Skip To Main Content

Edinboro University Athletics

Scoreboard

Scoreboard

Trey Staunch vs. Gannon
Matt Durisko

Men's Basketball Bob Shreve, Sports Information Director

Fighting Scots Return Home to Host Clarion on Make-A-Wish Awareness Day

CLARION Golden Eagles (5-18, 3-15 PSAC West) at EDINBORO Fighting Scots (8-15, 5-12 PSAC West)     
Saturday, February 23, 2019, 3:00 PM | McComb Fieldhouse | Edinboro, Pa.
LINKS: LIVE STATS | AUDIO-WFSE 88.9 l WATCH


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

The Game Story
  • Despite suffering an 81-79 loss at Slippery Rock on Wednesday, Edinboro is playing its best basketball of the season over the last five games, winning three of those contests while losing by five to Seton Hill and by two at Slippery Rock. That leaves the Fighting Scots with an 8-15 overall record, and 5-13 in the PSAC West. Clarion, meanwhile, had to wait a day to play at Indiana(Pa.) due to Wednesday's weather. The Golden Eagles suffered their third straight loss on Thursday, dropping an 82-61 decision to the second-ranked Crimson Hawks. Clarion has now lost 11 of its last 12 games, but that one win was a 71-66 victory over Pitt-Johnstown.
  • Indiana(Pa.) (16-2), Slippery Rock (16-3), and Mercyhurst (13-5) have locked down three of the Western Division's six playoff berths. That leaves Pitt-Johnstown (9-9), Gannon (7-11), Seton Hill (6-12), California(Pa.) (5-13), Edinboro (5-13), and Clarion (3-14) battling for three remaining spots. Edinboro has three games remaining, with two of those against the West's Big Three – IUP (Feb. 27) and Mercyhurst (March 2) – plus the home contest on Saturday with Clarion.
  • Saturday's game is Make-A-Wish Awareness Day at Edinboro. Edinboro ranked fourth in NCAA Division II in donations for Make-A-Wish in 2017-18, and earned the right to host a Make-A-Wish reveal for the sixth straight year. Saturday's wish reveal will have a Hawaiian theme to it.
  • The Fighting Scots come into the game ranked 10th in the PSAC in scoring at 73.5 ppg., along with 16th in scoring defense (82.4 ppg.). Clarion is 16th in scoring at 66.1 ppg., and stands 12th in scoring defense at 78.8 ppg.  Edinboro continues to rely a great deal on the 3-pointer, ranking fifth in 3-pointers made per game (9.0).
  • 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 2018-19 Fighting Scots lost their top returning player, All-PSAC selection Anthony Coleman, after four games, and were also without DeAnthony Owens for an extended period.        
On the Radio/Video
  • The Edinboro-Clarion game can be heard on WFSE-FM 88.9, with Madi Gross and Chase Rowland providing the commentary. The contest will also be streamed as part of the PSAC Sports Network.
All-Time Series vs. Clarion
  • Edinboro leads 105-72: Edinboro has won more games against Clarion than against any other opponent in program history.
  • First Meeting: 1928-29 – Edinboro 58, Clarion 27
  • Last Meeting: 2018-19 – Edinboro 82, Clarion 77
  • Current Streak: Edinboro has won the last five meetings.
  • Cleary vs. Clarion: 10-2 
Last Meeting
January 23, 2019 – Edinboro 82, Clarion 77 at Clarion, Pa. BOX | RECAP
  • Edinboro grabbed the lead for good with just over 15 minutes left in the first half on a Trey Staunchlayup for an 8-7 lead. The lead was still just four points at 28-24 with 6:02 left in the half, but Edinboro ran off the next six points, including a 3-pointer by Daylon Harris, to boost the advantage to double digits at 34-24.
  • That was part of a 14-3 run over the next five minutes as Edinboro reached its biggest lead of the night at 42-27 with 52 seconds left on a jumper by Alex Jay. The Fighting Scots would a 42-29 lead at the half while shooting 50.0 percent from the floor (16-of-32). Harris led the way with 13 points and five rebounds, while Jaryn Simpson and Staunch added nine points apiece.
  • A pair of Turner Kurt free throws early in the second half built the lead back to 15 at 44-29, but Clarion would start chipping away at the lead.
  • Staunch's layup at the 13:55 mark gave the Scots a 50-40 lead. A 6-1 run by Clarion pulled the Golden Eagles to 51-46 just over a minute later.  
  • With the Edinboro lead at eight points at 56-48 following a Simpson three, Clarion pulled to within a point at 56-55 with 8:21 to play thanks to a 7-0 run, the first points by Khari Williams.
  • Simpson buried a three 20 seconds later, and the Scots eventually built the lead back up to eight points at 70-62 on Steven Freeman's basket with 4:00 to play.
  • Clarion had one last run left, using a pair of free throws by Elijah Cottrill with 1:49 to play to make the score 71-69. Kurt gave the Fighting Scots some breathing room as the freshman forward knocked down a three. After a Clarion miss, Simpson converted a pair of free throws to boost the lead to 76-69 with 1:14 to play. Edinboro would make 8-of-10 free throws, beginning with Simpson's pair, to close out the win. 
Head Coach Pat Cleary (Edinboro '99) -- 73-84, 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 Clarion with an 8-15 overall record and 5-13 mark in PSAC action. The Fighting Scots are playing their best basketball of the season, winning three of their last five contests, with the two losses by five points to Seton Hill and two points at Slippery Rock on Wednesday. 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 would lead by as many as nine points in the second half at 70-61 with six minutes remaining against a Slippery Rock team that has clinched a playoff berth and stands second in the PSAC West. The Rock would use a 10-0 run to climb back into the game, but would not take the lead for good until just over a minute remained at 75-73.   
