With the fall semester behind us, PSAC West teams are back from break and geared up to make runs toward a solid finish to the 2015-16 season.
A quick look down the PSAC West standings shows that the division is quite top-heavy, with five teams posting at least five wins already this season but four others showing three or less wins in the league. Here’s how it shaped up in the first half of the season: Edinboro (7-4, 6-2 in PSAC), Pitt-Johnstown (8-3, 5-3 in PSAC), Mercyhurst (8-4, 5-3 in PSAC), IUP (8-5, 5-3 in PSAC), Clarion (8-6, 5-3 in PSAC), Slippery Rock (8-5, 3-4 in PSAC), Cal (5-7, 3-4 in PSAC), Seton Hill (4-7, 2-5 in PSAC) and Gannon (2-9, 1-7 in PSAC).
Heading into the new year, the PSAC West has no representation in the NABC Top 25 rankings.
The Edinboro Fighting Scots hold a narrow lead atop the division with that 6-2 league record. The team has been led all year by Jaymon Mason and Henri Chatman-Wade, Mason averaging 22.5 points per game and Chatman-Wade pouring in 19.9. Both players have been efficient from the 3-point line, Mason shooting 40.6 percent from beyond the arch and Chapman-Wade shooting 36.8 percent. Tommy Scales, who is in his second full season at Edinboro after transferring from Fairmont State, leads the team with 8.1 rebounds per outing to go with 11.7 points per game.
As a team, Pitt-Johnstown leads the PSAC West in scoring, averaging 83.0 points per game as a unit. That comes from a collaborative effort from three players in the Top 15 of the league in the PSAC in scoring. A.J. Leahey is pouring in 18.6 to lead the team while Nate Snodgrass scores 16.1 per game and Dale Clancy is close behind with 15.8.
On the other hand, Mercyhurst, which was picked to win the PSAC West, has the league’s best defensive unit, allowing just 64.5 points per game.
As for individual statistics, here’s the top two players that lead the PSAC West in some top categories:
- Scoring: Jaymon Mason, Edinboro – 22.5; Brandon Norfleet, IUP – 21.2.
- Rebounding: Cornelius Brown, Slippery Rock – 10.9; A.J. Leahey, Pitt-Johnstown – 8.1.
- Field goal percent: Sean Beins, Mercyhurst – 61.7 % (74-120); Cornelius Brown, Slippery Rock – 58.0 % (69-119)
- Assists: Dale Clancy, Pitt-Johnstown – 4.8; Brandon Norfleet, IUP – 4.4.
- Blocks: Akeem Williams, Clarion – 1.7; Jamal Gatali, Slippery Rock/Tevin Hanner, IUP/ Erik Raleigh, Slippery Rock – 1.4.
- Steals: Andre Anthony, Clarion/ Henri Wade-Chatman, Edinboro – 2.2
PSAC West teams will square off with the PSAC East to open up 2016 beginning Sunday. Here’s the matchups:
- Slippery Rock at Bloomsburg, 1 p.m.
- IUP at Cheyney, 3 p.m.
- Clarion at Shippensburg, 3 p.m.
- Cal at East Stroudsburg, 3 p.m.
- Gannon at Kutztown, 3 p.m.
- Pitt-Johnstown at Millersville, 3 p.m.
- Seton Hill at West Chester, 3 p.m.
- Mercyhurst at Mansfield, 3 p.m.
- Edinboro at Lock Haven, 4 p.m.
Photo Credit: Edinboro Athletics
