Matt Durisko

Men's Basketball 2/12/2018 3:09:00 PM Bob Shreve, Sports Information Director

Don't Look for Much Love as Edinboro Tussles with Slippery Rock on Valentine's Day

It may be Valentine's Day, but there won't be any "love" exchanged on the McComb Fieldhouse court. For starters, the PSAC regular season is winding and teams are now jockeying for the all-important top seeds and home games in the early rounds of the PSAC Tournament. In addition, Slippery Rock is traditionally one of the most physical teams in the conference, and this year is no different. The Rock comes in with a 19-6 overall record and is tied for second with Gannon in the PSAC West with a 13-6 record. Edinboro has a 14-8 ledger and is 11-7 in the PSAC. The Fighting Scots, picked to finish eighth in the Western Division in the PSAC Coaches' Preseason Poll, are currently fourth. The third and fourth seeds earn first round home games, while the top two seeds receive first round byes then host quarterfinal games.
The PSAC regular season has just two weeks left, with Indiana(Pa.) ranking first in the PSAC West at 14-3. Pitt-Johnstown has moved to within a game of the Fighting Scots at 11-8, although the Fighting Scots swept the regular season series. Mercyhurst is lurking not far behind at 9-9.
Edinboro wraps up a stretch of three home games in four contests. The Fighting Scots are 9-3 at home, with all three losses coming in the final seconds by a combined six points. The latest came last Saturday, as Gannon made three free throws with 0.4 seconds remaining for a 72-71 win. In addition, Kutztown scored the winning basket with 0.8 seconds remaining and Indiana(Pa.) with 1.8 seconds showing. Edinboro has four setbacks, in all, in the final seconds, as Mercyhurst hit their game-winning 3-pointer with 13.2 seconds remaining.
Slippery Rock is in search of its sixth 20-win season under head coach Kevin Reynolds, a former assistant coach under Greg Walcavich at Edinboro. With a roster bolstered by numerous transfers, this is a typical Reynolds squad – physical, and dominating on the glass and defensively. The Rock comes off an 82-65 win over Clarion on Saturday. .
The Fighting Scots rank eighth in the PSAC in scoring offense (79.2 ppg.) and are seventh in scoring defense (74.0 ppg.). Slippery Rock averages 82.8 ppg., good for fourth in the conference, and is fifth in scoring defense at 71.5 ppg. However, SRU leads the PSAC in rebounding margin (+12.4), blocked shots per game (6.7), and field goal percentage defense (40.1 pct.). They ranks in the top eight nationally in all three categories.
The Edinboro-Slippery Rock contest features two of the three players in the PSAC averaging a double-double. Keshawn Liggins comes in leading the PSAC in scoring (24.0 ppg.) while ranking third in the conference in rebounding (10.8 rpg.). SRU's Micah Till is the top rebounder in the conference (12.2 rpg.) and ranks seventh in scoring at 21.0 ppg. Till has had 18 double-doubles, Liggins 13.
The Fighting Scots have relied on a trio of players for the majority of the offense. The threesome of Keshawn Liggins, Anthony Coleman, and Jaymon Mason combine for over 56 points per game. Liggins led the Fighting Scots for the seventh straight game in scoring with 29 points against Gannon, his second straight 29-point effort. Liggins is eighth in Division II in scoring and 12th nationally in rebounding. He was recently named to the Bevo Francis Award Watch List and was selected the Division II Bulletin Player of the Month for January.
Anthony Coleman and Jaymon Mason add 16.5 and 15.6 ppg., respectively. The threesome has combined for 30-or-more points ten times. In addition, the Fighting Scots have had at least one of the three reach 20 points in every game but one.
Jaymon Mason continues to close the gap to become Edinboro's all-time leading scorer. The redshirt senior guard, who will go down as one of Edinboro's all-time great players, ranks second in career scoring with 1,875 points. He needs 80 points to break the career scoring record of 1,954 points, held by Tyrone Mason, his father.

Edinboro on Radio/Video

The Edinboro-Slippery Rock game can be heard on WFSE-FM 88.9.
In addition, this year Edinboro is part of the PSAC Network. All men's and women's home basketball games will be streamed live through Stretch Internet.

