Skip To Main Content

Edinboro University Athletics

Scoreboard

Scoreboard

Daylon Harris vs. Penn St Shenango
Matt Durisko

Men's Basketball Bob Shreve, Sports Information Director

Fighting Scots Look for Season Split at Gannon

EDINBORO Fighting Scots (7-14, 4-12 PSAC West) at GANNON Golden Knights (9-15, 7-10 PSAC West)    
Saturday, February 16, 2019, 3:00 PM | Hammermill Center | Erie, Pa.
LINKS: LIVE STATS | AUDIO-WFSE 88.9 l WATCH


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

The Game Story
  • Edinboro saw its two-game winning streak come to an end on Wednesday with an 87-82 loss to Seton Hill. The loss left the Fighting Scots at 7-14 overall and 4-12 in the PSAC West. The Fighting Scots are in the midst of a stretch of three road contests in four games, wrapped up by a game at Slippery Rock on Wednesday, February 20. Gannon was able to pick up an important road win on Wednesday, as the Golden Knights used a pair of free throws in the final seconds for a 70-69 overtime win at California(Pa.). That snapped a three-game losing streak as Gannon improved to 9-15 overall and 7-10 in conference action.
  • The playoff picture is beginning to take shape in the PSAC as the regular season is winding down. Indiana(Pa.), Slippery Rock, and Mercyhurst have locked down three of the Western Division's six playoff berths. That leaves Pitt-Johnstown (8-9), Gannon (7-10), Seton Hill (6-11), California(Pa.) (5-11), Edinboro (4-12), and Clarion (3-13) battling for three remaining spots. The Fighting Scots remain in the hunt, although Wednesday's setback to Seton Hill was not good from a tiebreaker standpoint. With five games remaining, including contests with the West's Big Three – IUP, Slippery Rock, and Mercyhurst – Edinboro can ill afford a loss at Gannon. The Golden Knights, meanwhile, are also in need of wins down the stretch to reach the postseason.
  • The Fighting Scots come into the game ranked 11th in the PSAC in scoring at 73.3 ppg., along with 16th in scoring defense (83.2 ppg.). A defensive-minded Gannon squad averages 62.0 ppg., which ranks 17th in the conference, but allows just 65.5 ppg., good for second in the conference and 13th in Division II. Gannon traditionally ranks as one of the top rebounding teams, and this year is no exception. The Golden Knights are third in the PSAC in rebound margin (+4.8). This season's first meeting ended with Edinboro suffering an 87-79 loss to the Golden Knights. The 79 points is the most allowed by Gannon this year, and Gannon's 87 points is their second-highest total.      
  • A pair of Fighting Scots swept the PSAC's weekly awards earlier this week. Jaryn Simpson was selected the PSAC West Athlete of the Week after averaging 19.0 points and 8.5 rebounds in two games last week. The sophomore guard posted the first triple-double at Edinboro since the 2007-08 season against Pitt-Johnstown, finishing with 25 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists. He ranks among the PSAC leaders in a variety of categories, including eighth in scoring (18.4 ppg.) and fourth in assists (4.8 per game).
  • Turner Kurt was selected the PSAC West Freshman of the Week thanks to a pair of strong outings against UPJ and California(Pa.). The 6'8" forward scored 17 points in each game, adding 4.5 rpg. and shooting 54.2 percent from the floor.
  • 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-Gannon game can be heard on WFSE-FM 88.9, with Sydney Dundon and Chris Rosato providing the commentary. 
All-Time Series vs. Gannon
  • Gannon leads 70-38: The Golden Knights are 38-15 all-time against the Fighting Scots at the Hammermill Center, but Edinboro has been victorious five times during its last eight trips to Erie
  • First Meeting: 1948-49 – Edinboro 57, Gannon 48
  • Last Meeting: 2018-19 – Gannon 87, Edinboro 79
  • Current Streak: Gannon has won the last three meetings
  • Cleary vs. Gannon: 3-8 
Last Meeting
January 16, 2019 – Gannon 87, Edinboro 79 at Edinboro, Pa. BOX | RECAP
  • The Short Story: A young and short-handed Edinboro team led by nine points at 40-31 at the half, but Gannon came out on fire in the second half and used a 16-0 run to pull away. The Golden Knights would score 59 points in the second half while posting their highest point total since the opening game. Edinboro's 79 points were a season-high to that point against a Gannon team which was allowing 64.9 ppg. With just nine healthy players, Jaryn Simpson and Trey Staunch turned in brilliant efforts for the Fighting Scots.  Simpson finished with his third career double-double and second straight, totaling 24 points and a career-high 11 assists. Staunch added his second career double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Edinboro was unable to overcome a 42-26 rebounding deficit, and committed 14 turnovers, 11 of those in the second half. Victor Olawoye led Gannon with 23 points, with 21 of those in the second half. Daryl Porter added 17 points, with Matt Johnson contributing 15 and Joe Fustine 11 and a team-high eight rebounds.           
Head Coach Pat Cleary (Edinboro '99) -- 72-83, 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 second meeting with Gannon with a 7-14 overall record and 4-12 mark in PSAC action. The Fighting Scots come off an 87-82 loss to Seton Hill on Wednesday as a late rally came up short. They are fighting for one of three remaining playoff spots in the PSAC West. Edinboro was 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 led for much of the game against Seton hill, only to see the Griffins use a 16-5 run to take an 82-75 lead with just 37 seconds to play. A pair of Jaryn Simpson 3-pointers pulled the Fighting scots to within two points at 84-82 with 26 seconds left, but Seton Hill would go on to make 3-of-4 free throws after that. Edinboro would three 3-pointers in the final 20 seconds with a chance to tie the game.  .     
