Former Sto-Rox star helping IUP basketball team

Last year, all Ed Peterson could do was sit and watch as the Indiana (Pa.) basketball team went 28-5, won the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference title and advanced to the NCAA Division II final four.

But the Sto-Rox graduate's redshirt season with IUP was anything but a waste.

"He benefited greatly from practicing against our players last year," Indians coach Gary Edwards said. "He really saw what it takes to succeed at this level. He came away more prepared to play this year then he would have been had we just thrown him to the wolves last year."

So much so that Peterson has made an immediate impact for IUP this year. The freshman was named the PSAC's Rookie of the Week on Monday after he was selected the MVP of the Currence Classic in Bluefield, W.Va. Peterson had a combined 26 points, 12 rebounds and five assists in IUP's wins over Concord on Nov. 29 and West Virginia State on Nov. 30.

Peterson has started all five games for IUP (4-1) this season and, heading into scheduled games Friday at Bloomsburg and Saturday at East Stroudsburg, was averaging 10.8 points a game, good for second on the team, and four rebounds. He also had nine assists, six steals and two blocked shots.

"The redshirt year helped me a lot," Peterson said. "It helped me to understand the offense a lot more. I feel like I am a step ahead of a normal freshman."

Peterson was the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's South & West Player of the Year in 2001 after averaging 27 points a game in his senior season at Sto-Rox and leading the Vikings to the WPIAL Class AA title.

His time last season was spent working on his shooting in practice, but it was ultimately his defensive play that earned him a starting spot for IUP.

"That's my role on the team," said Peterson, a 6-foot-2, 185-pound guard. "Playing good, solid defense is my focus this year. There are good guards to go against in the PSAC. It means I have to practice hard."

Peterson said he was approached by Edwards before the season about concentrating on his defensive play.

"Eddie is a smart guy," Edwards said. "He knows that if you play good defense, then you'll play for me. He's really worked hard at it, and that's why he starts. He works very hard defensively."

Peterson is one of five underclassmen who have seen starting time for the Indians so far this season. IUP graduated four starters from last year's final four team, and Edwards, who is in his seventh year as coach, said this season will be a learning process for his team.

"It will continue throughout the season," Edwards said. "We're looking to improve every day, but everybody has to be patient. We are coming along. We've made good strides in the early part of the season."

For Peterson, improvement has meant adjusting to the differences between high school and college basketball.

"It's hard at first. It's like playing at a difference pace," Peterson said. "It's a couple of steps faster. You learn at a different pace, too. Everyday in practice, there is something new. You have to put a lot of time into it."

Edwards said Peterson's play has become more aggressive throughout the early part of the season and that he has proven to be the team's leader on the defensive end of the court.

But Peterson also tied for the team lead with 18 points in his most recent game against West Virginia State.

"On offense, he continues to improve his shot," Edwards said. "He's better now than he was a month ago. He works consistently on his jumper. But against West Virginia State, he also scored a lot of points by taking the ball to the basket. As he continues to shoot the ball better and become better with his penetration with the ball, you'll see more points from him."

IUP has advanced to the elite eight of the NCAA Division II tournament in four of the past nine seasons, and Edwards said Peterson's success at Sto-Rox makes him a good fit on the team.

"He knows what it takes to win," Edwards said. "He's used to winning. Losing is very distasteful to him. He's the kind of player I want. He's the kind of player we want in this program."