Men's Basketball | 2/25/2018 2:00:00 PM

#5E BLOOMSBURG (15-11, 11-11 PSAC East) at #4E KUTZTOWN (20-6, 16-6 PSAC East)
Monday, February 26, 2018 - 7:30 p.m.
PSAC First Round
Kutztown, Pa. | Keystone Arena

GAME NOTES
Bloomsburg vs Kutztown Game Notes

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Bloomsburg - Roster | Schedule | Statistics
Kutztown - Roster | Schedule | Statistics

STARTING FIVE ...
- This will be the 166th meeting between the two schools with the Huskies leading the all-time series, 108-57. However, the Golden Bears have owned the series recently as they have won seven of the last eight - and 12 of the last 15 - against Bloomsburg. Kutztown has also won 16 consecutive games over the Huskies at Keystone Arena dating back to a 70-61 Bloomsburg win on January 23, 2002.

- It marks the 23rd PSAC tournament appearace for the Huskies and they come in with a record of 21-21 postseason games - 2-0 lifetime against Kutztown. Bloomsburg has not won a playoff game since an 82-71 home victory over the Golden Bears on March 1, 2014. The Huskies have lost six of their last seven in postseason play dating back to 2002.

- With 18:54 left in regulation on January 31 against Kutztown, Christian Mortellite (Hammonton, N.J./Hammonton) became the program's all-time leading scorer as he passed Mike Ellzy's total of 1,911 from 1993-97. Then, at Mansfield on Wednesday, February 21, Mortellite became just the 12th player in PSAC history to record 2,000 career points. With 2,026 career points, Mortellite is ninth  on the PSAC's all-time scoring list.

- Mortellite has now made 313 three-pointers in his career and has moved into seventh on the PSAC's all-time list. He became only the eighth player in conference history to record 300 career triples midway through the second half against Millersville on February 10. He trails California's Ryan Stefanski (1999-03) by one and trails West Chester's Damien Blair (1991-95) by four to move into the top five all-time.
 
- Kyle-Michael Rose (Middletown, Del./Sanford School) has moved into second place on the school's all-time list career blocked shot list with 134 career blocks. His 65 blocks this season marks the second-highest total in a single year in Bloomsburg history (Elwood Vines blocked 107 shots in 1992-93). Rose trails only Larry Webster (Hagerstown, MD/Elkton)'s school-record of 175 set from 2008-12. Rose currently ranks third in the PSAC, and 13th in the country, in blocks per game (2.50).

THE SERIES ...
This will be the 166th meeting between the two schools with the Huskies leading the all-time series, 108-57. However, the Golden Bears have owned the series recently as they have won seven of the last eight - and 12 of the last 15 - against Bloomsburg. Kutztown has also won 16 consecutive games over the Huskies at Keystone Arena dating back to a 70-61 Bloomsburg win on January 23, 2002.

LAST TIME OUT ...
Bloomsburg dropped its regular season finale, 85-74, at Shippensburg on Saturday afternoon at Heiges Field House. Four Huskies finished in double figures, led by sophomore Khary Mauras (Reading, Pa./Reading) who finished with 21 points. The point guard with 7-of-12 from the field (2-of-3 from three-point range) and 5-of-5 from the foul line. Senior Kyle-Michael Rose (Middletown, Del./Sanford School) added 16 points and a team-high nine rebounds. Freshman Nicholas King (Easton, Pa./Freedom) scored a career-high 12 points, including a perfect 6-of-6 from the charity stripe, in a career-high 16 minutes. The Huskies also received 10 points from freshman Matthew Kachelries (Macungie, Pa./Emmaus) and a team-high three steals off the bench. Redshirt senior Christian Mortellite (Hammonton, N.J./Hammonton) was held in single digits for just the second time this season. He scored nine points and grabbed seven rebounds in the loss.

Kutztown had five players score in double-figures for the fifth time this season, as it gathered some much needed momentum in an 85-62 regular season finale win at Lock Haven Saturday afternoon. The Golden Bears won their 20th game of the season - just the seventh time in program history, but, the third straight season. Playing without its facilitator in senior point guard Ethan Ridgeway, Kutztown found other distributors for its scorers. The Golden Bears had 18 total assists and had five players tally double-digit points, led by 17 points from sophomore Max Wagner. The 17 points marked a career-high for Wagner, who also grabbed nine rebounds. Moe Williams and Anthony Lee both netted 14 points, and Rafiq Marshall and Josh Townsend each contributed 10 points.

SCOUTING BLOOMSBURG ...
The Huskies enter the postseason after finishing the regular season with a 15-11 overall record and an 11-11 mark in the PSAC East. The Huskies enter as the fifth seed in the Eastern Division and will participate in the PSAC tournament for the third straight year, and sixth time in the last seven seasons. Bloomsburg is fifth in the PSAC in scoring at 81.6 points per game and ranks 10th in the league in scoring defense at 78.3. The team is seventh in the league in rebounding margin (+1.5) and tied for eighth in the league in turnover margin (0.19). The Huskies average just 13.2 turnovers per game - the fifth-best mark in the PSAC.

