EDINBORO UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA Shawn Ahearn, Coordinator Sports Information and Promotions Office: (814) 732-2776, ext. 234 Fax: (814)732-2596 Home: (814)734-9152 Internet: saheam@edinboro.edu EDINBORO, PA. 16444 November 21, 1997 For Immediate Release Contact; Shawn Ahearn, SID Edinboro Men’s Basketball Team Ready for Home Opener Saturday vs. West Virginia Wesleyan (EDINBORO, Pa.) ~ After a strong showing at the inaugural Division II Tip-off Classic last weekend at the Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla, the Edinboro University of Pennsylvania men’s basketball team will play its first home game of the 1997-98 season Saturday at McComb Fieldhouse, hosting West Virginia Wesleyan College. Tip-off between the Fighting Scots and Bobcats is set for 7:30 p.m. Edinboro stunned highly-touted Southern Connecticut State University, 88-77, in the season opener to advance to the semifinals of the prestigious tournament. Southern Connecticut, which was ranked in the Top 10 in most pre-season polls, and as high as third in Division II by one source, couldn’t overcome 25 turnovers caused by Edinboro’s aggressive pressure defense. Sharpshooter Jesse Ogden keyed the win by hitting four second-half three-pointers (5 in the game, 19 points), while sophomore forward Warren Chance (22 points) and Adam Kaufman (9 points, 10 assists, 1 turnover) a freshman point guard from Montour High School had successful debuts. The Scots then put up a valiant effort in the semifinals before falling, 87-80, to Columbus (GA) State University. Columbus then lost by one-point in the tournament championship to the University of Southern Indiana as a last second jumper and tip-in at the buzzer rimmed out. Chance led the scoring once again with 22 points and 10 rebounds, while Duquesne transfer Dwayne Butler chipped in 15 points. In the third-place game, Edinboro led Northern (SD) State 24-22 with just over eight minutes remaining in the first half But the Wolves outscored Edinboro 22-3 the rest of the period and led 44-27 at intermission. An Ogden three-pointer got the margin down to 14, but Northern State was too strong and won the game, 8763. Freshman guard Dominic Robinson led the Scots with 17 points as the Scots settled for fourth place among the eight teams. “It was an honor to play in the first game ever of the Disney Tip-off Classic, then it became a thrill to win it,” said Edinboro head coach Greg Walcavich, who is in his ninth year at the EUP helm. “This tournament is the best in the country and we’ll always be able to say we won the first game ever played.” “We did a lot of things well in Disney that we can certainly build upon,” said Walcavich. “For the most part, I was pleased with our enthusiasm and composure, especially in the first two games. It was nice to get back and practice a couple of times. One of the tough parts about playing in a tournament like Disney is you don’t get to take a day or two to work on things. It’s just play, play, play and that’s tough, especially for a team like ours that consists mainly of newcomers.” West Virginia Wesleyan enters Saturday’s contest with a 2-Toverall mark. The Bobcats beat New Jersey Tech (90-73) and Ohio Valley (107-88) to win the Braxton County Tournament, then dropped an 89-82 decision at the College of West Virginia (Nov. 18). The Bobcats are led by the inside/outside combination of forward Cameron Mack (27.0 ppg) and guard Kendall Ellis (24.3 ppg) and are coached by fifth-year mentor Charlie Miller. Probable Starting Lineups Edinboro: No Name Dwayne Butler 30 Sammy Barona 3 Warren Chance 44 Adam Kauffinan 22 Jesse Ogden 25 Ht 6-6 6-6 6-1 5-11 6-5 Cl So Jr So Fr Sr Pos F C G G G 1997-98 Statistics 12.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg 5.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg 17.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg 7.3 ppg, 6.6 assist/game, (20 assists -11 turnovers) 11.3 ppg, 3.3 threes/game (10 of 27) Key Reserves: 5 Amos Upshaw Dominic Robinson 23 John Saunders 34 6-6 6-1 6-2 Fr Fr Sr F G G 5.3 ppg, 2.0 rpg 6.7 ppg, 5 steals 6.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg West Virginia Wesleyan: No. Name Cameron Mack 5 Aaron Goodson 22 Rhashi Booth 4 33 Kendall Ellis Kevin Williams 42 Ht 6-7 6-8 6-1 6-2 6-3 Cl Sr Jr Jr So Sr Pos F C G G G 1996-97 Statistics 27.0 ppg, 11.3 rpg 10.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg 6.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 4.0 apg 24.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg 4.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg Edinboro University of Pennsylvania 1997-98 Fighting Scot Numerical Roster Name Pos Ht Wt Yr Hometown/High School 3 Sammy Barona F 6-6 200 Jr Allentown, PA/Allentown Central 5 Amos Upshaw F 6-7 215 Fr Pittsburgh, PA/Grove City 11 Asmara Vasser G 6-0 170 Jr Carlisle, PA/Carlisle 15 Troy Stout F 6-6 215 Jr Allentown, PA/Dieruff 21 Jason Doneluck G 5-10 165 Jr New Castle, PA/New Castle 22 Adam Kaufman G 5-11 165 Fr Coraopolis, PA/Montour 23 Dominic Robinson G 6-1 160 Fr Waldorf, MDAA/estlake 25 Jesse Ogden G 6-5 195 Sr Georgetown, ONT/Bishop Redding 30 Dwayne Butler F 6-6 175 So Philadelphia, PA/George Jr. Republic 31 Kevin Smiley G 6-0 185 So East Stroudsburg, PA/East Stroudsburg 34 John Saunders G 6-2 185 Jr Pittsburgh, PA/Langley 40 Bill Besser C 6-10 210 So Jamestown, PA/Jamestown Area 42 Brad Dies F 6-5 205 Fr Cambridge Springs, PA/Cambridge Springs 44 Warren Chance G 6-1 195 So Philadelphia, PA/Furness 55 Rob Shodt C 6-8 235 Fr Erie, PA/McDowell No Head Coach: Greg Walcavich (Rutgers University, 1973) Assistant Coach: Brian Cupps (Wichita State University, 1994) 11/22/97 West Virginia Wesleyan College 1997-97 Bobcat Numerical Roster No Name Pos Ht Wt Yr Hometown 3 Jason Westfall F 6-6 185 Fr Wolga, WV 4 Rhashli Booth G 6-1 190 Jr Chapel Hill, NC 5 Cameron Mack F 6-7 225 Sr Akron, OH Aaron Yates G 6-1 160 So Clinton, MD Cesar Mesa G 5-9 185 Jr Tacoma, MD 14 Mac Mitchell F 6-5 195 Fr Louisville, KY 22 Aaron Goodson C 6-8 260 Jr Birmingham, AL 24 Matt Hiserman G 6-2 190 Sr Weston, WV Joe Wojtylko F 6-6 210 So Bellview, FL Anthony Simao 10 30 // 32-' 175 Fr Lebanon, CN Kendall Ellis G G 6-4 33 6-2 175 So Marietta, GA 34 Terry Daye, Jr. G 6-0 200 Fr Upper Marlboro, MD 42 Kevin Williams G 6-3^ 205 Sr Rockville, MD 44 Shane Shanton F 6-5 205 Fr Ray, OH Head Coach: Charlie Miller Assistant Coach: Dondi Flemister, Chris Meighen