RELEASE DATE: 3/03/05

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MOUNTIES UNDERDOGS AGAIN AT PSAC CHAMPIONSHIP – HOPE TO BECOME ONLY TEAM IN CONFERENCE HISTORY TO CAPTUE TITLE IN ALL FIVE DECADES

MANSFIELD – The Mansfield University Mountaineers find themselves in a familiar role as underdogs when they take on host Edinboro University in the opening round of the PSAC Championship Tournament Friday night.

Tip off is set for 7:30 p.m. at McComb Fieldhouse. Shippensburg will play Millersville in the opening game at 5:30 with the winners meeting for the PSAC Championship Saturday at 7 p.m.

“Except for our last game with Kutztown, we’ve been underdogs all season long,” said head coach Vince Alexander. “We’re back in that position again and it’s something we’re comfortable with. We had to prove ourselves every night to get where we are and we did it by outworking our opponents. That’s just what we’re going to have to do again this weekend.”

In a bit of a strange scenario, the PSAC East Champion Mountineers will face Edinboro, the PSAC West top remaining seed, on Edinboro’s court.

Mansfield is the only one of the four teams not ranked in the latest NCAA East Region Poll. Edinboro (22-6) is ranked #5 in the East Region with Shippensburg (18-10)  #8 and Millersville (21-6) #9. The Mountaineers would have to win the tournament and claim the PSAC’s automatic qualifying berth to be one of eight teams to advance to the NCAA East Regional.

The Mountaineers and Fighting Scots have met once this season with Edinboro claiming a 82-70 victory at Decker Gymnasium in Mansfield’s sixth game of the season.  

“We’re not the same team we were when we played them earlier in the year,” said Alexander whose team is the hottest in the PSAC after winning 11 of their last 12 games. “We’re a better and more balanced team then the first time around, but then again I’m sure Edinboro feels they are a better team also.”

Mansfield may also be shorthanded. Junior point guard Brandon DeShields, who has been the Mountaineers leading scorer over the last 12 games of the season averaging 16.6 points over that span, was injured in the first three minutes of Mansfield’s PSAC Quarterfinal win over Kutztown Tuesday night. DeShields will travel and dress, but his status will not be determined until game time.

“If we have Brandon or not, we still have to play our style game to advance,” explained Alexander. “The story of this team all season is that someone new has always stepped up every game. I don’t expect that to change this weekend.”

GAME NOTES

PSAC Semifinal Game

Edinboro host Mansfield

March 4, 2005

McComb Fieldhouse

7:30 p.m.

Radio

The game will be broadcast live on WNTE 89.5 FM and also on the internet on the MSA Network. An internet link can be found on the Mansfield Sports Information website at sports.mansfield.edu.

The broadcast begins with the pregame show starting at 7:15 prior to the 7:30 p.m. tip-off. Jonathon Schwab will provide the play-by-play with Josh Warner providing color and Darrin Denman sideline reporting.

Ticket Prices

Doors open at McComb Fieldhouse one hour before game time. An adult two-day ticket is $14.00 ($8.00 for Saturday only) with a two-day student ticket set for $5.00 ($3.00 for Saturday only)

About the Game

Mansfield surprised the PSAC by winning the PSAC East after being picked fourth in the preseason poll. Mansfield is also making its third consecutive playoff appearance.  The two teams met at Mansfield in the quarterfinals early in the season, with Edinboro sporting an 82-70 victory.

The Mountaineers must win the PSAC Championship in order to advance the NCAA Tournament. Mansfield is the only team in the tournament not ranked among the top ten teams in the East Region. Edinboro is ranked #5, Shippensburg #8 and Millersville #9. No matter what the rankings the winners of the PSAC, WVIAC and  CVIA Conference are all awarded an automatic bid to the East Regional with a total of eight teams awarded bids.

EU vs. Mansfield 2004-05:  Edinboro defeated Mansfield 82-70 when the two teams met December 4, 2004 at Decker Gymnasium.    

            In the two teams only meeting this season, Terrance Williams led the way for the Mountaineers with 13 points and five rebounds.  Jason Benson added 11 points and seven rebounds, and David Hoopes had ten points.  Edinboro had four players in double figures, with Torry Mitchell leading the way with 22 points.  Jakim Donaldson recorded a double-double with 17 points and 17 rebounds.  Rob Sims had 12 points and Dan Grabill had 10. 

EU vs. Mansfield History: The two programs have meet on the court at least once for the past seven seasons with Edinboro holding a 6-2 advantage over that time. In his six seasons as head coach, Vince Alexander is 2-5 against the Fighting Scots with the last victory coming at Edinboro in 2004 by a score of 72-67.

The two programs have meet three times in the PSAC Championship Game with the Mountaineers winning each time. Mansfield won 58-54 in 1962, 98-90 n 1964 and 79-70 in 1975. Mansfield also won the last meeting in the PSAC Playoffs taking a 117-103 victory at Decker Gymnasium in the Quarterfinals in 1997. The Mountaineers went on to win their sixth PSAC crown that year. 

Scouting the Fighting Scots

Probable Starters: G-Chris Ravello (Jr., 56-3, 8.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg); G-Rob Sims (Sr., 6-3, 10.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg); G-Torry Mitchell (Jr., 5-10, 11.1 ppg, 2.7 rpg); F-Jakim Donaldson (Sr., 6-8, 16.5 ppg, 13.0 rpg); F-Daren Tielsch (Jr., 6-7, 13.7 ppg, 7.2 rpg)

            In his 16^th season as head coach, Edinboro’s Greg Walcavich has made the PSAC playoffs ten times and the NCAA playoffs three times.  He also has 420 career victories.   