All-Time Series vs. Slippery Rock

Edinboro leads 88-85: Six of the last eight meetings have been decided by six points or less.
First Meeting: 1928-29 – Edinboro 46, Slippery Rock 32
Last Meeting: 2017-18 – Slippery Rock 88, Edinboro 82
Current Streak: Slippery Rock won the last two meetings.
Cleary vs. SRU: 2-8

Last Meeting
Jan. 20, 2018 – Slippery Rock 88, Edinboro 82 at Slippery Rock, Pa. BOX | RECAP

Despite a big second half, Edinboro came up short in its upset bid at Slippery Rock. Edinboro trailed by ten points at 38-28 at the half as SRU held a 22-6 advantage in points in the paint. The Fighting Scots would rally with 54 second-half points, the most they have scored in a half this season.
Still trailing by eight at 65-57 with 8:32 to play, the Fighting Scots rallied thanks to an 11-4 run to close to within a point at 69-68 with 5:18 remaining. Keshawn Liggins opened the run with a 3-pointer, and Trey Staunch then took over, powering his way for four straight layups.
Edinboro would forge its first lead since the first minute of the game at 75-74 with 2:43 left on Anthony Coleman's layup. Slippery Rock regained the lead with four straight points on a pair of free throws by Bruce Spruell and Merdic Green's layup with 2:20 to play.
The Rock would build the lead to five points at 84-79, but Anthony Coleman's 3-point play made it a two-point game at 84-82 with 31 seconds to play. Edinboro fouled immediately, with Spruell making two more free throws at the 30-second mark. Following an Edinboro miss, Tony Gates wrapped up the scoring with a pair of free throws with 20 seconds left.
Liggins led four players in double figures as the 6'5" senior finished with 23 points and 12 rebounds, adding five assists and two steals. Coleman added 18 points and Jaymon Mason contributed 16. Staunch, an offensive tackle on the football team who joined the basketball squad this season, added a season-high 14 points.
Slippery Rock also had four players in double figures, with Micah Till turning in a monster game. He finished with 26 points and 20 rebounds, adding four blocks. He made 6-of-10 free throws. Spruell also spent a good deal of time at the line, making 9-of-14 shots from the charity stripe to end the day with 15 points. He added seven rebounds and seven assists. Brandon Simmons joined Till with a double-double with 14 points and 10 boards, while Green finished with 12 points.
Slippery Rock came in as one of the nation's top teams in field goal percentage defense and rebounding margin, and Edinboro struggled in both categories. The Fighting Scots shots just 37.5 percent from the floor (30-of-80) and were outrebounded 58-43. They made 8-of-22 3-pointers and went 14-of-19 at the line. SRU shot 42.7 percent from the floor (32-of75), making 2-of-14 3-pointers. The Rock made 22-of-33 free throw attempts. Edinboro committed 11 turnovers and SRU 12.

Head Coaches

Edinboro: Pat Cleary (Edinboro '99) -- 61-66, 5th 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 has now led the Fighting Scots to the PSAC Tournament in three of the last four 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. A year 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.
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.

Slippery Rock: Kevin Reynolds (Bloomsburg '91) -- 186-106, 10th Year

Kevin Reynolds is in his tenth season as the head coach SRU and ranks second all-time in career wins. Reynolds has led The Rock to five 20-win seasons and three NCAA Tournament appearances, as well as a PSAC Finals appearance in 2013. All told, SRU has qualified for the PSAC Tournament seven times during his tenure.
After playing at Bloomsburg, the 2009 PSAC West Coach of the Year got his start in coaching as a graduate assistant at Indiana (Pa.) and was an assistant coach at Edinboro under Greg Walcavich.
Reynolds came to Slippery Rock after a one-season stint as assistant coach at Morehead State. Prior to that, he was an assistant coach at Drake and Denver, serving as the interim head coach at the latter during the 2006-07 season.

