BLOOMSBURG (3-2, 0-2 PSAC East) at MERCYHURST (3-2, 1-1 PSAC West)
Saturday, December 3, 2016 - 3:00 p.m.
Erie, Pa. | Mercyhurst Athletic Center

at GANNON (2-2, 1-1 PSAC West)
Sunday, December 4, 2016 - 3:00 p.m.
Erie, Pa. | Hammermill Center

GAME NOTES:
Bloomsburg at Mercyhurst/Gannon Game Notes

GAME COVERAGE:
Live Stats (SAT): http://www.sidearmstats.com/hurst/mbball/
Live Stats (SUN): http://www.sidearmstats.com/gannon/mbball/
Live Video (SUN): http://www.gannonsports.com/watch/
Live Audio (WHLM-AM): http://www.whlmam.com

RELATED LINKS:
Bloomsburg - Roster | Schedule | Statistics
Mercyhurst - Roster | Schedule | Statistics
Gannon - Roster | Schedule | Statistics

LAST TIME OUT ...
The Huskies traveled to Wilmington, Delaware last Saturday and posted an 84-81 victory over the Wilmington Wildcats to improve to 3-2 overall on the season. The Huskies led by as many as 23 points with 12:56 left before the Wildcats pulled to within one, 82-81, with 25 seconds remaining. Redshirt junior Karonn Davis (Philadelphia, Pa./Friends' Central (Niagara Univ.)) proved to be the defensive hero as he collected a game-preserving steal with three seconds left in regulation and then hit a pair of free throws at the other end to seal the win. Redshirt junior Christian Mortellite (Hammonton, N.J./Hammonton) posted a game-high 28 points to lead three players in double figures. Mortellite (28 pts, 11 reb), junior Kyle-Michael Rose (Middletown, Del./Sanford School (Highland CC)) (17 pts, 12 reb), and junior Carnell McGirt (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic (Valley Forge Military Academy)) (12 pts, 11 reb) each had double-doubles in the victory.

STARTING FIVE ...
1 - Redshirt junior Christian Mortellite (Hammonton, N.J./Hammonton) has picked up where he left off last season as he is averaging 21.8 points in the first five games of the season. He scored just eight points in the loss to Pitt-Johnstown on November 19 - only the second time in his last 43 games that he has failed to reach double figures. In his other four games, he is averaging 25.2 points per game. He has hit 21-of-40 from three-point range this season, including 6-of-8 against Wilmington last Saturday, and has moved into fifth on the school's all-time list with 138 career triples. He also needs just 20 points to become the 29th player in school history to reach 1,000 for his career.

2 - After averaging only 3.8 points and 3.0 rebounds last season, junior Kyle-Michael Rose (Middletown, Del./Sanford School (Highland CC)) has stepped into the starting lineup this season and has hit double figures in scoring four times after hitting the mark only twice all of last season. He posted the first double-double of his Bloomsburg career against Pitt-Johnstown with 10 points and 10 rebounds and then added a second with career-highs in both points (17) and rebounds (12) against Wilmington. He is averaging 10.8 points and 6.8 boards through five games.

3 - Transfers Karonn Davis (Philadelphia, Pa./Friends' Central (Niagara Univ.)) and Carnell McGirt (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic (Valley Forge Military Academy)) have made immediate impacts early on this season. After transferring from Division I Niagara University, Davis ranks tied for third on the team in scoring (9.6) and leads the team in assists (4.8). He has made 12-of-13 foul shots (92.3%). McGirt, meanwhile, has posted a double-double twice (11 pts, 10 reb at Penn State Hazleton; 12 pts, 11 reb at Wilmington) this season. He is tied for third on the team in scoring (9.6) and leads the team in rebounding (7.4).

4 - In each of the first two games, Bloomsburg has had five players reach double figures in scoring. Mortellite (20), Davis (14), Rose (12), McGirt (11), and Khyree Hunt-Hawkins (Philadelphia, Pa./George Washington (Baltimore City CC)) (11) each hit double digits at Penn State Hazleton to start the season. Mortellite (25), Davis (15), McGirt (14), Sneed (12), and Rose (11) turned the trick against Lincoln. The Huskies had five players hit double figures in a game only twice all of last season.

5 - Bloomsburg had three players post a double-double in Saturday's win at Wilmington - Christian Mortellite (Hammonton, N.J./Hammonton) (28 pts, 11 reb), Kyle-Michael Rose (Middletown, Del./Sanford School (Highland CC)) (17 pts, 12 reb), and Carnell McGirt (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic (Valley Forge Military Academy)) (12 pts, 11 reb). It marked the first time multiple Huskies' players have had a double-double since February 10, 2016 against Kutztown - Mortellite (25 pts, 13 reb) and Malik Garner (Philadelphia, Pa./Chestnut Hill Academy) (20 pts, 10 reb). The Huskies have not had three players post a double-double in the same game since prior to the 1999-2000 season.

