Newman (8-3) at Northeastern State (2-12)
Wednesday Jan. 4 || 7 p.m. || Jack Dobbins Field House (1,500) || Tahlequah, Okla.
Live Video || Live Stats || Live Audio || Live Blog
Newman Notes || Northeastern State Notes
TAHLEQUAH, Okla.. - The Newman men's basketball team returns from Christmas break Wednesday, traveling to Tahlequah, Okla. to take on the Riverhawks of Northeastern State. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside the Jack Dobbins Field House. The game will be broadcast live in Tahlequah by KGSO 1410 AM, with Jimmy Chavez and Bernie Pearson calling the action.
Jets Return...
The Jets will look to start the second-half of the season strong, after a 16 day lay-off since their last action. Monday's match-up marks the final non-conference game before Heartland Conference play begins on Saturday at home against Arkansas-Fort Smith.
Coming out of the break, Eric Saunders leads the Jets offensive attack, averaging 12.2 points per game. Chuck Coley and Bobby Wesley are close to averaging double-figures, contributing 9.9 and 9.6 points per game respectively. Shamar Acuay should give Newman a boost in the second-half of the season, giving the Jets another guard who can take over a game at any time. Coley continues to lead Newman's rebounding efforts, averaging 6.5 boards per contest.
As a team, the Jets are averaging 69.6 points per game, shooting 38.9 percent from the field, while connecting on 30.5 percent of their three-point attempts. Newman has continued to play lock-down defense, forcing 19.5 turnovers per game and snatching 7.3 steals per contest.
On the road, the Jets carry a record of 3-3, after losing at NCAA Div. 1 Wichita State on Dec. 19. Newman is averaging 70.6 points per game when playing away from Fugate Gymnasium, shooting 38.1 percent from the field. Opponents are averaging 75.1 points per game against Newman's defense in their home gyms.
Last Time Out...
Newman's five-game winning streak was snapped by Wichita State on Dec. 19, 103-52. Facing a hostile crowd, the Jets went toe-for-toe with the heavily favored Shockers, before a stingy defense clamped down on Newman's offensive plans. The Jets shot 28.1 percent (18-64) from the field, while only connecting on 19 percent (4-21) of their three-point attempts. Eric Saunders led Newman with 14 points in the losing effort. Making his first appearance of the season, Shamar Acuay scored six points. Mason Felter, Josh Pleasant, and Chuck Coley tied for the team lead in rebounds with four apiece.
Scouting Norteastern State...
Northeastern State comes into Wednesday's game with a record of 2-12. The Riverhawks are playing as an independent this season, before joining the MIAA starting in the 2012-13 school year. NSU snapped a six-game losing streak with a 48-47 win over Southeastern Oklahoma State Monday in Durant, Okla. Reserve guard Terance Reeves led the Riverhawks offensive attack, with a 10 point outing.
Junior forward Jon Miller has paced the Northeastern State offense thus far in the season, averaging 12.7 points per game. Landon DeMasters joins Miller in double-figures with a 10.0 point-per-game average. Ethan Anderson has been strong on the boards for the Riverhawks, averaging 4.9 rebounds per contest. Dee Willis leads the team in assists, distributing 2.2 dimes per game.
We Meet Again...
Wednesday's meeting marks the fourth meeting between the respective schools. Northeastern State owns a 2-1 edge over Newman, but the Jets won the last match-up, a 47-46 decision in the Newman Conference Challenge on Nov. 12, 2011. Chuck Coley and Bobby Wesley paced the Newman offense, scoring eight points a piece respectively. Coley also led the Jets rebounding force, grabbing seven rebounds in the winning effort.
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