Redshirt senior Christian Mortellite (Hammonton, N.J./Hammonton) leads the Huskies, and is tied for seventh in the PSAC, in scoring by averaging 20.8 points per game. He has scored at least 25 points nine times and has reached double figures in 24 of the 26 contests. On January 31 against Kutztown, Mortellite became the school's all-time leading scorer as he surpassed Mike Ellzy (1993-97) who finished his career with 1,911 points. Then, on Wednesday, February 21 at Mansfield, he became the 12th player in PSAC history to record 2,000 career points. He is ninth on the PSAC's all-time scoring list with 2,026 points. He became the eighth player in PSAC history to record 300 three-pointers against Millersville on February 10 and ranks seventh in conference history with 313 career makes. Mortellite also leads the team in rebounding (6.8), is second in steals (1.4), and is second in assists (2.6). He is tops in the league in free-throw percentage (90.1%; 100-of-111) and ranks second in threes-per-game (3.31). Sophomore Khary Mauras (Reading, Pa./Reading) is second on the team in scoring as he averages 13.6 points per game. He recorded what is believed to be the program's first triple-double (21 pts, 11 reb, 13 ast) against Lock Haven on February 3 - three days after his first career double-double (12 pts, 10 reb) against Kutztown on January 31. Mauras is averaging 15.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 2.5 steals over the last 11 games. He leads the team in assists (115) and steals (46) and ranks eighth in the PSAC in assists per game (4.3), tied for seventh in steals (1.8), and tied for eighth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.9). Senior Kyle-Michael Rose (Middletown, Del./Sanford School) is third on the team in scoring, averaging 12.5 points per game after averaging 5.6 points per game through his first two seasons. He ranks second on the team in rebounding (6.1) and free-throw percentage (81.9%; 86-of-105). Rose leads the team with 65 blocked shots, which ranks as the second-most total in a single season in program history (Elwood Vines blocked 107 shots in 1992-93). Rose is third in the PSAC, and 13th in the country, in blocks per game (2.50) and is second on the school's all-time list (Larry Webster (Hagerstown, MD/Elkton), 175) with 134 career swats. Graduate student Hashim Moore (Sunrise, Fla./Hun School) is also in double figures, averaging 10.7 points and 5.2 rebounds. He posted his first career double-double on Wednesday, February 14, with 22 points and 13 rebounds against East Stroudsburg.  

SCOUTING KUTZTOWN ...
The Golden Bears enter the postseason as the Eastern Division's fourth seed after finishing the regular season with a 20-6 overall record and a 16-6 mark in league play. It marked the seventh time in school history that the team reached 20 victories in a season with six of those coming under head coach Bernie Driscoll. The Golden Bears have reached 20 wins in three straight years. Kutztown is 12-2 at Keystone Arena this season and has won 16 straight home games against Bloomsburg dating back to 2002. The team is second in the PSAC in scoring at 88.0 points per game but is just 11th in the league in points allowed (79.1). Kutztown comes in ranked sixth in the league in rebounding margin (+2.3) and fifth in turnover margin (+1.15). The Golden Bears force opponents into 16.6 turnovers per game - fourth-most in the conference.

Anthony Lee leads the team, and is third in the PSAC in scoring at 21.5 points per game. He shoots 53.9% from the field - fifth in the PSAC - and leads the conference in three-point percentage at 50.3% (76-of-151). He also seldom misses at the foul line as he ranks third in the PSAC in that department (88.5%; 108-of-122). Ethan Ridgeway is having a monster year at point guard as he averages 17.7 points per game while leading the league in assists per game (8.2). He is, however, prone to turnovers as he has turned the ball over 109 times this season - an average of 4.4 miscues per contest. Moe Williams is also scoring in double figures as he averages 10.3 points per game. Williams is also the team's leading rebounder (8.6) and ranks second in blocked shots with 23. Williams has posted five straight double-doubles as is averaging 14.6 points and 12.0 rebounds during the stretch. Rafiq Marshall is at 9.9 points per game but is averaging nearly 12 points per game since the beginning of January.

BROKEN RECORDS ...
Christian Mortellite (Hammonton, N.J./Hammonton) became the school's all-time leading scorer against Kutztown on January 31 - just another added to the laundry list of records he currently owns. Mortellite now holds the school record for most career points (2,026), most points in a season (613), most threes in a season (110), most career threes made (313), most career free throws made (437), most three-point attempts in a season (255), and most career three-point attempts (742). He could still break several other records by season's end including most career field goals made (needs 55), most career free throws attempted (needs 43), highest career scoring average (Richard Lloyd - 19.4), highest career three-point percentage (Joe Stepanski - 43.0%), and highest career free throw percentage (Glenn Noack - 84.6%). Mortellite currently ranks ninth on the PSAC's all-time scoring list with 2,026 points and also ranks seventh on the PSAC's all-time list in career three-pointers with 313. He became only the 12th player in PSAC history to record 2,000 points with a three-pointer early in the second half at Mansfield on February 21.

