BLOOMSBURG – The Bloomsburg University men's basketball team returns home for the first time in over a month this weekend as it hopes to get back in the win column with a pair of Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) crossover games.
 
The Huskies (2-9, 0-7 PSAC) host Lock Haven University (5-5, 3-4) and Clarion University (4-7, 2-5) on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 11-12, in the final PSAC crossover weekend of the season before heading into divisional play next week.  Tipoff for both games at Nelson Field House is set for 7:30 p.m.
 
Both games will be broadcast live on WHLM (930-AM) based out of Bloomsburg with Jim Doyle and Larry White calling all the action. In addition, listeners throughout the world can listen to the game live on BU's website at www.buhuskies.com. The pre-game show will begin 20 minutes before tipoff.
 
Despite experiencing a current skid over the last eight games, Bloomsburg has plenty to be excited about in its first time playing on its home floor since Dec. 2. It had a pair of players rise to the challenge with some terrific play in Erie last weekend, and has steadily improved in taking care of the ball.
 
Junior Lorenzo Christmas (Norristown/Norristown) has scored in double figures in four of his last five games, and has worked his way to the team's leading scorer this season.  Averaging 13.5 points per game, the junior has been doing his damage from three-point range.  His 2.5 three-pointers per game lead the PSAC, and his 37 percent from beyond the arc ranks seventh in the PSAC.
 
As a team, Bloomsburg leads the PSAC in three-pointers per game at 6.6.
 
Christmas is BU's top shooter in the final five minutes, shooting 48% from the field and 43.8% from beyond the arc. He has also made a three-pointer in 21 straight games.
 
If fans didn't know who Zach Sheetz (Landisville/Hempfield) was before Bloomsburg's pair of games last weekend, it is safe to say they sure know who the sophomore guard is now.  He is coming off a career-high 15 points off five three-pointers against Mercyhurst.  He has started the last two games for BU, and holds a team-best +22 +/- rating this season.
 
Freshman point guard Charles Haigler (Charles Town, WV/Hargrave Military Academy) has improved on his passing this season and has dished out five or more assists in each of BU's last two games.  Along with being the third-leading scorer on the team at 11.3 per game, Haigler averages 3.9 assists per game for eighth in the PSAC, and is seventh in the PSAC with 1.8 steals per game.
 
Bloomsburg has improved on its turnovers lately as it has lessened its total number of giveaways each of the last four games.  Not giving opponents easy points in transition off turnovers will play a significant role in lowering opponent field goal percentages.  BU opponents are shooting 47.3 percent this season compared to 38.2 percent for the Huskies.
 
The Huskies defeated both of their upcoming weekend opponents last season. BU holds a commanding lead in the all-time series against Lock Haven, 94-34.  It took down the Bald Eagles 82-50 last season and hasn't lost to Lock Haven at home since the 1988-89 season, a streak of 14 consecutive victories at home.
 
In its last game against West Chester, Lock Haven sophomore guard Wali Hepburn had 33 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, while Terrell Johnson scored 15 points. On the season, Hepburn leads the team with 23.1 points per game, while Kasheef Festus is second at 15.8 and a team-high 7.7 rebounds. Hepburn also leads the team in assists with 47.
 
Against Clarion, Bloomsburg holds a 13-12 advantage in the all-time series including an 87-85 win last season.  The last three games in the series have been played at Clarion.  The Huskies dropped the last game played at Nelson Field House during the 2008-09 season, 54-38.
 
Last weekend, the Golden Eagles lost to Cheyney, 72-60, and to West Chester, 78-66. In the game with Cheyney, Mike Kromka had 17 points and 15 rebounds, while against the Golden Rams Calvin Edwards had a career-high 26 points, while Aaron Johnson had 10 points and 11 rebounds.
 
Kromka leads the team in scoring with 13.5 a game, while Johnson is second at 12.3. In rebounding, Johnson is averaging 10.3 a game.  As a team, Clarion averages 64.6 and allows 68.2 a game.
 
Following the weekend pair of games, Bloomsburg moves into Eastern Division play and will host Shippensburg University on Wednesday, Jan. 16 at Nelson Field House with tipoff set for 7:30 p.m.