The Fighting Scots
Probable Starters

P / No.	Player	Ht/Wt/Yr	Hometown	PPG / RPG
F / 23	Mike Beck	6-3/220/Sr.	Erie, Pa.	5.9 / 2.0
F / 3	Keshawn Liggins	6-5/205/Sr.	Middletown, Id.	24.0 / 10.8
F / 21	Jack Frank	6-8/220/Jr.	Tampa, Fla.	2.5 / 6.6
G / 5	Jaymon Mason	6-3/185/R-Jr.	Edinboro, Pa.	15.6 / 4.7
G / 4	Anthony Coleman	6-3/210/Jr.	Wickliffe, Ohio	16.5 / 4.0

Top Reserves

F / 45	Trey Staunch	6-4/265/Jr.	West Middlesex, Pa.	6.8 / 3.1
G / 13	Alex Jay	6-3/180/Fr.	Edinboro, Pa.	3.9 / 1.6
G / 14	Jaryn Simpson	6-1/150/Fr.	Erie, Pa.	3.5 / 1.4

Scouting the Fighting Scots

Edinboro clinched a PSAC Tournament berth a week ago with a win at Seton Hill. The Fighting Scots fell to 14-8 overall and 11-7 in the PSAC West as Gannon snapped their three-game winning streak with three free throws with 0.4 seconds to play on Saturday. Edinboro has now qualified for postseason action three times in the last four years under head coach Pat Cleary.
The Fighting Scots are currently fourth in the PSAC West after being picked to finish eighth in the division in the PSAC Coaches' Preseason Poll. The top six teams in each division qualify for the tournament, with the top two teams receiving first round byes and the third and fourth seeds hosting first round contests.
Four of Edinboro's losses have come on buzzer-beaters in the last month, with three at McComb Fieldhouse. The Kutztown setback came on a basket with 0.8 seconds remaining, as the Golden Bears prevailed 91-89. A week later, Edinboro again lost in the final seconds as IUP hit a 3-pointer with 1.8 ticks showing for a 70-67 win. Mercyhurst hit the game-winner with 13.2 seconds to play to hand the Scots an 80-79 defeat. Then on Saturday, Gannon's Zay Jackson made three free throws with 0.4 seconds showing to hand the Scots a 72-71 defeat.
Ater a year filled with injuries in 2016-17, Edinboro has been able to start the same starting five in all 22 games. The Fighting Scots rank eighth in the PSAC in scoring offense (79.2 ppg.) and are seventh in scoring defense (74.0 ppg.).
Keshawn Liggins, Anthony Coleman, and Jaymon Mason are combining for over 56 points per game. Each is capable of putting up big numbers. They have combined for ten 30-point games. with Liggins reaching the mark in six contests. The latest came as he scored 36 points in an 86-73 win over Clarion. He dropped in a career-high 39 points vs. Seton Hill in the first meeting. Coleman posted a season-best 32-point effort at Gannon, and had 30 points in the upset of then eighth-ranked Shippensburg. When Coleman led Edinboro with 19 points at Lock Haven, it marked the only time this season Edinboro has not had a scorer reach 20 points. Mason has now had 15 career 30-point games after scoring a season-high 33 points against Kutztown, his second 30-point effort of the year. He had 32 points vs. Daemen.
Second all-time leading scorer and preseason All-American Jaymon Mason battled an early-season injury but is now healthy and again playing a key role. The senior guard had a season-high 33-point effort against Kutztown, making 13-of-15 free throws. He had 32 points at Daemen, dropping in 6-of-12 3-pointers while going 10-of-11 at the charity stripe. Mason is averaging 15.6 ppg. and is second on the team with 73 assists. He has made 50-of-142 3-pointers. The senior guard moved into second place in career scoring in the first meeting with Pitt-Johnstown and now has 1,875 career points, 80 points shy of breaking the school record. He is also fifth in career assists with 385.
