Matt Durisko

Men's Basketball 1/14/2019 9:07:00 PM Bob Shreve, Sports Information Director

Fighting Scots Return Home to Host Local Rival Gannon

Junior guard Steven Freeman

Edinboro hopes to snap a five game losing streak while hosting a Gannon team that ended a six-game skid a week ago. The Fighting Scots wrapped up a three-game road trip with a 100-88 loss at Pitt-Johnstown on Saturday. Following the Gannon game, Edinboro plays its next two contests on the road. The Fighting Scots come in with a 4-9 overall record and are 1-7 in the PSAC West. After losing six straight games, Gannon has posted back-to-back wins to improve to 5-10 overall and 3-6 in the PSAC West. The Golden Knights posted a 69-61 win at Seton Hill on Saturday.
Last year's meeting at McComb Fieldhouse ended with Gannon's Zay Jackson making three free throws with 0.4 seconds left to give the Golden Knights a 72-71 win. Gannon swept the season series with an 83-69 win at the Hammermill Center. The Golden Knights have won six of the last seven meetings at McComb Fieldhouse, interrupted by a 105-102 double overtime win by Edinboro in 2015-16.
Edinboro suffered large graduation losses, and has been forced to play without second team All-PSAC West performer Anthony Coleman the last nine games due to an injury. The Fighting Scots have also without second-leading scorer DeAnthony Owens the last three games.

Edinboro comes in averaging 72.1 ppg. while allowing 81.0 ppg., good for 14^th in the PSAC in both categories. Gannon is second in the PSAC in scoring defense (64.9 ppg.), but 17^th in scoring offense (61.3 ppg.).The Golden Knights are also second in the conference in rebounding margin at +7.3.
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.
With three starters departing who combined for a total of 1,348 points, Edinboro was picked to finish seventh in the PSAC West in the coaches' preseason poll. Despite losing all but one starter, Gannon was picked to finish third in the PSAC West after going 22-10 a year ago, reaching the PSAC Championship game and qualifying for the NCAA Tournament.

On the Radio/Video

The Edinboro-Gannon game can be heard on WFSE-FM 88.9, with Madi Gross and Chase Rowland providing the commentary. In addition, the game can be scene live as part of the PSAC Network.

All-Time Series vs. Gannon

Gannon leads 69-38: The Fighting Scots have won three of the last five meetings. The Golden Knights are 28-22 all-time against the Fighting Scots at McComb Fieldhouse, including wins in six of the last seven meetings.
First Meeting: 1948-49 – Edinboro 57, Gannon 48
Last Meeting: 2017-18 – Gannon 72, Edinboro 71
Current Streak: Gannon has won the last two meetings
Cleary vs. Gannon: 3-7

Last Meeting
February 10, 2018 – Gannon 72, Edinboro 71 at Edinboro, Pa. BOX | RECAP

