WICHITA, Kan. — Facing its second tough opponent in three days, the Newman men's basketball team heads to Odessa, Texas Saturday to face Texas-Permian Basin in a 3 p.m. matchup.
SCOUTING NEWMAN
The Jets (7-2, 0-1 Heartland) fell for just the second time this season in a 97-90 defeat at the hands of St. Edward's Thursday night. Senior Gavin Thurman continued his stellar play even in the loss, scoring 27 points for the third consecutive game and also pulling in seven rebounds. Fellow senior James Pegues also cracked the 20-point plateau, hitting 6-of-7 shots from the floor to net 21 points to go with five boards.
The loss ended a four-game winning streak for Newman, although the offense kept clicking. It was the fifth time in nine games that the Jets scored at least 90 points, and they've went for at least 81 in two more outings, pushing their season average to 89.1, and still outscoring opponents by 10.0 per game. All five starters continue to average double digits in the scoring column, with Pegues leading the way at 16.3 ppg and 5.3 rpg. Thurman isn't far behind after his 81 points in three games, putting up 15.8 ppg and tying for the team lead with 5.3 rpg.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
The Falcons (5-3, 0-0 Heartland) had an impressive five-game winning streak cut short in a 74-58 loss at No. 7 Tarleton State Monday. During that run, UTPB scored 100 points in four straight games, averaged 103.2 points per game and outscored opponents by 27.2 per contest. Adding in losses by two and six points to start the season, the Falcons were putting up 97.6 ppg and allowing just 79.3 over their first seven games.
Billy Dee Williams paces the Falcons with 18.3 ppg and adds 4.9 rpg, while Gary Akbar is right behind him with 16.5 ppg and leads the team with 7.0 rpg and 2.1 spg. Williams was held scoreless against Tarleton State, and Akbar netted just eight, but Johnnie Lacy, who averages 16.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg and 2.4 apg, went for 24.
HISTORY LESSON
The Jets are 11-4 in conference play against the Falcons, and have won four straight, six of the last seven and 10 of the past 12 games between the two sides. UTPB's last two wins in the series have both come at home.
NOTES
-Sophomore Kevin Bryant led the Jets in rebounding for the second straight game, and is averaging 8.3 rpg in just 18.0 minutes over the past three games.
-The Jets have shot at least 40 percent from the floor in every game this season, and no worse than 44.2 percent in eight of their nine contests.
-Free throws are coming better with practice for the Jets, who have eclipsed 80 percent from the charity stripe four times this season — in their four games with the most free throw attempts.
-The 74 points the Falcons held Tarleton State to was the lowest output of the season for the Texans.
COVERAGE
Live video and statistics for the game will be available at www.newmanjets.com.
