Men's Basketball: Tournament Preview

Men's Basketball Championship Page

#1 York (17-6, 13-2 PSUAC) vs. Bye
Penn State York will be looking to capture its third-straight PSUAC tournament crown, as it enters having won 11 or their last 12 games.  They are led by junior guard Logan Steckel, who averages 17.2 points per game while shooting 45.4 percent from the field.  Seniors Josh Jamison and Tyler Martin also average in double-figures for York, at 14.9 and 10.8 points per game, respectively.  As a team, the two-time defending champs average 79.7 points a night, which ranks them third in the PSUAC. 

#4 Wilkes-Barre (13-11, 10-5 PSUAC) vs. #5 Worthington Scranton (12-11, 9-6 PSUAC)
      previous meetings: WB 78-70 ; WS 70-64
Wilkes-Barre enters tournament play on a 7-3 run over their last 10 games, including a split in two meetings against first-round opponent, Worthington Scranton.  They feature a balanced attack offensively, as six players average at least seven points per game.  Sophomore forward Denzel Mensah leads the team at 15.8 points a night, followed by sophomores Austin Walker (12.0 ppg.) and Emmanuel Young (10.4 ppg.).  Wilkes-Barre ranks third in the conference in rebounding at 37.6 per game, while sitting tenth in scoring at 69.6 points per game.  Worthington Scranton is led by the PSUAC's top scorer, in junior forward Hasiin Dixon and his 23.7 average.  Dixon also ranks fifth in the conference in rebounds per game, at 9.4  They enter the tournament at 6-4 in their last 10 games, including the aforementioned split with Wilkes-Barre.  Worthington Scranton averages 72.9 points and 36.4 rebounds per game, ranking them sixth and seventh in the PSUAC, respectively.   

 #3 Mont Alto (15-11, 10-5 PSUAC) vs. #6 Lehigh Valley (9-16, 8-6 PSUAC)
      previous meetings: LV 85-83 ; LV 75-70
Mont Alto opens PSUAC tournament play on a 6-4 run through their last 10, and will be looking to defeat Lehigh Valley for the first time in three tries this season.  They are led by a strong presence in the paint, with three forwards averaging in double-figures in scoring.  Junior Sharif Welton paces the group at 15.5 a night, while shooting 46.2 percent from the field.  Mont Alto ranks fifth in the PSUAC in scoring at 77.1 points per game, while their 38.1 rebounding average places them second-- first among tournament teams.  Lehigh Valley enters having won just three of their last ten, but will look to defeat Mont Alto for the third time this season.  They are led by freshman guard Joe Wiggins, whose 21.7 points-per-game average places him third in the PSUAC.  Lehigh Valley sits seventh in scoring at 72.8 points per game, while sitting eight in rebounding at 36 a contest. 

#2 Beaver (12-12, 12-4 PSUAC) vs. Bye
Beaver has won their last four contests, while wrapping up their season on an 8-2 stretch.  Their high-flying offense is tops amongst tournament teams, as they average 84.6 points per game.  Junior guard Marcus Smith leads a group of four that each score in double-figures, as his 18.7 average ranks him seventh in the PSUAC.  Fellow junior Lamont Wright (13.3 ppg.) and freshman duo Christian James (12.8 ppg.) and Willie James (10.4 ppg.) supplement Beaver's balanced scoring effort.