Gannon's Zay Jackson drained three free throws with 0.4 seconds remaining as the Golden Knights handed Edinboro a 72-71 defeat. It was Edinboro's fourth loss of the season in the final seconds, three at home.
The Fighting Scots spent most of the game playing catch-up to Gannon, as the Golden Knights would lead by as many as 15 points in the second half. Edinboro began its comeback with 11 minutes remaining and trailing 55-45.
Edinboro would go on an 18-4 run to take a 63-59 lead. Mike Beck scored on a layup, and Anthony Coleman and Keshawn Liggins followed with back-to-back 3-pointers to cut the gap to two at 55-53 with 10:02 to play. After a Gannon basket, Alex Jay's layup made it a two-point game once again. Jair Green's emphatic dunk built the Gannon lead to four, but Liggins scored on a tip-in and Jay converted another layup for a 59-59 tie.
Edinboro would take its first lead of the game on Jaymon Mason's offensive rebound and layup. Mason drained a short jumper in the paint to give Edinboro its biggest lead at 63-59 with 4:24 remaining.
The Fighting Scots would maintain the lead until Gerrell Williams scored on a layup to tie the game at 67-67 with 1:18 to play. Mason gave the lead back to the Scots at 69-67 with another jumper with 48 seconds left, but Williams' jumper at the 31-second mark tied it again.
Following a timeout, Jay would miss a 3-pointer from the corner, but Liggins grabbed the offensive board and scored on a layup for a 71-69 lead with four seconds to play.
That set the stage for Jackson, who dribbled downcourt and fired up a long three from several feet beyond the top of the key just before the buzzer. The contested shot was called a foul by Mike Sims Jr., who came in to provide outstanding play off the bench in the second half.
Jackson calmly made all three free throws to give Gannon the lead at 72-71. Trey Staunch's long inbounds pass was knocked away as the buzzer sounded.
After being limited to just seven points in the first meeting with Gannon, Liggins stepped up and scored 29 points. He made 10-of-22 field goals, including 5-of-12 3-pointers, and was 4-of-6 at the line. He added nine rebounds, three assists and three steals.
After a slow start, Mason came alive late to finish with 14 points. The senior guard made 6-of-16 field goals, with a pair of three's. Coleman was also in double figures with 10 points after scoring 32 points in the first meeting.
Gannon had three players in double figures, with Jackson leading the way with 18 points, adding eight assists. He was a perfect 7-for-7 from the line. Williams added 14 points off the bench, and Evan Phoenix totaled 13 points and nine rebounds.
Thanks to shooting 50.0 percent in the second half (16-of-32), Edinboro ended the game shooting 42.2 percent (27-of-64). They made 11-of-34 3-pointers and went 6-for-8 at the line, all in the second half. Gannon shot 49.1 percent from the floor (27-of-55), making 5-of-12 3-pointers, and was 13-of-15 at the line. Edinboro battled the second-best rebounding team in the PSAC, finishing at a 35-31 deficit.

Head Coach Pat Cleary (Edinboro '99) -- 69-78, 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.

Scouting the Fighting Scots

Edinboro suffered its fifth straight loss on Saturday with a 100-88 setback at Pitt-Johnstown. That contest wrapped up a three-game road trip for the Fighting Scots. After trailing by 27 points in the second half, Edinboro rallied to within eight points at 91-83, but could not complete the comeback. The loss left the Fighting Scots with a 4-9 overall record and 1-7 in the PSAC West. They were picked to finish seventh in the PSAC West in the coaches' preseason after finishing fourth in the division with an 18-11 record a year ago.
The Fighting Scots have been forced to play the last nine games without Anthony Coleman, and the last three without second-leading scorer DeAnthony Owens (13.1 ppg.). They dressed just nine players at UPJ, with starting forward Daylon Harris attending a family funeral. A second team All-PSAC West selection a year ago in his first season at Edinboro, Coleman averaged 15.2 ppg. and was one of the top 3-point threats in the PSAC. He scored in double digits in the first three games, and was well on his way to a fourth at Charleston. The 6'3" senior scored Edinboro's first seven points, but he would go out with an injury and not return. Coleman has not played since and is expected to miss an extended period with the injury.
After being held to eight points at Kutztown, Jaryn Simpson exploded for 33 points at Pitt-Johnstown, one shy of his career high. The sophomore guard has emerged as Edinboro's leading scorer at 18.2 ppg., good for seventh in the PSAC, after averaging 3.4 ppg. as a freshman. He has scored in double figures in 11 of 13 games, with six games of 20-or-more points. Against UPJ, he made 8-of-19 field goals, including 4-of-10 3-pointers, and was 13-of-14 at the free throw line. Simpson added 11 rebounds for his second double double of the season. He scored a career-high 34 points at Bloomsburg earlier this season. Simpson leads the team with 53 assists, has made a team-high 36 3-pointers in 103 attempts, and is even averaging 5.4 rpg. Simpson ranks second in the PSAC in free throw percentage at 89.7 percent (61-of-68) and is third in 3-pointers made per game (2.8).
Turner Kurt, a 6'8" freshman, added a season-high 18 points at UPJ, making 4-of-12 3-pointers. He has been forced into the starting lineup the last three games, and is averaging 12.0 ppg. as a starter. Overall, the native of nearby Cambridge Springs is averaging 7.8 ppg. and 5.0 ppg.
Trey Staunch continues to provide Edinboro plenty of muscle inside. The 6'4", 280 lb. offensive tackle-turned-forward has scored in double figures in 11 of his 12 games. He is averaging 12.8 ppg. and 5.6 rpg., while shooting 56.0 percent from the floor (3^rd in the PSAC). Staunch was a second team All-PSAC West as an offensive tackle this year. He had not played basketball since high school before joining the team last season.
Simpson is one of two sophomores playing a huge role. Alex Jay has replaced Coleman in the starting lineup, and while not providing a great deal of scoring (5.9 ppg.), the 6'3" guard set a career-high for rebounds in each of his first three starts and has led the team in rebounding in five of the nine games he has started. He is averaging a team-high 6.3 rpg.
Daylon Harris dropped in 23 points while making 10-of-18 field goals and 3-of-3 3-pointers recently against California(Pa.). The junior from Western Nebraska CC saw limited playing time the next two games while tending to a family emergency, and missed the Pitt-Johnstown contest. The 6'5" forward comes in at 7.3 ppg.
Steven Freeman matched a season-high with 11 points and handed out a season-high 9 assists at Pitt-Johnstown. A 5'11" junior by way of Dakota College at Bottineau, Freeman has started the last three games. He played a season-high 29 minutes against the Mountain Cats.

