Mercyhurst Captures First PSAC Men's Basketball Championship
Mercyhurst Full Story
West Chester Full Story
Box Score
West Chester, Pa. - Mercyhurst captured their first PSAC Men's Basketball Championship by defeating West Chester by a score of 70-67.
With the victory, Mercyhurst earns an automatic bid into the 2016 NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Championship tournament.
Mercyhurst's
Kayode Ajenifuja was named the tournament's MVP, scoring a combined 31 points over the tournament weekend. In today's game he totaled 14 points, shooting 5-of-8 from the floor with six rebounds.
The Lakers fell behind early, going down by as many as 11 points in the first half. A 13-8 run by Mercyhurst brought them within seven points at the half.
At the start of the second half, Mercyhurst continued to chip away at the Rams lead. A three by
Jean Onana
Tournament MVP: Kayode Ajenifuja
at the 10:53 mark tied the game at 50.
Damon Jones would then tip in a shot to give the Lakers their first lead of the game since the 16:28 mark in the first half.
Over the next six minutes, there were two lead changes and a tie. Another three from Onana would put the Lakers up for good.
West Chester was led by PSAC East Freshman of the Year
Malik Jackson, who had a game-high 27 points and five rebounds.
The final brackets for next weekend's NCAA Tournament will be released tonight at 10:30 p.m. on the selection show. You can watch the selection show
here.
PSAC Semifinals
West Chester Defeats IUP, 90-89 OT
Box Score
West Chester Full Story
West Chester, Pa. -
Matt Penecale of West Chester hit a buzzer beater in overtime to advance the Golden Rams to tomorrow's PSAC Championship Game.
This will be West Chester's third trip to the championship game in the past five years. Two previous runs ended with the Golden Ram's losing to East Stroudsburg.
Penecale led the Rams with 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting, while handing out four assists.
Avery Brown, who was named to the PSAC East Second Team had 15 points, while making 8 of 12 free throws.
The Golden Rams will face Mercyhurst tomorrow afternoon for the PSAC Championship, tipoff set for 3:00 p.m.
Mercyhurst Defeats Shippensburg, 79-68
Box Score
Mercyhurst Full Story
West Chester, Pa. – The Mercyhurst Lakers defeated Shippensburg 79-68 on Saturday afternoon in the first of two PSAC Semifinal games held at Hollinger Field House.
The Lakers were led by
Gerrae Williams, who led the team in scoring with 20 points, including shooting 4-of-7 from three-point range. Williams added seven rebounds, and three assists.
Kayode Ajenifuja added 17 points, while also grabbing seven rebounds and three assists.
Mercyhurst will be making their first appearance in the PSAC Championship Game Sunday afternoon.
PSAC Men's Basketball Final Four Preview
West Chester, Pa. – When the final buzzer went off on Tuesday’s quarterfinal matchups, only four teams remained, looking for the coveted PSAC crown. West Chester University will serve as the Final Four host.
The first semifinal game at Hollinger Field House showcases Shippensburg will face Mercyhurst, with tip off set for 1:00 pm. IUP and West Chester will face off in the second semifinal with tip set for 3:30 pm.
The championship game is set for Sunday afternoon at 3:00 PM.
Fans will be able to view both semifinal games and the championship game free of charge online. To view the games click
here.
Please see below for more information about each team competing for the league title this weekend.
2015-16 Team Rankings
(PSAC rank) average
|
IUP |
Mercyhurst |
Shippensburg |
West Chester |
| Scoring Offense |
(7th) 77.3 |
(12th) 71.5 |
(5th) 78.0 |
(3rd) 81.7 |
| Scoring Defense |
(3rd) 69.1) |
(1st) 58.9 |
(10th) 73.4 |
(5th) 72.2 |
| Scoring Margin |
(5th) 8.2 |
(2nd) 12.6 |
(7th) 4.6 |
(4th) 9.5 |
| Field Goal % |
(3rd) 48.3% |
(5th) 47.7% |
(7th) 44.6% |
(9th) 44.2% |
| 3-Point % |
(6th) 36.7% |
(3rd) 37.4% |
(11th) 33.8% |
(4th) 37.2% |
| Free Throw % |
(3rd) 73.7% |
(10th) 69.4% |
(8th) 70.3% |
(17th) 67.1% |
| Field Goal % Defense |
(8th) 70.4% |
(3rd) 70.8% |
(18th) 66.0% |
(4th) 70.7% |
| 3-Point % Defense |
(13th) 35.7% |
(4th) 31.3% |
(7th) 34.6% |
(3rd) 30.3% |
| Rebounding Margin |
(5th) 4.1 |
(8th) 2.6 |
(4th) 4.4 |
(1st) 9.2 |
| Blocked Shots |
(15th) 1.86 |
(17th) 1.44 |
(10th) 2.64 |
(9th) 2.81 |
| Steals |
(9th) 7.25 |
(5th) 7.93 |
(17th) 5.57 |
(2nd) 8.93 |
| Turnover Margin |
(3rd) +2.11 |
(1st) +3.89 |
(13th) -1.29 |
(10th) -0.22 |
| Turnovers Forced |
(3rd) 15.1 |
(1st) 16.8 |
(13th) 12.2 |
(10th) 16.1 |
| Assist-Turnover Ratio |
(4th) 1.15 |
(5th) 1.11 |
(6th) 1.07 |
(13th) 0.82 |
| Assists |
(4th) 14.93 |
(8th) 14.33 |
(7th) 14.43 |
(11th) 13.37 |
IUP (21-7, 17-5 PSAC)
PSAC Tournament Titles: 2013, 2011, 2010, 2004, 2002, 2000, 1995, 1974, 1960
• This is the ninth straight PSAC Tournament appearance for Coach Lombardi and the Crimson Hawks. After Tuesday’s victory, IUP is now 14-5 in that time and won PSAC Championships in 2010, 2011, and 2013.
