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Steven Freeman vs. Penn St Shenango
Matt Durisko

Men's Basketball Bob Shreve, Sports Information Director

Fighting Scots Look to Cool Down Mercyhurst on Wednesday

Junior guard Steven Freeman
MERCYHURST Lakers (13-4, 8-4 PSAC West) at EDINBORO Fighting Scots (5-12, 2-10 PSAC West)    
Wednesday, January 30, 2019, 7:30 PM | McComb Fieldhouse | Edinboro, Pa.
LINKS: LIVE STATS | AUDIO-WFSE 88.9 l WATCH


ADDITIONAL LINKS
EDINBORO: ROSTER | SCHEDULE | STATS
MERCYHURST: ROSTER | SCHEDULE | STATS

The Game Story
  • Edinboro plays the middle game of a three-game homestand at McComb Fieldhouse while facing another of the top teams in the PSAC West. The Fighting Scots suffered an 88-71 loss to Slippery Rock in a contest that was closer than the final score indicated. SRU is tied with IUP for the lead in the PSAC West and has run off 12 straight wins. Now the Fighting Scots face the second-hottest team in the Western Division, with Mercyhurst running off five straight victories to improve to 13-4 overall and 8-4 in league play.
  • Wednesday is Fighting Scots Fighting Hunger Night. Fans can receive free admission with the donation of a non-perishable food item. All items donated will go to the Edinboro Food Bank.   
  • Edinboro comes in with a 5-12 record and is 2-9 in PSAC action. The Fighting Scots were picked to finish seventh in the PSAC West. Mercyhurst was picked fourth in the Western Division in the coaches' preseason poll. The Lakers showcase one of the top defenses in the country. Mercyhurst ranks first in the PSAC and second in Division II in scoring defense at 60.1 ppg. They have held eight opponents to less than 60 points, including four of the last five games. Mercyhurst ranks fourth in the PSAC in field goal percentage defense (60.1 pct.).
  • Edinboro suffered large graduation losses, and has been forced to play without second team All-PSAC West performer Anthony Coleman the last 13 games due to an injury. The Fighting Scots have also been without double-figure scorer DeAnthony Owens the last seven games, and Steven Freeman, who has been filling in at guard, sat out recent two contests with an injury and is available for limited duty.
  • Edinboro comes in averaging 71.9 ppg., ranking 14th in the PSAC, while allowing 82.8 ppg., good for 15th in the PSAC. While leading the PSAC in scoring defense (60.1 ppg.), Mercyhurst is ninth in scoring offense at 76.6 ppg.   
  • 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.
On the Radio/Video
  • The Edinboro-Mercyhurst game can be heard on WFSE-FM 88.9, with Madi Gross and Matt Herr providing the commentary. The game can also be viewed live as part of the PSAC Network.  
All-Time Series vs. Mercyhurst
  • Edinboro leads 48-38: Mercyhurst has won nine of the last ten meetings.
  • First Meeting: 1972-73 – Mercyhurst 71, Edinboro 64
  • Last Meeting: 2017-18 – Mercyhurst 92, Edinboro 84
  • Current Streak: Mercyhurst has won the last five meetings.
  • Cleary vs. Mercyhurst: 1-9
Last Meeting
Feb. 24, 2018 – Mercyhurst 92, Edinboro 84 at Edinboro, Pa. BOX | RECAP
  • Lorenzo Collier and the Mercyhurst men's basketball team may have spoiled the party a bit with a 92-84 win at Edinboro, but the day still belonged to Edinboro's Jaymon Mason. The redshirt senior guard set the school record for career points as he finished with 25 points to eclipse his father Tyrone Mason's total of 1,954 points. Jaymon ended the day with 1,967 points.
  • Mason drained a 3-pointer from the top of the key, probably the signature shot of his career, early in the second half to become the new record-holder with 1,956 points. He would end the game with 25 points, making 8-of-14 field goals, including 6-of-10 three's, plus 3-of-4 free throws.
  • Keshawn Liggins, along with Mason one of four seniors recognized in pre-game ceremonies on Senior Day, recorded his seventh 30-point game of the season and 15th double-double. The 6'5" senior totaled 30 points (10-of-19 FGs, 2-of-5 3's, 8-of-8 FTs) along with 10 rebounds.