            Jakim Donaldson is one of the top players in the PSAC averaging 16.5 ppg.  He leads the PSAC in rebounding, averaging 13.0 rpg.  Daren Tielsch ranks 17^th in the PSAC in scoring (13.7 ppg) and ranks 12^th in rebounding (7.2 rpg).  Torry Mitchell is ranked 3^rd on the team in scoring, averaging 11.1 ppg.  He has hit 55 3-pointers this season.  Rob Sims is averaging 10.2 ppg, while also averaging 3.93 apg. 

The Fighting Scots are 22-6 overall and 8-4 in the PSAC West, with four of their losses coming in their last nine games. They rank sixth in the PSAC in scoring (74.5 ppg) and fourth in defensive scoring (64.8 ppg). Edinboro is second in the conference in rebounding (42.0 rpg), 6^th in field goal percentage (.451), 12^th in 3-point field goal percentage (.320) and 14^th in free throw percentage (.604). They rank second in blocked shots per game (4.32), second in assist/turnover ratio (1.15) and seventh in 3-point field goals made per game (6.07).

 Scouting the Mountaineers

Probable Starters: G-Brian Bryant (Sr., 6-1, 7.3 ppg, 4.4 apg); G-Dave Hoopes (Jr., 6-2, 12.8 ppg 80 3pt FG); G-Jason Benson (Sr., 6-3, 17.9 ppg, 6.0 rpg); G-Jeremy Frey (Sr., 6-3, 4.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg); F-Carlos Collazo (Jr., 6-8, 12.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg)

            Mansfield has been the surprise team of the PSAC this season and leads the conference in scoring averaging 84.3 points per game. They are also the hottest team in the conference, winning 11 of their last 12 games to earn their first PSAC East crown since 1997.

            Despite leading the conference in scoring and ranking among the PSAC best rebounding teams, just one Mountaineer ranks among the top 20 scorers in the conference with no player ranking in the top 15 rebounders.

            Jason Benson leads Mansfield – and ranks third in the PSAC – in scoring at 17.9 ppg.  He also leads the team lead at 6.0 rpg.  Three other Mountaineers score at least 12 ppg.  David Hoopes (12.8) Brandon DeShields (12.3 ppg), and Carlos Collazo (12.0) give Mansfield a balanced scoring attack that produces 84.3 ppg, first in the conference.  Hoopes (80 threes, 40 percent 3-pt. shooting) and Brian Bryant (45 percent 3-pt. shooting) are dangerous from the outside, while Collazo (56 percent FG) anchors the middle.  Bryant is second in the PSAC with 4.4 assists per game and has 50 steals.

            The Mountaineers started the season just 7-9, but have won 11 of their last 12 contests en route to the PSAC East crown. 

            Head coach Vince Alexander is in his sixth year guiding the Mountaineers.  He has a career record of 89-67 (.568).

            Mansfield tops the PSAC and ranks among the top 25 in the nation in scoring (84.3 ppg) and are 12^th in points allowed per game (77.8 ppg). They are fourth in field goal percentage (.461) and fifth in free throw (.667) and 3-point field goal (.347) percentage. The Mountaineers are also third in rebounding (40.1 rpg), fourth in blocked shots (3.96) and seventh in assists/turnover ratio (0.84). They top the PSAC in 3-point fields made per game (7.68) and have been to the free throw line an incredible 804 times this season, 118 more than Kutztown the next highest team.

Mansfield in PSAC Playoffs - History:  Mansfield is no stranger to postseason play, as they are the only school to win a conference tournament every decade in the history of the tournament.  Mansfield was 21-7 last season and lost to KU in the quarterfinals, and also lost in the quarterfinals in 2002-03.  MU’s last quarterfinal victory came in 1997, when it went on to win the PSAC championship.  Mansfield is 12-8 all-time in the PSAC tournament, with six titles – the third most among PSAC schools.

What's at Stake:  A PSAC Championship is on the line for the winner.  In Friday’s other quarterfinal, Shippensburg (West #4) hosts Millersville (East #3).  This year's PSAC Championship will be held at 7:00 p.m. at Edinboro University’s McComb Fieldhouse. 

Who’s Hot and who’s not for the Mountaineers

Who’s Hot

David Hoopes – After hitting a brief slump the past few games this season, Hoopes exploded to score a game high 23 points in the Mountaineers semifinal win over Kutztown University.  Hoopes hit five 3-pointers in the game. 

Jeremy Frey – Frey provides the defense spark after breaking into the starting lineup 12 games ago. Still over the past four games, Frey is averaging 10.5 ppg hitting 66.7% of his shots.

Brian Bryant – Bryant has been on fire in Mansfield’s past two games.  He is averaging 17.5 ppg in the last two outings, after averaging just 6.7 ppg this season.  Bryant scored a career high 21 points in the Mountaineers semifinal win over Kutztown University.  He was 6-8 from the field. 

Jason Benson – After being held scoreless for the first time in his collegiate career at East Stroudsburg, Benson has averaged 19.5 points over the last two games shooting 55.6% from the floor and 16-17 (94.1%) from the free throw line.

Who’s Not

Carlos Collazo – Collazo has been a main scoring threat for the Mountaineers this season, but over the last two games, Collazo has averaged five points per game.  Also one of the top rebounders on the team (5.8rpg), he has grabbed just four rebounds in the past two games.