• IUP had a winning streak of 13 games this year, the longest streak since the Crimson Hawks won 14 straight to start the 2013-14 season.
• Senior guard Brandon Norfleet has been named the 2015-16 PSAC West Athlete of the Year. He is the second straight Crimson Hawk to win the award, following 2014-15 winner Devante Chance.
2015-16 Versus West Chester: West Chester defeated IUP, 86-76 * 11/22/15
Over the last five seasons, IUP has a 5-1 record versus West Chester, defeating the Golden Rams three times durning the regular season, once in the PSAC Tournament, and once in the NCAA Atlantic Regional.
2015-16 Statistical Leaders
Points/Game
Norfleet........................22.5
Ugbede.........................12.1
Glover............................10.1
3-Pt FG
Glover................................53
Norfleet............................50
FT Pct (2.5m pg)
Norfleet.........................789
Rebounds/Game
Diaz...................................6.5
Cottrell.............................6.2
Assists
Norfleet.........................127
Lombardi.........................59
Steals
Spain.................................53
Mercyhurst (19-8, 15-7 PSAC)
Game Notes
• The Lakers boast the best defensive team in the country. Entering the PSAC Tournament, they were holding opponents to just 58.6 points per game.
• Mercyhurst had a pair of players recognized as all-conference selections, as Damon Jones and Kayode Ajenifuja were both named Second Team All-PSAC West.
• This is the seventh straight PSAC Tournament appearance for the Lakers.
• Last year, Mercyhurst made its first ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament
2015-16 Versus Shippensburg: Shippensburg defeated Mercyhurst 74-68 * 11/21/15
Mercyhurst is 2-2 against Shippensburg over the past five seasons
2015-16 Statistical Leaders
Points/Game
Jones.............................14.7
Ajenifuja.......................13.2
Beins..............................10.7
3-Pt FG
Williams............................46
Onana...............................38
FT Pct (2.5m pg)
Jones..............................740
Ajenifuja........................734
Rebounds/Game
Ajenifuja..........................5.6
Hoying.............................4.5
Assists
Hale.................................109
Steals
Hale....................................51
Shippensburg (20-8, 15-7 PSAC)
Game Notes
PSAC Tournament Titles: 1991
• Shippensburg’s Abe Massaley has had a tournament to remember, sinking back-to-back game-winners with the game tied to advance the Raider to the semifinals of the PSAC Championship. Massaley is also a Second Team All-PSAC East selection.
• SU is the only team seeded lower than second to make it to championship weekend for either the women or the men.
• The 20 wins from the Raiders this year is the most since 2005-06, which was the last time that they made the PSAC Championship Game.
2015-16 Versus Mercyhurst: Shippensburg defeated Mercyhurst 74-68 * 11/21/15
Shippensburg is 2-2 versus Mercyhurst over the past five seasons
2015-16 Statistical Leaders
Points/Game
Sleva..............................15.5
Massaley......................13.9
Kellem...........................11.3
3-Pt FG
Sleva..................................45
McCarthur.......................42
FT Pct (2.5m pg)
Sleva...............................773
Kellem............................743
Rebounds/Game
Sleva..............................11.1
Ellis....................................6.0
Assists
Massaley.......................131
Steals
Massaley..........................35
West Chester (22-5, 17-5 PSAC)
PSAC Tournament Titles:1959
• This will be the fourth time in five years that West Chester will play in the PSAC Semifinals. WCU has not won a title in that time, advancing to the championship game twice and falling to East Stroudsburg both times. The Golden Rams defeated ESU in Tuesday’s PSAC Quarterfinal.
