Men's Basketball | 2/8/2019 11:26:00 AM

GAME COVERAGE
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GAME NOTES (PDF)

RELATED LINKS
• Bloomsburg: Schedule | Roster | Statistics
• Lock Haven: Schedule | Roster | Statistics

THE MATCHUP
• The Bloomsburg University men's basketball team looks to get back in the win column on Saturday afternoon when it travels to Lock Haven University. Bloomsburg will be looking to snap an eight-game losing skid while Lock Haven can clinch the final postseason spot in the PSAC East with a victory.

THE SERIES
• Bloomsburg leads the all-time series against Lock Haven, 103-35. The Huskies have won eight straight against the Bald Eagles dating back to Lock Haven's last victory over Bloomsburg on January 24, 2015 (94-82). The Huskies earned a 77-71 home win over the Bald Eagles on January 2, behind 22 points from Ky Mauras (Reading, Pa./Reading) and 15 points and 14 rebounds from Travis Elmore (Tobyhanna, Pa./Pocono Mountain West). Christian Kelly led Lock Haven with 22 points and nine rebounds.

SCOUTING THE HUSKIES
• Sekou Fofana (Philadelphia, Pa./West Catholic) tallied 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds but Bloomsburg suffered a 99-77 road setback at Kutztown on Wednesday night. Fofana led five Huskies in double figures with his 16 points and tied for the team lead with his seven rebounds. Fellow freshman Travis Elmore (Tobyhanna, Pa./Pocono Mountain West) added 15 points and seven boards while tying a career-high with four assists.  Redshirt sophomore Peyton Mortellite (Hammonton, N.J./Hammonton) tallied 11 points and three assists and redshirt junior Sam Saxton (York, Pa./Central York) finished with 12 points. Freshman Devon Ferrero (King of Prussia, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) was the fifth Husky to finish in double figures, scoring 10 points in just 10 minutes of action. Another freshman, William Melson (Allentown, Pa./Dieruff), chipped in seven points, three rebounds, three assists, and a career-high five steals.

• 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 fifth in the PSAC in field goal percentage (54.7%). He also leads the team (tied for 12th in PSAC) in rebounding (7.6). Elmore reached double figures in scoring in his first 13 games this season and has accomplished the feat in 18 of his first 20 collegiate contests. Fofana, meanwhile, has been on a tear as of late and has started each of the last four games, averaging 19.0 points in those four starts. Fofana posts 10.9 points and 5.0 rebounds per game - in just an average of 20.4 minutes - and has reached double figures in scoring in 11 of his last 14 games. Those figures translate to 21.4 points and 9.8 rebounds per 40 minutes. A third freshman, Melson has started each of the last two games and is averaging 10.0 points, 5.0 assists, and 3.0 steals in those two starts.

• Saxton averages 9.4 points and 4.8 rebounds per game which are both career highs. In addition, he averages 2.5 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 three games. After averaging 1.8 points over his first six games, Mortellite is averaging 8.6 points over his last seven, including a career-high 15 points (on a career-high five triples) on Saturday afternoon against West Chester. He has been in double figures in three of the last four games and is 13-of-26 from deep during the stretch.

• The Huskies are 10th in the PSAC in scoring offense (73.6) but are last in scoring defense (87.5). Shooting and turnovers have also been a struggle for Bloomsburg this season as it ranks 16th in turnover margin (-4.5), 13th in field goal percentage (43.1%), and last in the PSAC in both three-point percentage (29.1%) and free throw percentage (63.2%). Bloomsburg's rebounding is 12th in the league (-1.0).

• Bloomsburg has made at least one three-pointer in 228 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 (5.8) 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 LOCK HAVEN
• Lock Haven has won two straight and three of its last four to move to 9-10 overall and 6-8 in the PSAC East. The Bald Eagles can clinch the final spot in the east with a win over the Huskies on Saturday. Lock Haven is 6-3 at the Thomas Fieldhouse this season including three wins in its last four at home.

• Individually, the Bald Eagles are led by Matt Cerruti who averages 18.5 points per game on the season - seventh in the PSAC. Kelly is right behind at 18.3 points per contest which is ninth in the conference. Kelly also leads the team in rebounding (6.8) and three-pointers made (45). Cerruti is third on the team in rebounding (6.1) and is second in assists (47) and steals (26). Jesse McPherson and Jihad Barnes are also in double figures in scoring as each chips in 10.2 points per game. McPherson leads the team with 33 blocked shots (third in the PSAC) while Barnes is tops on the team in assists (79) and steals (28). His 4.2 assists per game ranks ninth in the conference.

• As a team, the Bald Eagles are 11th in the PSAC in scoring at 73.3 points per game and right in the middle of the conference in scoring defense (74.3). Lock Haven is excellent at the foul line as it ranks second in the PSAC at 73.3%. The Bald Eagles are 13th in rebounding margin (-1.5) but ranks ninth in the PSAC in turnover magin (+1.32). Lock Haven takes care of the ball quite well as it averages only 12.7 turnovers per game - fourth fewest in the PSAC.

UP NEXT
• The Huskies return to the Nelson Field House on Wednesday, February 13, when they play their final non-conference game of the season against the Wolves of Cheyney University. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

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