Internet Home of Alderson-Broaddus Athletics

UC-UPJ Clash Highlights 1/9 WVIAC Men's Basketball Slate
1/8/2010

(PRINCETON, W.Va.)---Defending WVIAC Tournament champion Pitt Johnstown's visit to Charleston heads up a Saturday slate devoid of many big games as league play cranks back into action following the holidays.

The youthful Mountain Cats (5-3, 1-2) lead Division II in field goal percentage at 54.5% and have won four straight after a slow start. Sophomore center Patrick Grubbs (17.4 ppg, 8.1 rpg) leads five UPJ players that average in double figures. Danny Branch (16.1 ppg) and Andy Byer (14.4 ppg, 5.9 apg) key the Mountain Cat backcourt. Head coach Bob Rukavina has four rookies in his eight-player rotation, including Nick Novak (13.0 ppg) and Jordan Miller (10.1 ppg).

Charleston (5-3, 4-0) is unbeaten after four league contests for the first time since 2003 after the Golden Eagles downed Shepherd 93-85 on Thursday evening. A pair of transfers making their first appearances for Greg White's squad accounted for impressive debuts as Jonathan Liggins poured in 23 points and Bahaadar Russell contributed a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds.

The Golden Eagles also received their usual solid effort from forward John White, who contributed his WVIAC-leading fifth double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Ronald Kinney leads UC in scoring with 14.9 points per game.

League-leading West Virginia State (8-1, 4-0) will probably crack next week's Division II Top 25 if the Jackets can take care of Shepherd (1-7, 1-3) on Saturday night.

Northern Panhandle neighbors West Liberty and Wheeling Jesuit are off to fast starts and each will be heavily favored in Saturday home contests. West Liberty (7-1, 3-1) welcomes Glenville State (2-7, 1-3) to the snowy hilltop, while Wheeling Jesuit (6-2, 3-0) welcomes West Virginia Wesleyan (1-8, 1-3) to The Birdcage.

Alderson-Broaddus (5-2, 1-1) pursues their sixth victory in a row when the Battlers make the short trip to the Salem Armory for a confrontation with Salem International (0-9, 0-3).

Red-hot Fairmont State (8-1, 3-1) heads south to Bluefield State (1-6, 1-1). Concord (1-7, 0-4) hosts Seton Hill (4-4, 2-1) on the other end of Mercer County. Davis & Elkins' (3-3, 2-1) trip to Ohio Valley (1-7, 0-3) rounds out Saturday's slate.

Please consult wviac.org, the WVIAC Blog, or individual school websites for any weather related changes to the schedule.