  • Collier was near unstoppable for the Lakers, as the senior guard dropped in 39 points, making 11-of-18 field goals, including 3-of-7 3-pointers, and 14-of-14 free throws. He scored 30 of his points in the second half.
  • Patrick Smith added 19 points for the Lakers, while Malcolm Walters contributed 16 markers.
  • Mercyhurst came out red hot in the game, just as they did in the first half of the first meeting in Erie. Only this time, the Lakers did not cool off in the second half, ending the game at 55.4 percent (31-of-56) while scoring a season-high 92 points. They made 12-of-22 3-pointers and went 18-of-22 at the line. Edinboro enjoyed a hot second half while ending the day at 44.3 percent (27-of-61). The Fighting Scots made 11-of-27 3-pointers and were 19-of-20 at the line.
Head Coach Pat Cleary (Edinboro '99) -- 70-81, 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 comes into the Mercyhurst game with a 5-12 overall record and is 2-10 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 now played 13 games without Anthony Coleman, and the last seven without double-figure scorer DeAnthony Owens (13.1 ppg.). Starting forward Daylon Harris missed some time due to a death in the family, as well, while Steven Freeman had stepped in at guard and started three games before going down with an injury in practice. He missed two contests and has returned to see limited action the last two games.  
  • 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 his return is not known.
  • Saturday's game with Slippery Rock featured a heavyweight battle in the pivot between newly-appointed starter Trey Staunch (6'4", 280 lbs.) and Micah Till (6'7", 260 lbs.), one of the marquee performers in the PSAC and Division II. Staunch more than held his own with his second double-double of the season, scoring 20 points and pulling down a career-high 12 rebounds. Till, who came in as the PSAC's leading rebounder and second-leading scorer, finished with 25 points and seven rebounds. Better known as an offensive lineman on the football team, Staunch is averaging 14.3 ppg. and a team-high 6.4 rpg. He made his second career start against Slippery Rock and has now scored in double figures in 14 of 16 games. He is shooting 52.7 percent from the floor, good for eighth in the PSAC.  
  • Jaryn Simpson fell one point shy of his ninth game with 20-or-more points and one rebound shy of his fourth double-double against Slippery Rock. The sophomore guard totaled 19 points and nine rebounds, adding four assists. Simpson enters the Mercyhurst game ranked seventh in the PSAC in scoring (18.5 ppg.), second in free throw percentage (89.2 pct.), fifth in assists per game (4.6), and sixth in 3-pointers made per game. He has become Edinboro's ironman, playing all 40 minutes the last three games. As a freshman, Simpson averaged 3.4 ppg. He has had a pair of 30-point games this season, with a career-high 34 points vs. Bloomsburg and 33 vs. Pitt-Johnstown, and has scored in double digits in 15 of 17 games. He leads the team with 79 assists, has made a team-high 50 3-pointers in 142 attempts, and is even averaging 5.6 rpg., second on the team. 
  • After missing time due to a death in the family, Daylon Harris has turned in two of his top efforts of the season. He contributed 18 points and six rebounds at Clarion, and had 10 points and a season-high eight rebounds vs. Slippery Rock. The 6'5" junior by way of Western Nebraska CC is averaging 7.9 ppg. while starting 14 games at forward.
  • Freshman Turner Kurt has played a key role throught the year, starting seven contests. The 6'8" forward is averaging 8.0 ppg. and 4.6 rpg. while making 23-of-65 3-pointers. He hit one of the biggest shots of the season last Wednesday, a 3-pointer with less than two minutes to play after Clarion had closed to within two points.
  • Fellow freshman Kameron King has stepped up of late. The 6'4" swingman matched his season high with 21 minutes against Slippery Rock, scoring a season-high eight points while making 3-of-7 field goals and 2-of-2 free throws.
 
