BLOOMSBURG (4-5, 0-5 PSAC East) at WEST CHESTER (5-5, 3-2 PSAC West)
Friday, December 30, 2016 - 7:30 p.m.
West Chester, Pa. | Hollinger Field House

GAME NOTES:
Bloomsburg at West Chester Game Notes

GAME COVERAGE:
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RELATED LINKS:
Bloomsburg - Roster | Schedule | Statistics
West Chester - Roster | Schedule | Statistics

LAST TIME OUT ...
Bloomsburg snapped a three-game losing streak on December 18 with a 79-70 victory over visiting Felician University at the Nelson Field House. The Huskies never trailed in the game but also never built up a larger lead than 11 points, 16-5, with 13:29 left in the opening half. Bloomsburg used clutch free-throw shooting to hold off the Golden Falcons as the Huskies went 22-of-26 at the charity stripe for the game - 10-of-11 in the second half. Redshirt junior Christian Mortellite (Hammonton, N.J./Hammonton) scored a season-high 29 points to lead three Huskies in double figures. Senior Donell Diggs (Washington, D.C./Takoma Academy (Prince George's CC)) chipped in with 16 points and a season-high eight assists while junior Carnell McGirt (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic (Valley Forge Military Academy)) had 11 points and six rebounds off the bench. Gjaimeir Stanford led the Golden Falcons with 24 points in a losing effort. The win was Bloomsburg's first in three tries against Felician in the all-time series.

STARTING FIVE ...
1 - Bloomsburg has announced a handful of roster moves as it enters divisional play. Redshirt junior Karonn Davis (Philadelphia, Pa./Friends' Central (Niagara Univ.)) and junior Khyree Hunt-Hawkins (Philadelphia, Pa./George Washington (Baltimore City CC)) have both left the team due to personal reasons. However, to make up for the loss, senior Yahmir Greenlee (Philadelphia, Pa./Boys Latin) has rejoined the roster. In his first season with the Huskies a year ago, Greenlee appeared in 18 games and earned one start. He averaged 4.7 points and 1.6 assists in 12.3 minutes per game as the backup point guard last year. He scored a career-high 14 points in a victory at Mansfield on February 6, 2016.
2 - Redshirt junior Christian Mortellite (Hammonton, N.J./Hammonton) continues his rapid ascent up Bloomsburg's all-time scoring list. After his 29 points against Felician, Mortellite moved into 23rd place on the school's all-time list with 1,075 career points. He leapfrogged Jay DeShields (1998-02) and now trails Terry Conrad (1979-83) by six points and Larry Webster (2008-12) by eleven points to jump into 21st place. He has scored at least 20 points in eight of the nine games this season and has 28 career 20-point efforts in 61 collegiate games. He has hit double figures in 45 of his last 47 games and has been held to under 10 points in a game only nine times in his career.
3 - 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 8.1 points and 4.9 boards through nine games.
4 - In each of the first two games, Bloomsburg has had five players reach double figures in scoring. Christian Mortellite (Hammonton, N.J./Hammonton) (20), Karonn Davis (Philadelphia, Pa./Friends' Central (Niagara Univ.)) (14), Kyle-Michael Rose (Middletown, Del./Sanford School (Highland CC)) (12), Carnell McGirt (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic (Valley Forge Military Academy)) (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), Malik Sneed (Washington, D.C./Spingarn (Prince George's CC)) (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 the 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 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 had not had three players post a double-double in the same game since prior to the 1990-1991 season.

THE SERIES ...
West Chester leads the all-time series against Bloomsburg, 66-64.

LAST MEETING AGAINST WEST CHESTER ...
West Chester jumped out to a 41-21 lead at halftime and went on to knock off the Huskies, 87-64, at the Nelson Field House on February 3, 2016. Bloomsburg made only 7-of-29 (24.1%) from the field in the first half as West Chester built up the 20-point halftime lead. The Golden Rams extended the lead to as many as 33 points early in the second half before settling for the 23-point win. The Huskies shot only 32.8% from the field for the game while West Chester connected on 53.7% of it shots and made 11-of-24 (45.8%) from long range. Four Huskies finished in double figures - Alex Prislupsky (Olyphant, Pa./Mid-Valley) (12), Malik Garner (Philadelphia, Pa./Chestnut Hill Academy) (11), Christian Mortellite (Hammonton, N.J./Hammonton) (11), and Yahmir Greenlee (Philadelphia, Pa./Boys Latin) (11) - while the Golden Rams had five players in double digits, led by Malik Jackson's 22 points.

