PSAC Championships page  l  Game Notes

Related:
Atlantic Region rankings (ESU #2, Gannon #5)
All-PSAC teams released

Semifinal Preview: Morning Call

Semifinal 1 - West Chester 77, Gannon 76 (OT) (recap)
Semifinal 2 - ESU 63, Mercyhurst 55 (recap, notes)

Final - ESU 92, West Chester 80 (recap, notes)


Sunday's Championship Game vs. West Chester (3:30 p.m.)
TV: Live on PCN and Blue Ridge TV-13
Live online: pcntv.com
Live stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/esu/mbball/

Ticket Information:
Sunday - $8 adults, $3 students (Free for PSAC students with ID)


EAST STROUDSBURG - East Stroudsburg University will host the PSAC men's basketball Final Four for the second time in school history when the conference's semifinal and championship games are contested at Koehler Fieldhouse on Saturday and Sunday afternoon.

The PSAC champion will be crowned on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. and broadcast live on PCN. The tournament champion will earn the PSAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Tournament.

In the semifinals, Gannon (PSAC West #1) hosts West Chester (East #2) at 1 p.m., followed by host ESU (East #1) vs. Mercyhurst (West #3) at 3:30 p.m.

ESU previously hosted the Final 4 in 2010. The Warriors are looking for their 3rd PSAC championship in school history, to go with titles in 1990 and 2012.

ESU is the third PSAC school in the last 30 years to advance to five straight Final 4's, along with California (6 straight, 1992-97) and Bloomsburg (5 straight, 1998-02)


Ticket information:

Saturday (Tournament pass - includes both semifinals and final) - $14 adults, $5 students (Free for PSAC students with ID)
Sunday - $8 adults, $3 students (Free for PSAC students with ID)

* only Tournament pass will be sold on Saturday
* only PSAC complimentary passes will be accepted


SEMIFINALS - Saturday

1 p.m. - Gannon vs. West Chester
Live Stats  l  Live Video (Blue Ridge TV-13 telecast - $6.95, includes both games)

3:30 p.m. - ESU vs. Mercyhurst
Live Stats  l  Live Video (Blue Ridge TV-13 telecast - $6.95, includes both games)


FINALS - Sunday, 3:30 p.m.
Live Stats  l  TV and online coverage provided by PCN



FRIDAY AFTERNOON

EAST STROUDSBURG – East Stroudsburg University will play for a spot in Sunday's PSAC men's basketball championship game when the Warriors host Mercyhurst in a semifinal contest on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at Koehler Fieldhouse.

ESU (26-1), ranked No. 2 in Division II, and Mercyhurst (17-11) will tip following the conclusion of Saturday's first semifinal, pitting PSAC West champion Gannon (19-8) against West Chester (19-8) at 1 p.m.

Tickets for Saturday will be sold as a PSAC Tournament Pass (good for all 3 games) and are $14 for adults and $5 for children. Sunday's stand-alone ticket is $8 for adults and $3 for children.

The Warriors won the first meeting with Mercyhurst, 60-54, on December 21 at Koehler Fieldhouse, tied for their lowest-scoring game this season. ESU leads the PSAC with 86.1 points per game, while the Lakers are third in the PSAC and fourth in Division II allowing just 60.2 points per game.

ESU went on a 13-0 run in the first six-plus minutes of the second half after trailing 28-24 at halftime. Junior guard Whis Grant, named to the All-PSAC East first team for the second straight season on Thursday, scored 19 points as ESU improved to 11-0 – part of a school-record 20-0 start that left the Warriors as the final undefeated team in Division II.

The Warriors advanced to the semifinals with a 78-58 win over Millersville on Tuesday night, led by sophomore guard Jamal Nwaniemeka (21 points), Grant (16) and junior guard Matt Tobin (11 points, 14 assists), another All-PSAC East first team selection.

ESU, under 12th-year head coach Jeff Wilson, is pursuing its third PSAC championship in school history, winning in 1990 and 2012. The Warriors are in the PSAC Final Four for the fifth straight year, one of just three schools to do that in the last 30 years.

The Warriors beat Mercyhurst, 66-58, in the 2012 PSAC semifinals at West Chester on their way to their second PSAC title. A repeat performance would put ESU into Sunday's title game at 3:30 p.m.


TEAM CAPSULES


EAST STROUDSBURG -- Schedule  l  Statistics  l  Roster
Record (Finish): 26-1, 15-1 (1st in PSAC East)
National Ranking: #2 in Division II
PSAC Tournament results: W 78-58 vs. Millersville (recap)
PSAC Championships: 2 (1990, 2012)
Final Appearances: 2 (last in 2012)
Last Final 4: 2013 (5th straight)
This year's results vs. Mercyhurst: W 60-54 - Dec. 21 at ESU

Head Coach: Jeff Wilson
Record (Years): 209-128 (12th year)
Career Record (Years): same
PSAC Championships: 1 (2012)

PSAC Ranks
Scoring: 86.1 ppg (1)
Defense: 67.8 ppg (6)
Field Goal %: 46.5 (3)
Field Goal D: 42.5 (8)
Reb Margin: +3.2 (5)
TO Margin: +7.4 (1)

Top Scoring: Jr. G Whis Grant (16.9 ppg), Fr. F Rasheed Moore (13.7 ppg), So. G Jamal Nwaniemeka (12.8 ppg)
Top Rebounds: Fr. F Rasheed Moore (6.3 rpg), Sr. F Zechariah Runkle (5.3 rpg), Jr. F Lamont Tillery (4.5 rpg)
Top Assists:  Jr. G Matt Tobin (170), Jr. G Whis Grant (74), So. G Malcolm Richardson (56)
Top Steals: Jr. G Matt Tobin (61), Jr. G Whis Grant (41), So. G Jamal Nwaniemeka (34)
Top Blocks: Fr. F Rasheed Moore (22), Sr. F Zechariah Runkle (20), So. G Jamal Nwaniemeka (14)