Scouting the Lakers
  • Mercyhurst was picked to finish fourth in the PSAC West, and comes in as one of the hottest teams in the conference. The Lakers are riding a five-game winning streak to improve to 13-4 overall and 8-4 in the PSAC. Win number five was an easy 90-55 decision at California(Pa.) on Saturday.       
  • Head coach Gary Manchel is the winningest coach in Mercyhurst history with a 263-177 record, and is in his 16th season at the helm of the Lakers. Add in nine years as the head coach at UMass Lowell and Manchel owns a career ledger of 394-302. His Mercyhurst teams have made the league tournament in 14 out of his 15 years (GLIAC and PSAC combined). He was named the PSAC West Coach of the Year in 2011 and 2016.
  • Manchel's 2018-19 edition is similar to most of his teams – deep and with a penchant for defense. The Lakers come into McComb Fieldhouse riding a five-game winning streak for a 13-4 record. The Lakers are 8-4 in league play, standing third in the PSAC West. Mercyhurst ranks first in the PSAC and second in Division II in scoring defense at 60.1 ppg. They have held eight opponents to less than 60 points, including four of the last five games. Mercyhurst ranks fourth in the PSAC in field goal percentage defense (60.1 pct.).
  • Nine Lakers are averaging 11-or-more minutes, although Manchel has started the same five players for all 17 games.  Jason Massey leads the way at 17.2 ppg., along with 6.5 rpg. The 6'4" guard was near-perfect in the win at California(Pa.). He made 12-of-13 shots to finish with 24 points. A graduate student, Massey previously played at Brown University.
  • Nelson Maxwell, a former transfer from Cleveland State, adds 11.4 ppg. The 6'0" senior is shooting an incredible 54.4 percent on 3-pointers (31-of-57). That is slightly better than teammate Trystan Pratapas, a transfer from Keiser CC who leads the PSAC at 53.6 percent (37-of-69). Maxwell falls just below the qualifying figure. As a team, Mercyhurst leads the PSAC in 3-point field goal percentage (40.1 pct.).
  • MiyKah McIntosh, a 5'11" guard, is third on the team in scoring at 9.4 ppg. while starting all 17 games as a freshman. He has made 30-of-91 3-pointers.      
  • Patrick Smith, a 6'5", 240 lb. senior, is the team's top rebounder at 8.1 rpg., while adding 7.7 ppg. Smith and Edvaldo Ferreira, a 6'5" senior, are a potent pair in the middle, combining for 37 blocked shots.
 
Next for the Fighting Scots
  • Edinboro has a week off before returning to action next Wednesday, February 6. The Fighting Scots will host Pitt-Johnstown to wrap up a three-game homestand and begin the second half of PSAC West play. The contest tips off at 7:30 p.m.  
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Players Mentioned

Jaymon Mason

#5 Jaymon Mason

G
6' 3"
Redshirt Senior
Keshawn Liggins

#3 Keshawn Liggins

G/F
6' 5"
Senior
Anthony Coleman

#4 Anthony Coleman

G
6' 3"
Senior
Jaryn Simpson

#11 Jaryn Simpson

G
6' 2"
Sophomore
Trey Staunch

#45 Trey Staunch

F
6' 4"
Senior
Daylon Harris

#3 Daylon Harris

F
6' 5"
Junior
Kameron King

#13 Kameron King

G
6' 4"
Freshman
Turner Kurt

#33 Turner Kurt

F
6' 8"
Freshman
DeAnthony Owens

#24 DeAnthony Owens

G
6' 4"
Junior
Steven Freeman

#22 Steven Freeman

G
5' 11"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Jaymon Mason

#5 Jaymon Mason

6' 3"
Redshirt Senior
G
Keshawn Liggins

#3 Keshawn Liggins

6' 5"
Senior
G/F
Anthony Coleman

#4 Anthony Coleman

6' 3"
Senior
G
Jaryn Simpson

#11 Jaryn Simpson

6' 2"
Sophomore
G
Trey Staunch

#45 Trey Staunch

6' 4"
Senior
F
Daylon Harris

#3 Daylon Harris

6' 5"
Junior
F
Kameron King

#13 Kameron King

6' 4"
Freshman
G
Turner Kurt

#33 Turner Kurt

6' 8"
Freshman
F
DeAnthony Owens

#24 DeAnthony Owens

6' 4"
Junior
G
Steven Freeman

#22 Steven Freeman

5' 11"
Junior
G