About the Jets...
The Jets will look to remain in the hunt to host the Heartland Conference tournament on Saturday, when Texas-Permian Basin flies into Fugate Gymnasium. Newman possesses a perfect 10-0 record when playing on its home floor. The Jets need to win out and will need some help from fellow Heartland Conference opponents to bring the conference tournament to Wichita. Shamar Acuay (14.2 ppg) has been the catalyst of the Newman offense, since making his debut at Wichita State on Dec. 19. Acuay has scored in double-figures in 10 of his 14 games coming off of the bench for Coach Mark Potter. Eric Saunders (11.4 ppg) and Chuck Coley (10.2 ppg) have each been go-to-players for the Jets this season. Saunders is coming off of one of his better games in recent memory on Thursday, netting 18 points on eight-of-12 shooting from the field against St. Edward's. Coley is shooting 50.3 percent from the field on the season, including many rim-rattling dunks.
The Series...
All-Time Record: Newman (6-3)
First Ever Meeting: Jan 19, 2008, UTPB 77, Newman 66 (Wichita, Kan.)
Last Meeting: Jan 19, 2012, Newman 68, UTPB 63 (Odessa, Texas)
Largest Margin of Defeat: Feb. 17, 2010, Newman 97, UTPB 62 (Wichita, Kan.)
In Wichita, Kan. Newman (3-1)
Head to Head...
|
|
Newman Jets |
UTPB Falcons |
|
Points Per Game: |
70.5 |
67.5 |
|
Scoring Margin: |
+2.1 |
+2.4 |
|
Field-Goal Percentage: |
41.7 % |
45.1% |
|
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: |
30.7% |
36.7% |
|
Free-Throw Percentage: |
64.5% |
70.5% |
|
Rebounds Per Game: |
36.2 |
30.2 |
|
Rebound Margin: |
-2.3 |
-1.9 |
|
Assists Per Game: |
12.2 |
13.3 |
|
Turnovers Per Game: |
14.7 |
13.0 |
|
Assist/Turnover Margin: |
+0.8 |
+1.8 |
|
Steals Per Game: |
9.5 |
6.3 |
|
Blocks Per Game: |
4.3 |
2.2 |
Scouting Texas-Permian Basin...
The Falcons fly into Wichita, winners of six-straight Heartland Conference games, following a 66-64 victory over Oklahoma Panhandle State on Thursday in Goodwell, Okla. UTPB remains in the thick of the Heartland Conference tournament talk, holding on to a half-game lead over Arkansas-Fort Smith for fourth place. UTPB is led by senior forward, Branden Harrision. The Houston, Texas native is shooting 55.1 percent from the field, and a 50 percent clip from beyond-the-arc in Heartland Conference play.
Last Time Out...
The Newman men's basketball team snapped a four-game losing streak on Thursday night inside Fugate Gymnasium, with a 69-55 defeat over St. Edward's. Eric Saunders led the Jets with 18 points.
First-Half Notes:
-Shimeek Johnson and Chuck Coley threw down ferocious jams in the first 30 seconds of action on Thursday.
-Newman maintained an 8-4 lead at the 17:19 mark, before a Chuck Coley three-pointer gave the Jets a 11-6 lead with 16:16 left in the period.
-An Eric Saunders three-ball paced a 9-2 Jet run, to give Newman a 25-14 lead at the 7:04 mark.
-Three-straight points by Josh Pleasant pushed the Jet lead to 30-15 with 4:23 remaining in the half.
-Shimeek Johnson converted a lay-up with three-seconds on the clock, but the Jets took a 35-23 lead going into the locker rooms.
Second-Half Notes:
-Coley started the second-half like he did the first, with a monsterous dunk to give Newman a 37-23 advantage.
-A Chris Wacker lay-up paced a 10-2 Hilltopper run, to trim the lead to 39-33 with 15:39 left in the game.
-Shamar Acuay hit consecutive baskets, following a three-minute drought for both teams, to increase the Jet lead to 43-33 with 12:25 left on the game clock.
-St. Edward's cut the deficit to 45-39 at the 10:34 mark, following a Shimeek Johnson free-throw, and Zilijan Jones three-ball, but they could not cut the lead any smaller, as Newman raced to a 69-55 victory.
Saunders was joined in double-figures by 14-point outings by Acuay and Coley. As a team, Newman shot 47 percent (27-58) from the field, and connected on 33 percent (3-9) from three-point land. The Jets out-rebounded the Hilltoppers 33-24, while swatting away seven St. Edward's shot attempts.
Saturday's Games in the Heartland Conference...
-St. Edward's (10-14, 2-10) at Oklahoma Panhandle State (3-20, 0-11) -- 2 p.m. -- Goodwell, Okla. -- Live Stats
-Texas A&M International (20-5, 10-2) at Dallas Baptist (14-10, 5-5) -- 2 p.m. -- Dallas, Texas -- Live Stats
-St. Mary's (16-7, 9-3) at UA Fort Smith (13-13, 6-6) -- 2 p.m. -- Fort Smith, Ark. -- Live Stats |