  • DeAnthony Owens has played a major role in the five-game stretch after sitting out eight straight games. He saw just three minutes of action in one contest due to an injury, but has averaged 15.5 ppg. in the other four. The junior guard comes off a 23-point effort at Slippery Rock that included four big dunks. In 15 games, the 6'4" transfer from New Mexico JC is averaging 12.3 ppg. and has made 25-of-76 3-pointers.
  • Alex Jay registered the top game of his career at Slippery Rock, setting career highs for points (15) and rebounds (12). The sophomore forward made 5-of-7 field goals, including 3-of-4 3-pointers. He had combined for 12 points and 12 rebounds in the previous three games. The double-double was the first of his career. Jay stepped in as a starter when Anthony Coleman went down for the year with an injury, and is averaging 6.0 ppg. and 5.4 rpg.
  • Jaryn Simpson continues to enjoy a breakout season as a sophomore, although he was less than 100 percent at Slippery Rock. The 6'2" guard averaged 3.4 ppg. as a freshman, but has boosted that total to 17.8 ppg., which ranks eighth in the PSAC. Against Pitt-Johnstown recently, 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, adding a career-high 14 rebounds and matching his career-best with 11 assists. Simpson has scored in double figures in 20 of 23 games, with 10 games of 20-or-more points. That includes a career-high 34 points vs. Bloomsburg and 33 in the first meeting with Pitt-Johnstown. Simpson leads the PSAC in free throw percentage (89.5 pct.), is tied for second in 3-point field goals made per game (3.0), seventh in assists (4.4 per game), and 10th in 3-point field goal percentage (37.0 pct.). He has also become Edinboro's latest ironman, ranking fifth in the PSAC in minutes (36.9 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. He would play all 45 minutes at Gannon.
  • Trey Staunch provides the inside muscle, averaging 13.9 ppg. and a team-high 7.2 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 ninth in the PSAC in field goal percentage at 51.6 percent. He has scored in double figures in 19 of 22 games and had his fifth double-double, and third in the last four games, at Slippery Rock with 11 points and 10 rebounds, adding six assists.
  • Turner Kurt has started the last 13 contests at forward. The 6'8" freshman is averaging 9.0 ppg. and 4.6 rpg., has made 36-of-93 3-pointers. He also has a team-high 17 blocked shots. Kurt registered his first career double-double against Seton Hill recently with 10 points and a season-high 12 rebounds.
  • Daylon Harris has boosted his average to 8.5 ppg., scoring in double figures in four of the last eight games. He has made 22-of-60 3-pointers. Harris is a 6'5" junior forward who joined the Fighting Scots after previously playing at Western Nebraska CC.
Scouting the Golden Eagles
  • Marcess Williams is in his fifth season as the head coach at Clarion, and has a 39-97 record. In his second season in 2015-16, he led Clarion to the PSAC Tournament for the first time since 2009-10 and posted a PSAC first round win over Edinboro. Williams previously served nine years as the head coach at Penn State-Beaver. The Lions won three straight PSUAC Championships (2009-11) and six straight PSAC West titles (2009-14) under Williams.
  • Clarion is looking to snap a three-game losing streak after suffering a 82-61 loss to second-ranked Indiana(Pa.) on Thursday. The Golden Eagles have lost 11 of their last 12 games, but that one win was a 71-66 victory over Pitt-Johnstown.
  • Three players are scoring in double figures, led by Elijah Cottrill. A 6'2" junior who previously played at Polk State CC, he is averaging 12.9 ppg. and has made 24-of-69 3-pointers. He has a team-high 39 steals. Cottrill had 20 points and seven rebounds in the first meeting.
  • Khari Williams, one of two returning starters from last year, is second on the team in scoring at 12.8 ppg. A 6'4" sophomore guard, Williams is also second on the team in rebounding (5.6 rpg.) and has a team-high 38 3-pointers in 100 attempts.
  • Stevan Rodriguez, a 6'5" junior guard, comes in at 11.3 ppg., and is also the team's top rebounder at 7.7 per game. He had 14 points and 10 rebounds in the first meeting. 
Next for the Fighting Scots
  • Edinboro plays its final home game of the season on Wednesday, February 27, hosting Indiana(Pa.). The Crimson Hawks are ranked second in the latest NABC Division II Top 25, and lead the PSAC West. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. Edinboro will hold Senior Night festivities before the game.
.      
 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Anthony Coleman

#4 Anthony Coleman

G
6' 3"
Senior
Alex Jay

#15 Alex Jay

G
6' 3"
Sophomore
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
DeAnthony Owens

#24 DeAnthony Owens

G
6' 4"
Junior
Steven Freeman

#22 Steven Freeman

G
5' 11"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Anthony Coleman

#4 Anthony Coleman

6' 3"
Senior
G
Alex Jay

#15 Alex Jay

6' 3"
Sophomore
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
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