• WCU features the PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Year in Matt Wiseley and the PSAC East Freshman of the Year in Malik Jackson. Wiseley was first team selection, while Jackson, along with teammate Avery Brown, was honored on the second team.
2015-16 Versus IUP: West Chester defeated IUP, 86-76 * 11/22/15
Over the past five seasons West Chester has a 1-5 record against IUP, with their only win coming in the PSAC Tournament during the 2011-12 season.
2015-16 Statistical Leaders
Points/Game
Jackson.........................15.6
Wiseley.........................12.1
Brown............................10.8
3-Pt FG
Jackson.............................71
Wilson...............................55
FT Pct (2.5m pg)
Penecale........................845
Rebounds/Game
Wiseley.........................11.3
Assists
Penecale........................132
Steals
Wiseley.............................44
PSAC QUARTERFINALS
WEST CHESTER DEFEATS EAST STROUDSBURG, 81-73
Box Score
After facing a nine-point deficit at the half, West Chester outscored the visiting Warriors by 17 in the second half and pulled away from an 81-73 win to advance to the PSAC Semifinals.
Due to the loss of top-seeded Kutztown, West Chester will now host the 2016 PSAC Men's Basketball Championship.
MERCYHURST DEFEATS CLARION, 84-68
Box Score
Full Mercyhurst Story
Erie, Pa. – The Mercyhurst University men's basketball team defeated Clarion, 84-68, Tuesday night at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center and advances to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Semifinals for the third time since joining the conference. The Lakers will face-off against PSAC Eastern Division foe Shippensburg at West Chester on Saturday, March 5. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
IUP DEFEATS PITT-JOHNSTOWN, 77-66
Box Score
Full IUP Story
Indiana, Pa. – Four players scored in double-figures for the Crimson Hawks, who limited Pitt-Johnstown to 12 points below their scoring average as IUP defeated the Mountain Cats 77-66 in the quarterfinals of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Men's Basketball Championships on Tuesday night the Kovalchick Complex.
IUP improved to 21-7 on the year and advances to the semifinals and a matchup against West Chester on Saturday afternoon.
West Chester is the second seed in the PSAC East and will host the conference final four (semifinals and championship game) by virtue of being the top remaining seed left in the division. The Crimson Hawks are the winners of the PSAC West.
SHIPPENSBURG DEFEATS KUTZTOWN, 74-72
Box Score
Full Shippensburg Story
Kutztown, Pa.
– The Shippensburg University men's basketball team won on a late game-winning bucket by junior Abe Massaley for a second straight game as it topped Kutztown, 74-72, in a PSAC Quarterfinal matchup at Keystone Arena in Kutztown.
Shippensburg (20-8) led by seven with 1:24 to go, but a 7-0 run by Kutztown tied the game with 29 seconds remaining. The Raiders wound down the game clock almost entirely before Massaley pulled up for a stepback jumper from the top of the key that went down with 1.5 seconds remaining. Kutztown's halfcourt heave grazed the right side of the rim and bounced away.
For the first time since the 2005-2006 season, the Raiders are headed to the PSAC semifinals.
PSAC OPENING ROUND
CLARION DEFEATS EDINBORO, 83-69
Box Score
Clarion Story
Edinboro Story
Edinboro, Pa. - Despite coming in as the sixth seed, the Clarion Golden Eagles upset the Edinboro Fighting Scots on Saturday afternoon, 83-69.
Andre’ Anthony tied for a game-high 24 points to lead Clarion. Rob Agurs was right behind, scoring 23 points for the Golden Eagles. Agurs also had 11 rebounds.
At halftime, Edinboro led Clarion, 40-32. The Golden Eagles were nothing short of dominant in the second half, outscoring the home team 51-29.
Clarion shot 49.1% from the floor in the contest, while Edinboro was only able to shoot 32.8%.
Clarion advances to the PSAC Quarterfinals and will face the number two seed, Mercyhurst.
Mercyhurst and Clarion split the regular season series.
SHIPPENSBURG DEFEATS BLOOMSBURG, 80-78
Box Score
Shippensburg Story
Bloomsburg Story
Shippensburg, Pa. - It came down to the very end, but Shippensburg was able to defeat Bloomsburg, 80-78, and advance to the PSAC Quarterfinals.
The Raiders never trailed in the game, but Bloomsburg tied it up with just eight seconds to play, after trailing by 10 points with less than three minutes to go, seemingly completing the impressive comeback.