All-PSAC Selections: Grant, Tobin (1st team), Moore (2nd team, Freshman of the Year)

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MERCYHURST -- Schedule  l  Statistics  l  Roster
Record (Finish): 17-11, 11-5 (3rd in PSAC West)
PSAC Tournament results: W 54-50 vs. California; W 67-56 at IUP (recap)
PSAC Championships: 0
Final Appearances: 0
Last Final 4: 2012
This year's results vs. East Stroudsburg: L 54-60 - Dec. 21 at ESU

Head Coach: Gary Manchel
Record (Years): 181-126 (11th year)
Career Record (Years): 295-240 (19th year)
PSAC Championships: 0

PSAC Ranks
Scoring: 62.6 ppg (17)
Defense: 60.2 ppg (3)
Field Goal %: 44.0 (11)
Field Goal D: 42.0 (5)
Reb Margin: +3.2 (5)
TO Margin: +1.1 (5)

Top Scoring: So. G Jean Onana (10.8 ppg), Sr. G Jonathan Ouegnin (8.9 ppg), Gr. F Anthony Lytle (8.6 ppg)
Top Rebounds: Sr. G Jonathan Ouegnin (5.0 rpg), Gr. F Anthony Lytle (4.7 rpg), So. F Andy Hoying (4.1 rpg)
Top Assists:  Sr. G Jonathan Ouegnin (83), Fr. G H'ian Hale (39), So. F Andy Hoying (31)
Top Steals: Sr. G Jonathan Ouegnin (45), So. G Jean Onana (30), Fr. G H'ian Hale (27)
Top Blocks: R-Sr. C Paul Bilbo (19), Jr. G Callon Dailey (19), Sr. G Jonathan Ouegnin (18)

All-PSAC Selections: Ouegnin (2nd team)

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GANNON -- Schedule  l  Statistics  l  Roster
Record (Finish): 19-8, 13-3 (1st in PSAC West)
PSAC Tournament results: W 73-69 (2OT) vs. Slippery Rock (recap)
PSAC Championships:  1 (2009)
Final Appearances:  1 (2009)
Last Final 4: 2009
This year's results vs. West Chester: L 72-73 - Jan. 4 at West Chester

Head Coach: John T. Reilly
Record (Years): 160-94 (9th year)
Career Record (Years): 373-231 (21st year)
PSAC Championships: 1 (2009)

PSAC Ranks
Scoring: 66.5 ppg (15)
Defense: 59.8 ppg (2)
Field Goal %: 45.5 (6)
Field Goal D: 41.0 (3)
Reb Margin: +9.0 (2)
TO Margin: -0.9 (11)

Top Scoring: Jr. G Adam Blazek (16.1 ppg), Jr. G/F Raphell Thomas-Edwards (9.9 ppg), Jr. F A'Darius Porter (8.9 ppg)
Top Rebounds: Jr. F A'Darius Porter (6.7 rpg), Jr. G/F Raphell Thomas-Edwards (5.9 rpg), Sr. G C.J. Oldham (4.7 rpg)
Top Assists:  Jr. G Adam Blazek (81), Jr. G C.J. Oldham (66), Jr. F A'Darius Porter (52)
Top Steals: Jr. G Adam Blazek (56), Jr. F A'Darius Porter (27), Sr. G C.J. Oldham (19)
Top Blocks: Sr. G C.J. Oldham (10), Jr. G/F Tee Talley (8), Jr. F A'Darius Porter (8)

All-PSAC Selections: Blazek (1st team, PSAC West Athlete of the Year), Thomas-Edwards (2nd team), Reilly (Coach of the Year)

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WEST CHESTER -- Schedule  l  Statistics  l  Roster
Record (Finish): 19-8, 11-5 (2nd in PSAC East)
PSAC Tournament results: W 99-89 vs. Bloomsburg (recap)
PSAC Championships:  1 (1959)
Final Appearances:  3 (last in 2012) *1959 did not have a championship game
Last Final 4: 2013 (3rd straight)
This year's results vs. Gannon: W 73-72 - Jan. 4 at West Chester

Head Coach: Damien Blair
Record (Years): 110-54 (6th year)
Career Record (Years): same
PSAC Championships: 0

PSAC Ranks
Scoring: 80.9 ppg (2)
Defense: 75.0 ppg (12)
Field Goal %: 44.7 (9)
Field Goal D: 42.2 (6)
Reb Margin: +5.8 (3)
TO Margin: -0.4 (10)

Top Scoring: Sr. G Troy Hockaday (16.3 ppg), Jr. G Cory Blake (12.8 ppg), Sr. G Shannon Givens (11.7 ppg)
Top Rebounds: So. F Matt Wiseley (6.7 rpg), Jr. G Cory Blake (5.9 rpg), Jr. C Eric Frans (5.0 rpg)
Top Assists:  Sr. G Shannon Givens (76), Sr. G Troy Hockaday (64), So. F Matt Wiseley (46)
Top Steals: Jr. G Cory Blake (47), Sr. G Troy Hockaday (45), Sr. G Shannon Givens & So. F Matt Wiseley (30)
Top Blocks: Sr. G Troy Hockaday (16), Jr. C Eric Frans (13), So. F Matt Wiseley & Jr. G Cory Blake (12)

All-PSAC Selections: Hockaday (1st team), Blake (2nd team)