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN RAMS ...
West Chester enters the contest with a 5-5 overall record and a 3-2 mark in the PSAC Eastern Division. The Golden Rams are a perfect 3-0 at the Hollinger Field House this season but they have not been home since a 94-92 victory over Bowie State on November 26. In its last contest, West Chester knocked off Wilmington, on the road, 91-78, on December 12. West Chester is third in the PSAC in scoring offense (83.3) but is 16th in scoring defense (82.3). Malik Jackson leads the team, and the conference, in scoring as he averages 23.8 points per game. He is coming off of a career-high 36 points in the win at Wilmington. Matt Penecale runs the point and is averaging 12.7 points and 4.9 assists in ten games this season. He is tied for seventh in the league in assists and tied for sixth, along with Jackson, in steals (1.9). Keep an eye on Thomas White who averages 8.5 points and 4.9 rebounds in only 17.8 minutes per game off the bench.

NEW MEMBER OF THE 1,000-POINT CLUB ...
On Saturday, December 3, redshirt junior Christian Mortellite (Hammonton, N.J./Hammonton) became the latest member of Bloomsburg University's 1,000-point club when he hit a pair of second-half free throws during the Huskies' 74-68 loss at Mercyhurst. All told, 29 players have hit the milestone in Bloomsburg's history with Mike Ellzy leading the way with 1,911 career points (1993-97). Mortellite now has 1,075 points in his Huskies' career - 23rd on the school's all-time list. He needs six points to tie Terry Conrad (1979-83) for 22nd and eleven points to tie Larry Webster (2008-12) for 21st on the all-time list.

CLIMBING ANOTHER LIST ...
Not only is Christian Mortellite (Hammonton, N.J./Hammonton) climbing the school's scoring list, but he is also rapidly ascending the program's all-time list for career three-pointers. He owns sole possession of fifth on the school's all-time list after he surpassed Aaron Carter and Mike Cheatle with four triples in the win over Lincoln on November 15. Mortellite now has 154 for his career. Next in his sights is Jay DeShields who knocked down 205 triples from 1998-2002.

NOT FOUL AT THE LINE ...
Bloomsburg has been impressive from the charity stripe this season as it ranks fourth in the PSAC, and 50th in the country, in free-throw percentage (75.1%). Senior Donell Diggs (Washington, D.C./Takoma Academy (Prince George's CC)) (90.5%) and redshirt junior Christian Mortellite (Hammonton, N.J./Hammonton) (88.6%) and third and fourth in the league, respectively, in accuracy. Junior Kyle-Michael Rose (Middletown, Del./Sanford School (Highland CC)) (76.7%) is 18th in the PSAC. The Huskies have also made a living at the line as they have made more trips to the stripe than their opponent in eight of the nine games and have scored more from the line in all nine of the contests.

DOWNTOWN WITH THE HUSKIES ...
The Huskies have made at least one three-pointer in 163 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). Mortellite is tied for fifth in the PSAC in three-point percentage (46.3%), second in the PSAC (sixth in the country) in three-pointers per game (4.1), and tied for first in the PSAC in total three-pointers (37). Mortellite is 37-of-80 from long range - the rest of the team is 25-of-89 (28.1%).

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 fifth on the team in scoring (8.1) and fourth in rebounding (4.9) 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 (51.0%) and has also been efficient at the foul line, going 23-of-30 (76.7%). More than half of his 44 rebounds (23) have come on the offensive glass. He is tied for first on the team in offensive rebounds through nine games (Malik Sneed (Washington, D.C./Spingarn (Prince George's CC))).

BENCH PRODUCTION ...
Through nine games this season, the bench has produced a total of 145 points - an average of 16.1 points per game. The Huskies' bench has been outscored in four of the nine games this season, including a 36-6 margin in the loss at Mercyhurst and a 31-14 spread in the team's win at Wilmington on November 26. Bloomsburg's season-high for bench production came against Pitt-Johnstown when the reserves scored 27 of the team's 70 points. However, most of that came from Prislupsky who scored a career-high 19 points in the one-point loss. On the flip side, Bloomsburg opponents have totaled 194 bench points through nine games (21.6 per game).

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 after his performance against Wilmington. 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.

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). 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.

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 122-156 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 ...
The Huskies will be back in action on Tuesday, January 3 when they entertain Cheyney University at the Nelson Field House. Start time is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. The Huskies and the Wolves have met 135 times in the all-time series with Bloomsburg holding the slimmest of margins, 68-67.