Scouting the Golden Knights

After suffering through a six-game losing streak, Gannon has posted back-to-back wins to improve to 5-10 overall and 3-6 in the PSAC West. The Golden Knights posted a 64-61 win against Pitt-Johnstown last Wednesday, and followed that up with a 69-61 win at Seton Hill on Saturday.
John Reilly has enjoyed great success in his 14 seasons as Gannon's head coach, showing a 236-154 record during that period, a school record for wins. Gannon reached the PSAC Tournament championship game for the third time in 10 seasons in the league last year, finishing 22-10 for their fourth 20-win season in the past six years. His 2015 squad won the PSAC Championship. Reilly has led the Golden Knights to five NCAA Tournament appearances, including an Elite Eight trip in 2009. Reilly also served as the head coach at Brescia, where he compiled a 232-145 career record in 12 seasons with the Bearcats and was inducted into the Brescia Hall of Fame two years ago. He entered the season ranked 24^th among active Division II coaches in victories, currently with 468.
Gannon was picked to finish third in the PSAC West in the coaches' preseason poll despite returning just one starter. It has taken Reilly some time to figure out the right combination, as 11 different players have started games, but he may have hit on it recently. The Golden Knights have won back-to-back games for the first time this year after snapping a six-game losing streak.
As always, Reilly's team is about defense and rebounding. The Golden Knights are second in the PSAC in scoring defense (64.9 ppg.), but 17^th in scoring offense (61.3 ppg.).They are also second in the conference in rebounding margin at +7.3.
Daryl Porter is the lone Golden Knight to start all 15 games, and the only one scoring in double figures. The 6'2" senior is averaging 10.7 ppg. after dropping in 25 points in Saturday's 69-61 loss at Seton Hill.

Next for the Fighting Scots

The Gannon game is Edinboro's lone home contest in a span of six games. The Fighting Scots play back-to-back games on the road, beginning with a Saturday, January 19 game at nationally-ranked Indiana(Pa.). Tipoff is set for 7:30

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Players Mentioned

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

#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

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

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

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

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

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

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

#33 Turner Kurt: F; 6' 8"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

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

#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

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

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

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

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

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

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

#33 Turner Kurt
: 6' 8"; Freshman
: F

Edinboro University Athletics

Scoreboard

Scoreboard

Fighting Scots Return Home to Host Local Rival Gannon

Players Mentioned

#23 Mike Beck

#5 Jaymon Mason

#4 Anthony Coleman

#13 Alex Jay

#3 Keshawn Liggins

#45 Trey Staunch

#4 Anthony Coleman

#15 Alex Jay

#11 Jaryn Simpson

#45 Trey Staunch

#3 Daylon Harris

#33 Turner Kurt

Players Mentioned

#23 Mike Beck

#5 Jaymon Mason

#4 Anthony Coleman

#13 Alex Jay

#3 Keshawn Liggins

#45 Trey Staunch

#4 Anthony Coleman

#15 Alex Jay

#11 Jaryn Simpson

#45 Trey Staunch

#3 Daylon Harris

#33 Turner Kurt