Newman (6-2, 0-0 Heartland) vs William Jewell (3-3, 1-1 Great Lakes Valley)
Saturday, Dec 10 || 4:30 p.m. || Fugate Gymnasium (1,242) || Wichita, Kan.
Live Audio || Live Stats || Live Video
Newman Notes || William Jewell Notes
WICHITA, Kan.- The Newman men's basketball team will look for its fourth-consecutive victory when the Cardinals of William Jewell come to Wichita on Saturday. Tip-off is slated for 4:30 p.m., or 30 minutes following the 2 p.m. women's game inside Fugate Gymnasium. The game will be broadcast live in Wichita on KGSO 1410 AM.
Jet Fuel...
The Jets enter Saturday's match-up looking for their fourth-straight win. Since snapping a two-game losing streak against Lincoln on November 28, Newman has reeled off three-straight victories. The Jets have proven to be a second-half team, out-scoring the opposition 325-260 in the period. Newman is averaging 71 points per contest, and is shooting 40 percent from the field. The Jets have used a stingy defense to stifle opponents, forcing 18 turnovers a game, while snatching 9.3 steals per contest.
Newman is led offensively by Eric Saunders, and his 12.5 point-per-game average. Chuck Coley joins Saunders in double-figures, averaging 10.6 points per contest, while Bobby Wesley adds a 9.6 point-per-game average. Coley is leading the squad on the glass, averaging 6.8 rebounds per game. Saunders is also the team's leader in assists, dishing out 3.6 helpers per contest.
Last Time Out...
Newman soared from the opening tip, never trailing in a 77-60 thrashing of Emporia State. The Jets started the game on a 15-3 run, highlighted by three Connor Walker three-pointers. Newman led the game by as many as 21 points, blowing open a nine-point halftime lead.
Bobby Wesley led Newman offensively with a career-high 22 points, to go along with a career-high seven assists. Mason Felter also set a career-high with 14 points. Chuck Coley and Eric Saunders joined Wesley and Felter in double-figures, netting 11 and 10 points respectively.
The Jets shot 41.9 percent (26-62) from the field, but shot 50 percent (12-24) from beyond the arc. Newman held Emporia State to shooting just 36.7 percent (22-60) from the field, and only 30 percent (6-20) from long range. The Jets committed a season-low 10 turnovers, while forcing 14 Hornet turnovers.
The House that Potter Built...
Newman basketball head coach Mark Potter is in his 14th season as head coach for the Jets. He has been at the helm since basketball was reinstated at Newman University in 1997. Coach Potter is 249-148 (.627) overall and is the winningest coach in Newman basketball history. He is also one of just two coaches at Newman to win more that 100 games. Potter is the only coach in Newman men's basketball history to be able to call Fugate Gymnasium home.
Scouting William Jewell...
The Cardinals enter Saturday's matchup with a record of 3-3, and a 1-1 mark in Great Lakes Valley Conference play. William Jewell is lead by veteran head coach Larry Holley, who is in his 33rd season as the Cardinals' head man. Holley ranks No. 3 all-time in victories at the NAIA level with 822, including 735 during his tenure at William Jewell.
William Jewell, an NCAA Div. 2 provisional member, is coming off of a 70-61 defeat at the hands of Illinois-Springfield on Dec. 3 on the Cardinals' home court in Liberty, Mo. Nick Larson led the Cardinals' losing effort with a 16-point, 12-rebound double-double. Larson has lead WJC thus far in the season, averaging 17.2 points per game, to go along with a 11.8 rebound-per-game average. Larson is joined in double figures by Mark Mason and Cyril Bilong, averaging 14.5 and 10 points per game respectively.
As a team, the Cardinals are out-scoring their opponents by an average of 11.8 points per game, while shooting 47.5 percent from the field. William Jewell is out-rebounding its opposition by an average of 4.2 rebounds per contest.
A First Time for Everything...
Saturday's meeting marks the first time that the two schools have met on the hardwood.
