Men's Basketball | 2/5/2019 10:39:00 AM

GAME COVERAGE
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GAME NOTES (PDF)

RELATED LINKS
• Bloomsburg: Schedule | Roster | Statistics
• Kutztown: Schedule | Roster | Statistics

THE MATCHUP
• The Bloomsburg University men's basketball team looks to get back in the win column on Wednesday night when it heads to Kutztown University for a PSAC Eastern Division matchup. Bloomsburg has dropped seven straight and is searching for its first victory away from home this season. The Golden Bears, meanwhile, are fifth in the PSAC East and looking to solidify their chances at reaching the postseason.

THE SERIES
• Bloomsburg leads the all-time series against Kutztown, 108-59. However, the Golden Bears have won each of the last six meetings, and nine of the last ten, against the Huskies. Back on January 5 at the Nelson Field House, Kutztown posted an 80-69 win over Bloomsburg. Each team had three players in double figures with Kutztown's Anthony Lee posting a game-high 20 points.

SCOUTING THE HUSKIES
• The Huskies' trio of talented freshmen shined, but Bloomsburg's second-half rally came up short in a 91-74 loss to visiting West Chester on Saturday. In just his second start of the season, William Melson (Allentown, Pa./Dieruff) was excellent for the Huskies pouring in 13 points and dishing out a team-high seven assists. Sekou Fofana (Philadelphia, Pa./West Catholic) collected his first career double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds while Travis Elmore (Tobyhanna, Pa./Pocono Mountain West) was the third freshman to dazzle, splashing in 13 points and grabbing 10 boards. Peyton Mortellite (Hammonton, N.J./Hammonton) drilled a career-high five threes en route to a team-high 15 points while Sam Saxton (York, Pa./Central York) was the fifth Husky to finish in double-figures, adding 11 points in 37 minutes of action. Melson and Elmore each played all 40 minutes while Mortellite logged 33 minutes.

• Bloomsburg features a pair of talented freshmen this season in Elmore and Fofana. Elmore is second on the team in scoring (14.7 ppg) and is fourth in the PSAC in field goal percentage (55.2%). He also leads the team (12th in PSAC) in rebounding (7.6). Elmore reached double figures in scoring in his first 13 games this season and in 17 of his first 19 collegiate contests. Fofana, meanwhile, has been on a tear as of late and has started each of the last three games, averaging 20.0 points in those three starts. Fofana posts 10.6 points and 4.9 rebounds per game - in just an average of 19.8 minutes - and has reached double figures in scoring in 10 of his last 13 games. Those figures translate to 21.4 points and 9.9 rebounds per 40 minutes. A third freshman, Melson scored 13 points and had a career-high seven assists in his second start on Saturday and appears to be in line for more minutes down the stretch. He is posting 13.0 points and 4.0 assists in his two starts this season.

• Sam Saxton (York, Pa./Central York) averages 9.2 points and 4.9 rebounds per game which are both career highs. In addition, he averages 2.6 assists per game which ranks in the top 25 in the PSAC. Bloomsburg is also getting solid minutes from Mortellite who has started each of the last two games. After averaging 1.8 points over his first six games, Mortellite is averaging 8.2 points over his last six, including a career-high 15 points (on a career-high five triples) on Saturday afternoon.

• The Huskies are 11th in the PSAC in scoring offense (73.4) but are last in scoring defense (86.8). Shooting and turnovers have also been a struggle for Bloomsburg this season as it ranks 16th in turnover margin (-4.6), 12th in field goal percentage (43.1%), and last in the PSAC in both three-point percentage (28.8%) and free throw percentage (62.3%). Bloomsburg's rebounding is 11th in the league (-0.3).

• Bloomsburg has made at least one three-pointer in 227 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. The Huskies are, however, 14th in the PSAC this season in triples made per game (5.7) and are last in the league in three-point percentage (28.8%). Bloomsburg has hit 10 three-pointers in a game only three times this season.

SCOUTING KUTZTOWN
• Kutztown has had a see-saw season in 2018-19 as it has not had a losing streak longer than two games while its season-long winning streak was three from January 2 to January 9. The Golden Bears are 12-10 overall - but just 5-5 at Keystone Arena - while their 6-8 conference record is fifth in the PSAC East.

• The offense revolves around superstar redshirt senior Anthony Lee as he leads the PSAC (third in the country) in scoring at 27.7 points per game. Lee also leads, or is tied for the team lead, in three-pointers (66), assists (4.4), blocked shots (23), and steals (38). He is shooting 51.6% (199-of-386) from the field, 41.5% (66-of-159) from long distance, and 89.6% (149-of-163) from the foul line. His 610 points this season accounts for nearly one-third of Kutztown's total points on the year (1,843). Also keep an eye on Moe Williams who averages 11.7 points and 8.8 rebounds while shooting 55.7% from the field. Ricky Hicks (9.3 ppg, 76 ast), Josh Townsend (9.0 ppg, 7.7 rpg), and Kiyon Hardy (8.5 ppg) also rank among team leaders in several categories.

• Kutztown averages 83.8 points per game which is second in the PSAC trailing only East Stroudsburg at 85.6. However, the Golden Bears are 15th in scoring defense at 81.0 points per game. Kutztown also ranks in the top ten in the PSAC in field goal percentage (2nd), three-point percentage (2nd), free-throw percentage (7th), and rebounding (5th).

UP NEXT
• Bloomsburg will be back on the road on Saturday, February 9, when it makes the short trip to Lock Haven University for a tip-off against the Bald Eagles. Start time is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.

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