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Wednesday, February 14, 2001

IUP looks like a team that can win the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship because Coach Gary Edwards has given the Indians a new look.

More zone, less man-to-man defense. An offense that starts on the outside and then moves inside.

"This isn't the IUP you've seen in the past," Edwards said of the Indians (15-7, 6-2), who take a five-game winning streak into their game against visiting Edinboro (17-5, 6-2) tonight in a battle for first place in the PSAC West Division. IUP won the first meeting at Edinboro, 82-76.

"It's not my nature to play zone, but we had a hard time guarding people on the perimeter. A zone is what this team plays best. You have to adjust your system to match your players."

IUP has leaned heavily on its jump shooters to carry the offense because three of the team's big people had early-season surgery and weren't together as a healthy unit until late January. The winning coincided with the return of 6-foot-8 Shatee Cooks (shoulder separation), 6-6 Nathaniel Fields (knee and foot) and 6-8 Badou Kane (hand).

"Who would have thought three weeks ago that we'd be playing for first place?" Edwards said. "I thought we would take our lumps early. It was just a matter of how quickly our big guys came back. Shooting has never been a problem. Scoring has never been a problem."

IUP averages a league-high 84.8 points, led by 6-3 Keenan Holmes (17.9 ppg), 6-2 Aaron Faulkner (17.6 ppg) and 6-5 Geoff Evans (16.7 ppg).

Evans tied a school record with eight 3-pointers in a 116-74 victory against Strayer, and Holmes scored 40 in a 96-79 victory against Lock Haven to become the first IUP player to score 40 in a regulation game since Randy Allen's 40 against St. Vincent in 1974. IUP's Paul Newman had 48 in a triple-overtime game against Clarion in '94.

Holmes and Edinboro's 6-0 Blake Johnson are co-players of the week in the West Division. Johnson tied a school record with 10 3-pointers and scored 40 points in a 104-92 victory against Clarion.

The PAC

Bethany can cap one of Division III's most dramatic turnarounds this season by clinching its first league title since 1981-82 when the Bison play host to defending champion Thiel tonight. Bethany is 5-1 in the PAC and 14-8 overall, Thiel 4-2, 10-13.

Thiel defeated visiting Bethany in the first meeting, 80-68.

Bethany, which finished last in the conference last season, is led by Keith Schubert (19.9 ppg, 6.4 rpg), Nevada Smith (15.9 ppg), Mike Majzun (15.2 ppg), Scott Johnson (7.2 ppg, PAC-high 6.4 apg, 2.5 steals).

The hottest team in the league is Westminster, but the Titans are ineligible for conference championships for another two seasons until the Titans comply with NCAA Division III rules. Westminster is in its first year in the PAC after competing in Division II, which allows full athletic scholarships. Division III schools can only provide financial aid based on need.

Westminster (17-6), winner of five consecutive games and eight of nine, features Chad Phillips (PAC-high 23 ppg, 8.6 rpg), Henry Klinar (17.1 ppg, 7.3 rpg) and Andy Wormsley (16.5 ppg).

The AMC

Point Park's 5-11 senior Dexter Young is ninth in scoring (23.2 ppg) and fifth in assists (7.3 apg) in NAIA Division II. Khalid Loda, a 6-8, 255-pound sophomore, is 10th in rebounding (9.8 rpg). ... Point Park (16-9, 11-4) was in second place in the American Mideast Conference heading into last night's game at Walsh. ... Geneva (18-10, 11-6) has lost four of its past six and St. Vincent (16-12, 8-8) has lost three in a row.

The AMCC

Pitt-Bradford (14-7, 9-1) is in first place with a 11/2-game lead over Frostburg (14-8, 8-3) in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference. Pitt-Bradford's Matt Beacom is player of the week after averaging 29.5 points and 11.5 rebounds in two games.

The GLIAC

Gannon's Javar Cheatham leads NCAA Division II with 10 assists per game. He needs 14 to become the school's all-time leader with 474. ... The Golden Knights (16-6, 10-4) have clinched a spot in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament. ... Gannon is 12-2 at home this season and has won 30 of its past 33 at Hammermill Center. ... Gannon is 15-1 when leading at halftime.