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Saturday certainly isn't the flashy lineup we saw mid-week. But, with just 10 games left in the regular season (wow) ... they all matter now. For some, the NCAA Tournament is in play. For most, the PSAC Tournament is in the mix. It's sure a big advantage to get a home game in Round 1 or Round 2.
Mercyhurst at California - The Vulcans need this game. Cal is 0-4 against the top tier teams of the PSAC -- three of those losses were by double digits. Both teams enter the game with 8-4 records in the league. The Lakers have won 4 of 5 in the series. Several of Cal's players will be facing the awkward Triangle and Two for the first time. Going back to his Wheeling Jesuit teams, Danny Sancomb has struggled against it in the past (and got completely shut down by it twice a year ago). Cal is much better this year, but they are struggling to put a full 40 minutes together against the better teams. Look for a close game, but when it's over, the Lake Show leaves the Mon Valley with a win -- likely in the 68-63 range. Mercyhurst -5
Clarion at IUP - All signs point in one direction for IUP entering this game: hangover. Coming off a thrilling win in Johnstown, the now (even more) short-handed Crimson Hawks have to turn it back on. However, unlike the UPJ game, this one has no hype or buzz. The adrenaline won't be flowing. Most don't realize it, either, but Clarion has been playing pretty well lately. In this most-recent stretch, Clarion took UPJ to the wire (lost 67-64), lost to Gannon by single digits and beat Edinboro and Bloomsburg. Ideally, IUP needs to come out and crush their spirits quickly. However, the Hawks have oddly struggled in the first half all season inside the KCAC. Clarion has a lot of size -- old school PSAC size. IUP needs to play fast and run them out of the building. Clarion hung real tough with UPJ by slowing the game to a turtles' pace. Expect another sluggish home start for IUP before the Hawks pull away in the second half. IUP -18
Kutztown at Shepherd - The Rams must win this game. No exceptions. They might as well treat it as a playoff game. A loss tomorrow could spell doom for Shepherd. The Golden Bears are still in the mix of things to host a Round 1 game in the conference tournament. Big game for both teams. Shepherd is better than its record -- some nights, anyway. The Rams get a big home win ... and even further clutter up the East standings. Shepherd -3
East Stroudsburg at Gannon - The Golden Knights have officially hit a funk. Gannon has lost 3 of its past 4 outings -- the last two coming by 7 points total. ESU ended its 4-game skid with back-to-back wins over Mansfield and West Chester. These two have been very similar this year. Both look good at times ... and not so good at times. Both have struggled to close out some games they should have won. The Knights easily could have won their past two games but dropped both. This is a pretty good match-up. Different styles, but some of Gannon's strengths should actually play out well against ESU's 40-minute pressure. Call it a hunch ... GU gets a messy, mucked-up, hard-fought win. Barely. Knights -3
Shippensburg at Lock Haven - The Red Raiders lost their last trip to Lock Haven. That in itself is about the only ray of hope the Bald Eagles have in this game. Lock Haven, next to Mercyhurst's MAC, is probably the next most awkward gym in the league. It's a weird set-up. There's a wall behind the benches, etc. It's an ideal set-up for wrestling. Not so much basketball. Many visiting teams have issues there for at least a little bit with sight lines, etc. Add to it there's typically about 13 people in the stands. The Bald Eagles play pretty well there, too. West Chester didn't survive this trip a week ago. Lock Haven's starting group can keep this game close for a while. Matt Cerruti and Christian Kelly are top-notch guards. The bench, however, will tell the tale. The Bald Eagles don't have one. Ship pulls away in the second half. Red Raiders -11
UPJ at Seton Hill - It's not going to be a good day to be a Griffin. UPJ is going to take out its frustrations in the McKenna Center. Mountain Cats roll. Real Big. UPJ -27
Edinboro at Slippery Rock - Until (if) Anthony Coleman returns, Edinboro may not win another game. The Rock has some fun -- and wins BIG. SRU -23
Millersville at Mansfield - The Mauraders should win this game. Which, of course, means they probably will not. For the majority of the season, Mansfield has been pretty bad. However, they have shown the occasional flash of being decent. All logic points to Millersville. But, don't be shocked. Marauders -7
West Chester at Bloomsburg - What in the world is going on with these two? The Huskies have lost 4 in a row. West Chester has fallen off a national stage cliff by losing 4 of its past 5 games. The good news, at least for somebody, is one of them is going to get a win. That somebody will the Rams. I think. Probably. Maybe. West Chester -9