Keshawn Liggins was recently named to the Bevo Francis Award Watch List, and was also selected the Division II Bulletin Player of the Month for January. He had his 13th double-double at Seton Hill with 29 points and 15 rebounds, then scored 29 points vs. Gannon. Liggins has pulled down 10-or-more rebounds in 14 contests, and has led the team in scoring in seven straight games. The 6'5" senior leads the PSAC in scoring (24.0 ppg.) and ranks eighth in Division II, and is third and 12th, respectively, in rebounding (10.8 rpg.). He scored a career-high 39 points vs. Seton Hill and 38 against Charleston. Liggins is a transfer from Idaho State and has been an ironman, ranking fourth in the country in minutes per game (38.5). His 13 double-doubles ranks third in the PSAC and 11th in Division II.
Liggins has scored 529 points this season, which ranks 15th in a season at Edinboro.
Anthony Coleman is a multi-faceted scorer who can burn the opposition from deep, or drive strong to the basket. The transfer from Cincinnati State CC displayed the former in the first meeting with. Gannon as he burned the Golden Knights for a season-high 32 points, making 7-of-12 3-pointers. The latter was in evidence against Clarion, as the 6'3" guard consistently drove to the hoop, ending the night with 24 points (8-of-12 FGs, 8-of-10 FTs). He added 10 rebounds for his first double-double. Coleman has had six games of 20-or-more points, including 30 points in an upset of Shippensburg. He is the top 3-point threat on the team, making 57-of-141 3-pointers. He ranks sixth in the PSAC in 3-point percentage (40.4 pct.) and is eighth in 3-pointers made per game (2.6).
The Fighting Scots posted the biggest win in Cleary's four-plus seasons as head coach earlier this year, an 88-86 triumph over eighth-ranked Shippensburg. Edinboro had previously upset 16th-ranked Indiana(Pa.), 79-77 in overtime, in 2014-15.
A two-year starter at right tackle on the offensive lineman Trey Staunch is now making a now for himself on the hardwood. A former standout in football and basketball at West Middlesex High School, the 6'4", 265 lb. junior is playing a larger role each game. On the season, he is averaging 6.8 points and 3.1 rebounds, but over the last six games he is averaging 10.6 ppg. and 4.9 rpg. He is an excellent free throw shooter, hitting 80.8 percent at the charity stripe. Staunch joined the basketball team at the conclusion of the football season.
The combination of Jack Frank and Staunch is providing the Fighting Scots with plenty of production in the post. Frank, a 6'8" junior, is Edinboro's second-leading rebounder at 6.6 per game. He pulled down a career-high 13 rebounds in the first meeting with California(Pa.) and added 11 vs. Clarion.
Mike Beck has displayed the ability to knock down the open 3-pointer, making 29-of-78 while averaging 5.9 ppg. The 6'4" senior scored 19 points in the win over Millersville, and had a 13-point effort against Clarion. His biggest contributions have come on defense, as he has been assigned some of the top scorers in the PSAC.
The freshman tandem of Alex Jay and Jaryn Simpson possesses some impressive genes and have provided the Fighting Scots with valuable minutes. Jay is the son of Sarah (Bishop) Jay, who ranks fourth in career scoring for the Edinboro women's basketball team, Simpson's father Bronze, is one of the all-time leading scorers and rebounders at Gannon. Jay, a 6'3" guard, is averaging 3.9 ppg. in 14.1 minutes per game and has made 17-of-48 3-pointers. Simpson, a 6'1" guard, is averaging 3.5 ppg. with 44 assists in 14.8 minutes per game.