  • Edinboro would sweep this week's PSAC West weekly awards, with Jaryn Simpson being named the PSAC West Athlete of the Week and Turner Kurt selected the Freshman of the Week. 
  • Jaryn Simpson continues to enjoy a breakout season as a sophomore. The 6'2" guard averaged 3.4 ppg. as a freshman, but has boosted that total to 18.3 ppg., which ranks eighth in the PSAC. Against UPJ, he accomplished something that hasn't been done by a Fighting Scot since the 2007-08 season. Simpson recorded a triple-double, the first since Ryan McLemore had one against Slippery Rock on February 13, 2008. Simpson scored a game-high 25 points, his ninth game of 20-or-more points, while adding a career-high 14 rebounds and matching his career-best with 11 assists. Simpson has scored in double figures in 19 of 21 games, including a career-high 34 points vs. Bloomsburg and 33 in the first meeting with Pitt-Johnstown. Simpson leads the PSAC in free throw percentage (89.9 pct.), is third in 3-point field goals made per game (3.0), fifth in assists (4.7 per game), and 10th in 3-point field goal percentage (37.9 pct.). He has also become Edinboro's latest ironman, ranking fifth in the PSAC in minutes (36.7 per game). He had played all 40 minutes the previous five games before foul trouble limited him to 25 minutes at Cal and 29 vs. Seton Hill.
  • Simpson returns to the same court where his father, Bronze Simpson, enjoyed great success as a collegian. Bronze Simpson played for Gannon from 1992-96 and ranks 13th all-time in both scoring (1,417 points) and rebounds (624).
  • Turner Kurt was selected the PSAC West Freshman of the Week after scoring 17 points against both UPJ and Cal. The 6'8" freshman has played a key role throughout the year while starting the last 11 contests. He is averaging 9.0 ppg. and 4.8 rpg. after registering his first career double-double against Seton Hill with 10 points and a season-high 12 rebounds. He has made 33-of-83 3-pointers.
  • Trey Staunch provides the inside muscle, averaging 14.0 ppg. and a team-high 6.9 rpg.   A 6'4", 280 lb. senior who earned second team All-PSAC West honors as an offensive tackle, he is in his second season on the hardcourt. Staunch ranks sixth in the PSAC in field goal percentage at 53.7 percent. He has scored in double figures in 17 of 20 games and has three double-doubles.
  • Daylon Harris has boosted his average to 8.7 ppg. while averaging 12.3 ppg. over the last six games, adding 5.5 rpg. during that stretch. Harris is a 6'5" junior forward who joined the Fighting Scots after previously playing at Western Nebraska CC. He contributed 16 points against Seton Hill on Wednesday. 
Scouting the Golden Knights
  • Gannon snapped a three-game losing streak with a 70-69 overtime win at California(Pa.) on Wednesday. The Golden Knights are now 9-15 overall and 7-10 in the PSAC West, good for fifth place in the division after being picked to finish third in the preseason poll. Gannon actually has a better road on the road (5-7) than at the Hammermill Center (4-8) this year.
  • The Golden Knights picked up the win at Cal as DeAnte Cisero hit a pair of free throws with 1.6 seconds remaining after the Vulcans had taken a 69-68 lead with 10 seconds remaining.
  • John Reilly has enjoyed great success in his 14 seasons as Gannon's head coach, showing a 240-159 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 24th among active Division II coaches in victories, currently with 468.
  • Two staples of Reilly-coached teams are strong defense and rebounding. That is once again the case this year. Gannon ranks second in the PSAC and 13th in Division II in scoring defense at 65.5 ppg., and is third in the PSAC in rebound margin (+4.8). The Golden Knights have held seven opponents to 60 points-or-less.
  • Daryl Porter was the lone Golden Knight to start every game, but that streak came to an end at California(Pa.). The 6'2" senior was literally knocked out in a freak accident in last Saturday;s game vs. Indiana(Pa.) and was forced to sit out the Cal game. He is averaging a team-high 11.7 ppg.
  • Freshman guard Victor Olawoye burned the Fighting Scots for 23 points in the first meeting, making 4-of-7 3-pointers. He has boosted his average to 10.0 ppg. and is Gannon's top 3-point threat with 41 in 117 attempts.
  • A total of 13 players have started at least one game this season. It was DeAnte Cisero's turn to shine on Wednesday. In addition to making the game-winning free throws, the 6'6" junior finished with a season-high 22 points, and has scored in double figures in five of the last six games. He is averaging 7.9 ppg. and 4.9 rpg.
  • Joe Fustine, a 6'3" senior forward, recorded his first career double-double against Cal with 15 points and 11 rebounds.  
Next for the Fighting Scots
  • Edinboro will conclude a string of three road contests in four games on Wednesday, February 20, playing at Slippery Rock. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. The Rock has clinched a PSAC playoff berth and enters this weekend with a 17-7 record, including 14-3 in the PSAC West. 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

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
Turner Kurt

#33 Turner Kurt

F
6' 8"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

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
Turner Kurt

#33 Turner Kurt

6' 8"
Freshman
F