THE SERIES ...
Mercyhurst leads the all-time series against Bloomsburg, 9-1. Gannon leads the all-time series against the Huskies, 9-2.

LAST MEETING AGAINST MERCYHURST ...
The teams last played on December 4, 2015 at the Nelson Field House with Mercyhurst posting an 88-48 victory over the Huskies. The Lakers jumped out to a 49-10 lead at halftime and then built the lead to as many as 49 points in the second half before posting the 40-point win. Donell Diggs (Washington, D.C./Takoma Academy (Prince George's CC)) led the Huskies with 14 points - 12 of those coming from the foul line. Alex Prislupsky (Olyphant, Pa./Mid-Valley) had 11 off the bench in a losing effort. Seven Lakers scored at least eight points led by Andy Hoying who had 15. Mercyhurst shot 56.7% from the field and held the Huskies to only 29.5%. The Lakers also outrebounded the Huskies, 44-24.

SCOUTING THE LAKERS ...
Mercyhurst, the defending PSAC Champions, enters the contest with a 3-2 overall record and a 1-1 mark in the Western Division standings. The Lakers, most recently, posted a 70-61 victory over previously-unbeaten Daemen College on Sunday, November 27. John Majors was named the PSAC West Co-Athlete of the Week after posting 24 points and 10 rebounds against Daemen while Dontae Williams was named the PSAC West Rookie of the Week after chipping in 12 points and nine boards against the Wildcats. Durrell McDonald leads the Lakers in scoring by averaging 17.2 points per game through five contests. He has made nearly half (14-of-29) of Mercyhurst's three-pointers this season. Majors is second on the team in scoring (10.8) and leads the team in rebounding (6.2). DaJuan Dent is also in double figures, averaging 10.6 points per contest. H'ian Hale runs the offense and is averaging 7.4 points, 5.2 assists, and 3.0 steals in his final season with the Lakers. He leads the PSAC in steals per game and is seventh in assists. Mercyhurst leads the PSAC in field goal percentage (49.3%) and is second in the conference in field goal percentage defense (38.4%).

LAST MEETING AGAINST GANNON ...
Bloomsburg led, or was tied, from start to finish and held off the Golden Knights, 79-70, at the Nelson Field House on December 5, 2015. The Huskies jumped out to a 20-5 lead in the opening 8:16 and fought off a second-half charge by the visitors before posting the nine-point victory. Christian Mortellite (Hammonton, N.J./Hammonton) led the Huskies with 21 points while Alex Prislupsky (Olyphant, Pa./Mid-Valley) earned the start and chipped in 13 points. Both hit three of the team's eight total three-pointers. Malik Garner (Philadelphia, Pa./Chestnut Hill Academy) added a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Kevin Kuteyi led Gannon with 24 points in just 19 minutes off the bench. Isaiah Eisendorf added 13 points for the Golden Knights. One night after shooting 29.5% against Mercyhurst, the Huskies shot 24-of-42 (57.1%) from the field.

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS ...
The Golden Knights enter the weekend (scheduled to play Lock Haven at the Hammermill Center on Saturday) with a 2-2 overall record and a 1-1 mark in the PSAC Western Division. Gannon last played on Saturday, November 26 in the championship game of the 33rd annual Gary Miller Classic but fell to visiting Ohio Dominican, 66-56. Matthew Dogan, who was named to the All-Tournament Team, led the Golden Knights with 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting. Zay Jackson chipped in with 11 points in a losing effort.  On the season, three players are averaging double figures in scoring led by Evan Phoenix who is tops in both scoring (17.0) and rebounding (10.5). He is second in the PSAC in rebounding average, trailing only Shippensburg's Dustin Sleva (12.2). Zay Jackson (14.8) and Gerrell Williams (10.8) are also averaging double digits in points. The Golden Knights are struggling shooting the ball, posting a 40.4% mark from the field, 28.3% from long range, and 65.6% from the free throw line. However, Gannon is outrebounding its opponents by a 164-120 margin in its four contests. Its rebounding margin of +11.0 per game is second in the conference (Slippery Rock, +12.0).

MORTELLITE NAMED CO-ATHLETE OF THE WEEK ...
Redshirt junior Christian Mortellite (Hammonton, N.J./Hammonton) was named the PSAC Eastern Division Co-Athlete of the Week on Monday after his performance against Wilmington last Saturday. He shared the honor with Millersville's Marcus Adkinson who hit nine three-pointers and scored a career-high 31 points for the Marauders in a win over Lincoln.

