media notes
#5 East Stroudsburg, PA "Warriors" (24-5) vs. #4 West Virginia State "Yellow Jackets" (28-3) (@ Indiana, PA) 5:00 p.m.
Head Coaches: ESU-Jeff Wilson, WVSU-Bryan Poore.
How They Qualified: East Stroudsburg is an at-large selection...West Virginia topped West Liberty 108-107 in a thrilling WVIAC Tournament championship game to earn the WVIAC's automatic bid.
NCAA Tournament Records: ESU 1-1 (2nd appearance), WVSU 3-4 (5th appearance).
Key Players: ESU: G-Andy Heimback (12.8 ppg, 2.0 apg), F-Mike Tobin (10.3 ppg, 7.2 rpg), F-Terrance King (8.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg), G-Robby Pines (8.2 ppg, 6.5 apg). WVSU: G-Josh Miller (20.7 ppg, 5.3 apg), G-Darren Jones (20.1 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 5.3 apg), G-Bo King (12.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.9 apg), G-Jason Emerson (10.6 ppg), F-Fred Harris (8.9 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 4.4 bpg).
Notes: East Stroudsburg is appearing in the NCAA Division II Tournament for the first time since 1990...WV State is playing in the NCAA post-season for the fourth time in the past five seasons...ESU head coach Jeff Wilson is the PSAC Eastern Division Coach of the Year after his squad established a school record for victories...West Virginia State ranks third nationally in scoring at 95.3 points per game...East Stroudsburg only allows 65.0 points per outing...State's Fred Harris stands second in Division II with 4.4 blocked shots per game...The WVSU backcourt of Josh Miller and Darren Jones each earned Daktronics All-Atlantic Region first team honors...Miller was also named the MVP of last week's WVIAC Tournament...The Jackets own a 13-game win streak.
#8 Fairmont State "Falcons" (22-7) at #1 Indiana, PA "Crimson Hawks" (28-2) 7:30 p.m.
Head Coaches: FSU-Tim Murphy, IUP-Joe Lombardi.
How They Qualified: Fairmont State is an at-large selection...IUP earned the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference's automatic bid after downing Kutztown 84-73 in that league's tournament championship contest.
NCAA Tournament Records: FSU 4-4 (5th appearance), IUP 14-8 (9th appearance).
Key Players: FSU: G-Steve Custis (16.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg), G-Isaac Thornton (15.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.8 apg), F-Terrence Green (12.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg), F-Dan Bruner (12.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg). IUP: G-Thomas Young (16.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 3.2 apg), F-Darryl Webb (15.3 ppg, 9.9 rpg), F-Akida McLain (15.3 ppg, 7.8 rpg), G-Julian Sanders (10.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg), G-Ashton Smith (8.7 ppg, 4.3 apg).
Notes: IUP is ranked second in the final National Association of Basketball Coaches Division II Top 25...The Crimson Hawks are 15-0 at home this season...FSU trails 7-3 in the all-time series...Fairmont State is playing in their first NCAA Tournament since 2000 when the Falcons were eliminated 79-73 by IUP in an East Region first round game at the University of Charleston...FSU ranks 13th nationally in turnover margin at plus-4.6 per game...The Falcons are 8-3 in road contests in 2009-10...IUP head coach Joe Lombardi is the PSAC Western Division Coach of the Year, while Thomas Young took top player honors in the division.
#7 Alderson-Broaddus "Battlers" (24-6) at #2 West Liberty "Hilltoppers" (27-2) 7:30 p.m.
Head Coaches: AB-Greg Zimmerman, WL-Jim Crutchfield
How They Qualified: Both are at-large selections.
NCAA Tournament Records: AB 6-8 (9th appearance), WL 0-1 (2nd appearance).
Key Players: AB: G-Jamar Board (20.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg), G-Terrell Eargle (15.1 ppg, 10.9 rpg, 4.1 apg, 3.3 spg), G-Carl Buck (12.5 ppg, 3.3 apg), G-Mark Summerfield (10.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg). WL: G-Corey Pelle (17.4 ppg, 5.3 apg), G-Mike Mathey (16.1 ppg, 6.3 apg, 6.1 rpg), G-Barry Shetzer (14.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg), F-John Wolosinczuk (13.6 ppg, 7.5 rpg), G-Jordan Fortney (13.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg).
Regular Season Meeting: Corey Pelle registered 28 points and Mike Mathey added a double-double of 21 points and 10 assists as West Liberty downed Alderson-Broaddus 89-82 on February 4...A-B shot 54 percent from the field, including 9-of-16 from long range, but was undone by 19 turnovers compared to West Liberty's 10 miscues...Jamar Board led the Battlers with 18 points and Carl Buck added 17.
Notes: Alderson-Broaddus is playing in their ninth NCAA Tournament in as many seasons under head coach Greg Zimmerman...West Liberty is participating in their first NCAA post-season since 2007...The contest is the first NCAA Tournament game hosted by West Liberty...The homestanding Toppers lead Division II in turnover margin (+6.8), assists per game (22.8), assist-to-turnover ratio (1.74 to 1), three-point field goals per game (13.0), and scoring margin per game (+24.9)...WL's 103.1 points per game is second nationally...A-B's Jamar Board paces D-II with 4.9 made three-pointers per contest...WVIAC Player of the Year Terrell Eargle is tenth nationally in rebounding and leads D-II in steals, a rare combination...West Liberty is ranked tenth nationally in the final D-II coaches' Top 25 poll...The Toppers have won 29 in a row on their home court, including a 12-0 mark this season.
NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Atlantic Regional
March 13-16
Saturday, March 13 (first round)
G1: #5 East Stroudsburg, PA (24-5) vs. #4 West Virginia State (28-3) (@ Indiana, PA) 5:00 p.m.
G2: #8 Fairmont State (22-7) at #1 Indiana, PA (28-2) 7:30 p.m.
G3: #6 Kutztown, PA (23-7) vs. #3 Saint Augustine's, NC (26-4) (@ West Liberty, W.Va.) 5:00 p.m.
G4: #7 Alderson-Broaddus (24-6) at #2 West Liberty (27-2) 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 14 (semifinals)
G5: Winner G1 vs. Winner G2 (@ Indiana, PA) 7:00 p.m.
G6: Winner G3 vs. Winner G4 (@ West Liberty, W.Va.) 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, March 16 (championship)
G7: Winner G5 vs. Winner G6 (@ highest remaining seed)