Scouting The Rock

Slippery Rock pulled away from Clarion for an 82-65 win over Clarion on Saturday. The win places The Rock one win shy of 20 victories at 19-6 overall and 13-6 in the PSAC West, good for second place. SRU is looking for its seventh 20-win season under head coach Kevin Reynolds, who is in his tenth season.
The Rock was picked to finish fourth in the Western Division in the PSAC coaches' preseason poll. Five of Slippery Rock's six losses have come by seven points or less, with four by four points or less.
Clarion trailed by just one point at the half on Saturday, but The Rock won the second half, 42-26. Slippery Rock used its size advantage to get to the line 38 times, compared to 14 for Clarion. SRU received a spark from Gabe Mack, who entered the game midway through the second half. Despite playing just 17 total minutes, Mack finished with 19 points, making 3-of-4 3-pointers, and going 6-of-7 at the line. Micah Till posted his 18th double-double of the season with game-highs of 23 points and 12 rebounds.
Reynolds' teams have always been characterized by tenacious rebounding and outstanding defense. Dating back to the 2010-11 season, Slippery Rock has ranked in the top eight in the nation in rebounding margin seven times and in the top 20 in the country in points allowed per game five times. Playing a more up-tempo style, The Rock currently ranks fifth in the PSAC in scoring defense (71.5 ppg.), along with fourth in scoring offense (82.8 ppg.). However, SRU ranks first in the PSAC and third in Division II in rebounding margin at +12.4, and also leads the country in offensive rebounds. The Rock averages a Division II-leading 6.7 blocks per game, and ranks first in the PSAC and ninth in DII in field goal percentage defense (40.1 pct.).
As always, Reynolds replenished his roster with several talented transfers this year. Leading the way is Micah Till. The 6'7", 250 lb. redshirt sophomore began his career as a football player at North Carolina State before transferring to Harford CC to play basketball. He has emerged as the team's leading scorer (21.0 ppg.) and rebounder (12.2 rpg.). He ranks seventh in the PSAC in scoring and is first in the conference and fifth in Division II in rebounding. He pulled down 20 rebounds in the first meeting with Edinboro, and recently had 27 vs. Seton Hill. Till has 18 double-doubles, which leads the PSAC and is third nationally. He has 36 blocked shots, and has even stepped outside to make 25-of-87 3-pointers.
Bruce Spruell is also in double digits, while three other players average nine-or-more points. Spruell previously played at American International, and comes in at 12.9 ppg. In addition, the 6'4" junior leads the team with 109 assists.
Brandon Simmons, a 6'9" junior by way of Marshalltown JC, adds 9.8 ppg., leads the team with 67 blocks, and is second in rebounding at 8.0 per game. Simmons is second in the PSAC and eighth in Division II in blocks per game (2.68).
Guards Merdic Green and Khyee Wooten, a pair of redshirt seniors, average 9.2 and 9.1 ppg. Green has made 20-of-52 3-pointers and Wooten is 28-of-87. Aaron McDonald, who played with Till at Harford CC, is another part of the deep SRU backcourt. The redshirt junior averages 8.5 ppg. and has 65 assists.

Jaymon Mason in the Record Books SEASON RECORDS | CAREER RECORDS

CAREER SCORING: Second all-time with 1,875 points.
CAREER SCORING AVERAGE: Fifth at 18.6 ppg.
CAREER 3-POINTERS: Is second in career 3-pointers made with 217 3-pointers made and is second in career 3-pointers attempted with 568. Is also eighth in career 3-point field goal percentage at 38.1 percent
CAREER FREE THROWS MADE: Broke Bryan Theriot's school record of 402 free throws made in the season opener. Mason now holds the record with 476.
CAREER FREE THROWS ATTEMPTED: Ranks first with 570 free throw attempts.
CAREER FREE THROW PERCENTAGE: Ranks sixth at 83.5 percent
CAREER ASSISTS: Is fifth with 388
CAREER FIELD GOALS MADE: Ranks sixth with 591
CAREER FIELD GOALS ATTEMPTED: Ranks fourth with 1,397

NEXT FOR THE FIGHTING SCOTS: Saturday, February 17 at Clarion -- 3:00 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

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

#13 Alex Jay: G; 6' 3"; Freshman

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

#14 Jaryn Simpson: G; 6' 1"; Freshman

#45 Trey Staunch: F; 6' 4"; Junior

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

#13 Alex Jay
: 6' 3"; Freshman
: G

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

#14 Jaryn Simpson
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: G

#45 Trey Staunch
: 6' 4"; Junior
: F

Edinboro University Athletics

Scoreboard

Scoreboard

Don't Look for Much Love as Edinboro Tussles with Slippery Rock on Valentine's Day

Players Mentioned

#21 Jack Frank

#5 Jaymon Mason

#4 Anthony Coleman

#13 Alex Jay

#3 Keshawn Liggins

#14 Jaryn Simpson

#45 Trey Staunch

Players Mentioned

#21 Jack Frank

#5 Jaymon Mason

#4 Anthony Coleman

#13 Alex Jay

#3 Keshawn Liggins

#14 Jaryn Simpson

#45 Trey Staunch