Mortellite posted his first double-double of the season, and fifth of his career, with 28 points and 11 rebounds in the 84-81 victory at Wilmington. He hit 9-of-16 from the field and tied a career-high with six three-pointers (on eight attempts) in the win. He previously recorded six triples in a game when he posted a career-high 37 points at West Chester on February 11, 2015.

COMING UP ROSES ...
Junior Kyle-Michael Rose (Middletown, Del./Sanford School (Highland CC)) has developed into a threat on the offensive end this season. One year after averaging only 3.8 points and 3.0 rebounds, Rose is second on the team in scoring (10.8) and tied for second in rebounding (6.8) this season. He has had his first two career double-doubles and has hit double figures in scoring four times. He leads the team in field goal percentage (55.6%) and has also been efficient at the foul lne, going 14-of-19 (73.7%). Half of his 34 rebounds have come on the offensive glass.

DOWNTOWN WITH THE HUSKIES ...
The Huskies have made at least one three-pointer in 159 consecutive games. The last time Bloomsburg did not make a three in a game was on December 4, 2010 in a 54-51 loss at Lock Haven when it went 0-7 from beyond the arc. Bloomsburg has made ten three-pointers in a game twice this season - at Penn State Hazleton (10-of-21) and against Pitt-Johnstown (10-of-24). The Huskies made ten three-pointers in a game just one time last season - an 85-59 home victory against Millersville on February 17, 2016 (10-of-17). The Huskies are shooting 40.2% from long range this season - third in the PSAC.

CLOSING IN ...
Redshirt junior Christian Mortellite (Hammonton, N.J./Hammonton) is closing in on becoming the 29th player in school history to record 1,000 career points. The sharpshooter scored 28 points at Wilmington on Saturday to move to within 20 points of reaching the milestone. He has also moved into sole possession of fifth place on the school's all-time career three-pointers list with 138. He surpassed Aaron Carter and Mike Cheatle with four triples in the win over Lincoln on November 15. He has a while to go to get to fourth as Jay DeShields currently holds that spot with 205 career three-pointers.

LONG RANGE ...
Redshirt junior Christian Mortellite (Hammonton, N.J./Hammonton) and junior Alex Prislupsky (Olyphant, Pa./Mid-Valley) are off to hot starts from three-point range this season. Mortellite leads the PSAC in total three pointers (21) and is second in threes per game (4.2). He is 21-of-40 (52.5%) from deep this season - the fourth-best percentage in the conference. Prislupsky, meanwhile, tied a career-high with five threes against Pitt-Johnstown and is 8-of-20 (40.0%) from beyond the arc. However, if you take away the duo's numbers, the rest of the team is only 10-of-37 from long range (27.0%).

BALANCED SCORING ...
In each of the first two games, five Huskies reached double figures in scoring - something that happened only twice all of last season. Bloomsburg had four reach double figures against Pitt-Johnstown, three against IUP, and three, again, against Wilmington last Saturday. All told, the Huskies have seven players averaging at least five points per game through the first five contests.

MORTELLITE NAMED PRESEASON ALL-PSAC EAST ...
Redshirt junior Christian Mortellite (Hammonton, N.J./Hammonton) was named a preseason All-PSAC East selection after enjoying a breakout campaign with the Huskies a year ago. Mortellite was a First Team All-PSAC East performer after leading all Eastern Division players, and finishing fifth overall in the conference, in scoring (19.0 points per game). He was the only Bloomsburg player to finish in double figures in scoring last season and he also ranked second on the team in rebounding (6.0) and assists (2.2). His 19.0 scoring average was the highest single-season scoring average by a Bloomsburg player since Matt Jefferson averaged 19.1 points per game during the 2005-06 season.

STRONG SEASON ...
The Huskies finished last season with a 17-10 overall record and a 15-7 mark in the PSAC Eastern Division. The Huskies won ten of their final twelve games during the regular season but suffered a last-second 80-78 loss at Shippensburg in the opening round of the PSAC tournament to end the season. Last year's 17 victories marked the second-highest single-season total under Sanow, who is in his 11th season with the Huskies. Bloomsburg went 19-9 under Sanow during the 2011-12 campaign. Meanwhile, the Huskies' 15-7 conference record tied Sanow's 2011-12 squad for the best league record under his tutelage.

SANOW SECOND IN CAREER WINS AT BU ...
Head coach John Sanow is in his 11th season as the head coach of the Bloomsburg men's basketball program and has guided the Huskies to a 121-153 overall record to date - second in Bloomsburg history among career wins. Bloomsburg's 91-84 win at East Stroudsburg on January 30, 2016 was #113, which moved him ahead of Harold S. Shelly who won 112 games with the Huskies from 1949-1960.

UP NEXT ...
Bloomsburg heads west to visit Clarion next Saturday, December 10 - the team's final game of a four-game road swing. Start time is set for 3:00 p.m. The Huskies are 15-13 lifetime against the Golden Eagles.