However, Shippensburg’s Abe Massaley drove the length of the court and got a layup with less than a second showing on the clock.
Massaley also had a career-high 11 assists in the game.
The Raiders advance to play the top-seeded Kutztown Golden Bears. KU and Shippensburg split the regular season series.
EAST STROUDSBURG DEFEATS LOCK HAVEN, 82-59
Box Score
East Stroudsburg Story
Lock Haven Story
East Stroudsburg, Pa. - East Stroudsburg had four players score in double figures in Saturday’s convincing PSAC Tournament victory over Lock Haven, winning 82-59.
Rasheed Moore led all scorers with 19 points on 9-for-14 shooting. Will Brown, Jamal Nwaniemeka, and Quindell Brice each scored 11 points.
The Warriors held LHU to 32.3% shooting and 23.8% shooting from beyond the arc.
ESU advances to the PSAC Quarterfinals to play West Chester.
Although WCU comes in as the higher seed, East Stroudsburg has had the Golden Rams’ number, winning both games this season.
PITT-JOHNSTOWN DEFEATS SETON HILL, 81-72
Box Score
Pitt-Johnstown Story
Seton Hill Story
Johnstown, Pa. - The PSAC Opening Round matchup between Seton Hill and Pitt-Johnstown was tied 57-57 with 8:56 to play. After that point, UPJ went on a 24-15 run to close out the game and win 81-72.
The Mountain Cats got a strong performance from their starting five, as all but six UPJ points came from the starters.
Isaac Vescovi led UPJ with a game-high 21 points. Nate Snodgrass and Dale Clancy each had 15 points to go along with eight assists.
In defeat, Seton Hill’s Kameron Taylor was one assist shy of a triple-double, finishing with 16 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists. Taylor also had four blocks and just two turnovers.
Pitt-Johnstown will play IUP in the PSAC Quarterfinals on Tuesday. The Crimson Hawks were victorious in both matchups this year.
CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW
Lock Haven, Pa. - The 2016 PSAC Men’s Basketball Championship will begin this weekend on Saturday, February 27. The top seeds in the tournament belong to IUP and Kutztown.
IUP was last year’s national runner-up, and the Crimson Hawks enter this year’s tournament looking to avenge a PSAC Championship Game loss in 2015. Brandon Norfleet leads the PSAC in points per game this year, averaging 22.5 points in each contest.
KU won the PSAC East just three years after finishing in last place in the division. The Golden Bears were eliminated in the first round last season, but will earn a bye and a home game with this year’s divisional crown. Kutztown has the second-best scoring offense to complement its defense that allows opponents to shoot just 40.6% from the floor this year, second in the league.
West Chester finished in second place in the PSAC East for the fourth straight season. WCU features a scoring offense and defense that each rank in the top five of the conference. Freshman Malik Jackson leads the team in scoring, while senior Matt Wiseley averages a double-double (12.2 points and 11.1 rebounds) per game.
In the West, Mercyhurst earned the number two seed and will forgo the opening round and advance to the quarterfinals on Tuesday. The Lakers boast the league’s best scoring defense, allowing just 58.6 points per game.
After winning the PSAC East the past three years, ESU comes in third this season and will host Lock Haven on Saturday. The Warriors average a league-high 88.8 points per game and scored more than 100 points in both of their wins over LHU this season.
Shippensburg and Bloomsburg will have a rematch on Saturday after meeting in the final game of the regular season on Wednesday. In that game, the Raiders earned the victory and the right to host the Huskies in the postseason. Shippensburg’s Dustin Sleva is 10th in the league in scoring (15.6 points per game) and the conference’s leading rebounder (11.1 rebounds per game). Bloomsburg’s Christian Mortellite is fifth in the league in scoring, averaging 19.2 points per game.
After defeating top-seeded IUP on Wednesday night, the Seton Hill Griffins earned a spot in the tournament as the fifth seed. SHU will travel to Johnstown to square off with UPJ. Seton Hill’s Kameron Taylor averages 21.0 points per game to lead the team, while Pitt-Johnstown’s A.J. Leahey is top 10 in the conference in both scoring (17.6 points per game) and rebounds (8.0 rebounds per game).
The final matchup in the opening round of the tournament pits Edinboro against Clarion. Clarion enters as the sixth seed, earning a spot on the final day of the regular season after a Slippery Rock loss. Edinboro is led by the high-scoring duo of Jaymon Mason and Henri Wade-Chatman, each of whom rank in the top five in the conference in points per game. Rob Agurs and Andre Anthony each average at least 14 points per game for the Golden Eagles.