Mercyhurst at California - The Vulcans need this game. Cal is 0-4 against the top tier teams of the PSAC -- three of those losses were by double digits. Both teams enter the game with 8-4 records in the league. The Lakers have won 4 of 5 in the series. Several of Cal's players will be facing the awkward Triangle and Two for the first time. Going back to his Wheeling Jesuit teams, Danny Sancomb has struggled against it in the past (and got completely shut down by it twice a year ago). Cal is much better this year, but they are struggling to put a full 40 minutes together against the better teams. Look for a close game, but when it's over, the Lake Show leaves the Mon Valley with a win -- likely in the 68-63 range. Mercyhurst -5
Clarion at IUP - All signs point in one direction for IUP entering this game: hangover. Coming off a thrilling win in Johnstown, the now (even more) short-handed Crimson Hawks have to turn it back on. However, unlike the UPJ game, this one has no hype or buzz. The adrenaline won't be flowing. Most don't realize it, either, but Clarion has been playing pretty well lately. In this most-recent stretch, Clarion took UPJ to the wire (lost 67-64), lost to Gannon by single digits and beat Edinboro and Bloomsburg. Ideally, IUP needs to come out and crush their spirits quickly. However, the Hawks have oddly struggled in the first half all season inside the KCAC. Clarion has a lot of size -- old school PSAC size. IUP needs to play fast and run them out of the building. Clarion hung real tough with UPJ by slowing the game to a turtles' pace. Expect another sluggish home start for IUP before the Hawks pull away in the second half. IUP -18
Kutztown at Shepherd - The Rams must win this game. No exceptions. They might as well treat it as a playoff game. A loss tomorrow could spell doom for Shepherd. The Golden Bears are still in the mix of things to host a Round 1 game in the conference tournament. Big game for both teams. Shepherd is better than its record -- some nights, anyway. The Rams get a big home win ... and even further clutter up the East standings. Shepherd -3
East Stroudsburg at Gannon - The Golden Knights have officially hit a funk. Gannon has lost 3 of its past 4 outings -- the last two coming by 7 points total. ESU ended its 4-game skid with back-to-back wins over Mansfield and West Chester. These two have been very similar this year. Both look good at times ... and not so good at times. Both have struggled to close out some games they should have won. The Knights easily could have won their past two games but dropped both. This is a pretty good match-up. Different styles, but some of Gannon's strengths should actually play out well against ESU's 40-minute pressure. Call it a hunch ... GU gets a messy, mucked-up, hard-fought win. Barely. Knights -3
Shippensburg at Lock Haven - The Red Raiders lost their last trip to Lock Haven. That in itself is about the only ray of hope the Bald Eagles have in this game. Lock Haven, next to Mercyhurst's MAC, is probably the next most awkward gym in the league. It's a weird set-up. There's a wall behind the benches, etc. It's an ideal set-up for wrestling. Not so much basketball. Many visiting teams have issues there for at least a little bit with sight lines, etc. Add to it there's typically about 13 people in the stands. The Bald Eagles play pretty well there, too. West Chester didn't survive this trip a week ago. Lock Haven's starting group can keep this game close for a while. Matt Cerruti and Christian Kelly are top-notch guards. The bench, however, will tell the tale. The Bald Eagles don't have one. Ship pulls away in the second half. Red Raiders -11
UPJ at Seton Hill - It's not going to be a good day to be a Griffin. UPJ is going to take out its frustrations in the McKenna Center. Mountain Cats roll. Real Big. UPJ -27
Edinboro at Slippery Rock - Until (if) Anthony Coleman returns, Edinboro may not win another game. The Rock has some fun -- and wins BIG. SRU -23
Millersville at Mansfield - The Mauraders should win this game. Which, of course, means they probably will not. For the majority of the season, Mansfield has been pretty bad. However, they have shown the occasional flash of being decent. All logic points to Millersville. But, don't be shocked. Marauders -7
West Chester at Bloomsburg - What in the world is going on with these two? The Huskies have lost 4 in a row. West Chester has fallen off a national stage cliff by losing 4 of its past 5 games. The good news, at least for somebody, is one of them is going to get a win. That somebody will the Rams. I think. Probably. Maybe. West Chester -9
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