-pointers, making 72-of-174 (41.4 pct.). He ranked sixth in the PSAC in 3-point field goal percentage and was tied for seventh in 3-point field goals made per game (2.5). Frank is a 6'8" senior known for his rebounding and defense. He was second on the team in rebounding at 5.8 rpg., and had a team-high 29 blocks.
Other returnees include sophomores Jaryn Simpson and Alex Jay. Simpson, a 6'2" guard, will likely assume the point guard job after averaging 3.4 ppg. with 52 assists a year ago. Jay, a 6'3" guard, added 3.5 ppg.
Several newcomers are expected to make immediate impact, including junior college transfers Daylon Harris and DeAnthony Owens. Harris is a 6'5" junior who played at Western Nebraska CC, while Owens, a 6'4" junior, played at New Mexico JC.

Scouting the Tomcats

Thiel head coach Tim Loomis is in his 13^th season in charge of the Tomcats, and 24^th year overall as a head coach. His 2017-18 squad had an uncharacteristic down year, finishing at 7-17. The Tomcats lost eight games by five points or less. In 2016-17, Thiel finished at 16-9, the most wins since 2011-12. Loomis has a varied coaching background, including a stint as the head coach at California(Pa.). In 2007, he was inducted into the Cal Hall of Fame.
Tyreik Burton was the team's leading scorer a year ago at 16.1 ppg., but he is gone. The top returning scorer is Nyric Gosley, a 6'2" guard. The junior averaged 9.2 ppg., and was second on the team in steals (28) and third in assists (44). Terrance Holloway was a key reserve on the 2016-17 squad, averaging 5.8 ppg. in 24 games. He appeared in just one a year ago, finishing with eight points and six rebounds. Holloway is a 6'1" guard out of Farrell High School. Alonzo Brown and Daquan Simmons also saw considerable action last year. Brown, a 6'6" senior guard, averaged 6.1 ppg. and 5.5 rpg. Simmons, a 6'4" sophomore forward, came in at 5.5 ppg. and made 25-of-73 3-pointers.

NEXT FOR THE FIGHTING SCOTS: Saturday, November 17 at Lake Erie -- 3 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

#15 Maceo Baston II: G/F; 6' 5"; Senior

#23 Mike Beck: F/G; 6' 4"; Senior

#5 Jaymon Mason: G; 6' 3"; Redshirt Senior

#3 Keshawn Liggins: G/F; 6' 5"; Senior

#4 Anthony Coleman: G; 6' 3"; Senior

#21 Jack Frank: F; 6' 8"; Senior

#15 Alex Jay: G; 6' 3"; Sophomore

#11 Jaryn Simpson: G; 6' 2"; Sophomore

#3 Daylon Harris: F; 6' 5"; Junior

#24 DeAnthony Owens: G; 6' 4"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#15 Maceo Baston II
: 6' 5"; Senior
: G/F

#23 Mike Beck
: 6' 4"; Senior
: F/G

#5 Jaymon Mason
: 6' 3"; Redshirt Senior
: G

#3 Keshawn Liggins
: 6' 5"; Senior
: G/F

#4 Anthony Coleman
: 6' 3"; Senior
: G

#21 Jack Frank
: 6' 8"; Senior
: F

#15 Alex Jay
: 6' 3"; Sophomore
: G

#11 Jaryn Simpson
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: G

#3 Daylon Harris
: 6' 5"; Junior
: F

#24 DeAnthony Owens
: 6' 4"; Junior
: G

Edinboro University Athletics

Scoreboard

Scoreboard

New-Look Fighting Scots to Debut Against Thiel on Saturday

Players Mentioned

#15 Maceo Baston II

#23 Mike Beck

#5 Jaymon Mason

#3 Keshawn Liggins

#4 Anthony Coleman

#21 Jack Frank

#15 Alex Jay

#11 Jaryn Simpson

#3 Daylon Harris

#24 DeAnthony Owens

Players Mentioned

#15 Maceo Baston II

#23 Mike Beck

#5 Jaymon Mason

#3 Keshawn Liggins

#4 Anthony Coleman

#21 Jack Frank

#15 Alex Jay

#11 Jaryn Simpson

#3 Daylon Harris

#24 DeAnthony Owens