The Division II basketball season is coming into the home stretch, making conference matchups an every day occurrence. After dropping two conference games earlier this season, No. 11 IUP has been flexing its muscles in conference play as they lead the standings with an 8-2 conference record.
Here’s how the rest of the conference is shaping up:
No. 11 IUP 18-2, 8-2
Mercyhurst 11-8, 7-2
Slippery Rock 16-6, 7-3
Gannon 12-8, 7-3
Seton Hill 12-8, 4-6
Pitt-Johnstown 11-9, 4-6
California 9-11, 4-6
Clarion 4-14, 2-8
Edinboro 8-11, 1-8
This week of PSAC West action saw overtime thrillers and some great individual performances. Let’s take a look:
No. 11 IUP went 2-0 on the week, beating Pitt-Johnstown and Clarion rather easily. In both wins, sophomore Brandon Norfleet led the way. He scored 25 and 20 points, respectively, and pulled down at least six rebounds in each contest.
Mercyhurst won its only game of the week, taking down Seton Hill on the road. Callon Dalley led the way with 12 points.
Slippery Rock went 1-1 over the week, both coming in overtime games. The Rock, led by Tabari Perry’s 12 points and 16 rebounds and Antonio Butler’s 20 points off the bench, were able to overcome Cal with a late push. But they fell to Clarion by a single point in another overtime game. Maurice Lewis-Briggs had 27 points in the loss.
Gannon was able to split for the week with a 1-1 record. The Golden Knights lost to Cal to start the week despite Raphell Thomas-Edwards’ 18-point, 9-rebound night. Later, though, they were able to overcome Seton Hill. Adam Blazek led them with 20 points and six rebounds.
Seton Hill went 0-2, losing to Mercyhurst and Gannon. Malichi Leonard had 10 points and 13 rebounds against ‘Hurst and Kameron Taylor scored 16 points against Gannon.
Pitt-Johnstown went 1-1, falling to IUP but beating Edinboro. Ian Vescovi had 13 points and six rebounds in the loss and Bill Luther had 25 points in the win.
Cal went 1-1, picking up a win over Gannon but falling to Slippery Rock. In the win, Alonzo Murphy had a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds. In the loss, Tynell Fortune had 12 points.
Clarion finished 1-1 with a close win over Slippery Rock but losing to IUP. In the win, Mike Kromka had 26 points and 15 rebounds while Marques Jones added 23 points. In the loss, BJ Andrews had 18 points and six rebounds.
Edinboro lost its only game of the week to Pitt-Johnstown. Ryan Theriot had a double-double of 16 points and 13 rebounds.
As for statistical leaders, IUP leads the PSAC in scoring defense, Pitt-Johnstown leads the PSAC West in scoring offense, Slippery Rock leads the PSAC in rebounding offense and Gannon leads the PSAC with rebounding defense.
On the individual level, Bryan Theriot of Edinboro and Malachi Leonard of Seton Hill lead the PSAC in scoring, both averaging 17.7 points per game. Theriot also leads the PSAC West in field goal percentage, shooting 59.9 % from the floor, while Ian Vescovi of Pitt-Johnstown is next with 58.1 %. Leonard still leads the league in rebounding, averaging 9.4 boards per game. Mike Kromka of Clarion is a close second with 8.8 per game. Bill Luther of Pitt-Johnstown leads the PSAC West in 3-point percentage, shooting 40.2 % from behind the arc. Nate Snodgrass of Pitt-Johnstown leads the PSAC West in assists and assist/turnover ratio with 4.2 assists per game and a 2.3 a/t ratio. Devon Cortell of IUP leads the PSAC West in blocks with 2.3 per game while Adam Blazek of Gannon leads in steals with 2.2 per game.
Photo Credit: IUP Athletics