HISTORIC MONTH ...
Two historic accomplishments were achieved in the span of three days at the Nelson Field House for the Bloomsburg men's basketball program. On Wednesday, January 31, Christian Mortellite (Hammonton, N.J./Hammonton) became the school's all-time leading scorer after a driving layup with 18:54 left in regulation against Kutztown. The basket gave him 1,913 points for his career, surpassing Mike Ellzy's previous record of 1,911 from 1993-97. Then, on Saturday, February 3, sophomore Khary Mauras (Reading, Pa./Reading) recorded what is believed to be the program's first-ever triple-double in an eight-point win over Lock Haven. Mauras had 21 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists, recording the 19th triple-double in Division II this season and only the second by a PSAC player (Seton Hill's Spencer Casson had the first). Finally, on Wednesday, February 21, Mortellite became only the 12th player in PSAC history to record 2,000 career points when he nailed a three-pointer with 14:35 left in regulation.

BLOCK PARTY ...
With his 65 blocks this season, senior Kyle-Michael Rose (Middletown, Del./Sanford School) has moved into second place on the school's all-time list with 134 career blocks. Rose became the seventh player in school history to record 100 blocked shots with three against Cheyney on January 6. He is currently third in the PSAC, and 13th in the country, in blocks per game (2.50). Rose's 65 blocks this season ranks second only to Elwood Vines' 107 swats during the 1992-93 campaign for most blocked shots in a single season. Meanwhile, Rose trails only Larry Webster (Hagerstown, MD/Elkton)'s (2008-12) all-time record of 175 career blocks from 2008-12.

DOWNTOWN WITH THE HUSKIES ...
The Huskies have made at least one three-pointer in 207 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 made at least ten three-pointers in a game eight times last season after achieving that feat just one time in 2015-16. Bloomsburg has reached double digits five times this season but has made at least five in 20 of its 26 games. The Huskies are sixth in the PSAC, averaging 7.4 threes per game and sixth in percentage (36.2%).

GETTING TO THE STRIPE ...
Bloomsburg is shooting 74.1% from the free throw line this season - fourth in the PSAC - and has outscored its opponents from the stripe in 20 of the 26 games. The Huskies are +103 from the foul line this season (429-326). Bloomsburg features three of the top 14 foul shooters in the PSAC this season - Christian Mortellite (Hammonton, N.J./Hammonton) (1st, 90.1%), Kyle-Michael Rose (Middletown, Del./Sanford School) (11th, 81.9%), and Khary Mauras (Reading, Pa./Reading) (14th, 80.4%). The home win over Lock Haven on February 3, marked the first, and only, time this season that Bloomsburg won despite being outscored (1-5) and out-attempted (1-7) from the foul line.

WELCOME TO DIVISION II ...
Bloomsburg has three Division I transfers on this year's roster - sophomore Austin Harriott (Philadelphia, Pa./Hun School) (Loyola (Md.)), sophomore Khary Mauras (Reading, Pa./Reading) (Old Dominion), and graduate student Hashim Moore (Sunrise, Fla./Hun School) (Princeton). Mauras is second on the team in scoring (13.6) and leads the team - eighth in the PSAC - in assists (4.3). He posted what is believed to be the program's first-ever triple-double (21 pts, 11 reb, 13 ast) against Lock Haven on February 3. Moore is averaging 10.7 points and 5.2 rebounds. After opening the season by averaging 3.7 points in his first three games, Moore is averaging 11.6 points, while shooting 111-of-187 (59.4%) from the field over his last 23 games. Moore posted his first career double-double (22 pts, 13 reb) against East Stroudsburg on Wednesday, February 14. Harriott averages 6.7 points while ranking third on the team in rebounding (5.8) and second in blocks (20). He posted his first career double-double (11 pts, 11 reb) at Cheyney on February 7.

MORE ON MORTELLITE ...
Mortellite has 56 career 20-point efforts (104 games) and nine career 30-point games. He has hit double figures in 86 of his last 91 games and has been held to under 10 points in a game only 12 times in his career. This season, he has been held to single digits twice - nine points at Pitt-Johnstown (November 18) and nine points at Shippensburg (February 24). He currently ranks ninth on the PSAC's all-time scoring list with 2,026 points and is seventh on the PSAC's all-time list in career three-pointers with 313.
 
THAT'S OFFENSIVE ...
Bloomsburg posted 110-59 victory over visiting Cheyney on January 6. The Huskies had five double-digit scorers and all 12 players that appeared in the game scored at least two points in the victory. The 51-point margin of victory was Bloomsburg's largest since a 91-38 win over Penn State Wilkes Barre on December 7, 2009 and the 110 points scored marked the most by a Huskies' team in a single game since December 10, 1999 when Bloomsburg defeated the University of Bridgeport, 123-56. Prior to the 98-62 loss at East Stroudsburg on January 13, the Huskies had scored at least 90 points in four straight games - the longest streak in program history. Bloomsburg had done it in three straight games three times with the most recent coming in the 2010-11 season.

UP NEXT ...
The winner of the Bloomsburg-Kutztown first round playoff game will head to the Eastern Division's top seed, East Stroudsburg University, for a quarterfinal matchup on Wednesday, February 28. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. The Warriors swept the Huskies this season winning both games by a combined total of 54 points.