EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. - The Bloomsburg University men's basketball team will try to make nationally-ranked East Stroudsburg wait at least one more game before celebrating a PSAC East title with an upset this Saturday. The Warriors can clinch the PSAC East regular season crown with a victory on Saturday, but the second-place Huskies bring a four-game winning streak into the matchup.
SCOUTING EAST STROUDSBURG
The Warriors were the last unbeaten team in Division II, winning their first 20 games of the year before being upset at Lock Haven last Thursday, 82-80. The 20-game winning streak was the longest in the PSAC since 1994-95 when IUP went 21-0 to begin the year. The Warriors responded by defeating Millersville, 93-64, and then dropping Shippensburg, 75-57, in the past week. A win on Saturday would give ESU their second straight PSAC East title and third in five years.
ESU has mostly been dominant this season, winning 19 of its 22 games by double digits. ESU is fueled by a powerful offense, leading the PSAC at 86.9 ppg while also ranking seventh in scoring defense, allowing 67.5 ppg to opponents. The Warriors shoot 37.0 percent from beyond the arc, trailing only Pitt-Johnstown (39.7%) within the PSAC. Leading the offense is Whis Grant at 17.0 ppg. Grant has 1,317 career points and is 13 away from moving into 10th place all-time in school history for scoring. Grant also is a 42.4% shooter from 3-pointers this year, third in the PSAC.
THE BLOOMSBURG-ESU SERIES
Bloomsburg leads 92-66
Saturday will mark the 159th meeting between Bloomsburg and East Stroudsburg in men's basketball. The Warriors have won three straight in the series and will go for their second consecutive series sweep. ESU won, 102-44, in the last meeting on the Warriors' home court and came away with a 74-63 win at Nelson Field House on Jan. 15. Rebounding was a key in the first meeting of the year – ESU won the battle of the boards by a 44-30 margin as the Huskies were without leading rebounder
Dontahe Jordan (Williamsport/Williamsport) that day.
Alssene Saintilus (Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) led the Huskies by tying a career-high of 21 points while
Jon Riles (Philadelphia/Academy of the New Church) added 12.
PLAYOFF TICKET PUNCHED
Bloomsburg locked itself into the PSAC Playoffs next month with last Saturday's win over Shippensburg. At 9-3 in the PSAC East, Bloomsburg has sole possession of second place. Only East Stroudsburg, Bloomsburg and West Chester have locked into the conference post-season tournament thus far. This will be the third straight year the Huskies have reached the PSAC Tournament, the first time Bloomsburg has reached the conference playoffs three consecutive years since an eight-year run from 1995-2002.
TWEETABLES (Huskies facts in 140 characters or less)
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Dontahe Jordan (Williamsport/Williamsport) is averaging 12.9 points and 10.6 rebounds per game since returning to the lineup Jan. 18.
-The Huskies have a +5.4 rebounding margin as a team since Jordan's return.
-Jordan has a 67.2% true shooting percentage this year- taking into account field goals, 3's and free throws.
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Jon Riles (Philadelphia/Academy of the New Church) has assisted 28.8 percent of teammate field goals while on the floor this year.
-The 94 points scored Wednesday marked a BU season-high.
-Bloomsburg finished Wednesday with 21 assists, second-most on the year.
-The 11 3-pointers Wednesday were a season-best.
-Bloomsburg will need a win on Saturday to keep its hopes of winning the PSAC East regular season crown alive.
-The Huskies remain a game up in the loss column on third-place West Chester and currently hold the head-to-head tiebreaker with the Golden Rams.
-Bloomsburg hosts West Chester this upcoming Wednesday night at Nelson Field House.
