Games 5 & 6:
Newman (2-2, 0-0 MIAA) vs. Tabor (4-3, 2-0 KCAC)
Tuesday, November 22, 2022 | 7:30 p.m. | Wichita, Kan. (Fugate Gymnasium)
Audio:  Newman Jets Audio Network | Video:  MIAA Network | Live Stats:  NU Athletics
 
vs. York (4-3, 2-0 KCAC)
Saturday, November 26, 2022 | 3:00 p.m. | Wichita, Kan (Fugate Gymnasium)
Audio:  Newman Jets Audio Network | Video:  MIAA Network | Live Stats:  NU Athletics
 
LAST TUNE UP
The Navy & Red wrap up their nonconference schedule this week against NAIA competition.
 
LAST TIME OUT
NU shot just 31% from the field while Dallas Baptist connected on 52.4% of their shots and the Patriots sent their homecoming crowd home happy with a 84-53 victory over the Jets at the Burg Center in Dallas Nov. 19.  The Jets pulled within five on a Sam Somerhalder layup six minutes into the game before DBU made their move with a 21-2 run that spanned nearly eight minutes that put the Patriots up big for good at 34-10 with just over six minutes to go in the first half.  The Jets outscored DBU 17-6 at the charity stripe but the Patriots more than made up for it by connecting on 12 deep balls while the Jets managed just six treys.  Stevie Strong scored 20 points on his return to the lineup after sitting out as an injury precaution in the Jets' last game.
Full Recap | Box Score
 
SCOUTING THE SQUADRON
The Jets went 6-21 in 2021-22 with a 3-19 record inside the MIAA.  Newman returns four players from last year's squad including second-leading scorer Stevie Strong, who averaged 13.7 ppg.  Strong was also second on the team in steals with 22 and led the Jets in 3-pointers shooting 44-for-138 from outside (31.9%).  Strong also paced the Jets from the foul line with 68 free throws on the way to shooting an impressive 89.5%.  Junior Ian Lee started 23 of 27 games for the Jets last season and dazzled offensively with 83 assists against just 43 turnovers.  Lee was also Newman's third-leading scorer at 9.6 ppg.
 
The Jets will be junior and graduate led this season with no seniors on the roster.  The Jets start the season with seven freshmen on the roster.  The Navy & Red will feature eight transfers this season: five from the junior college level and four from NCAA Division I.  Newman's roster features two graduate students, six juniors, and four sophomores.
 
BEHIND ENEMY LINES
Early returns on Tabor College basketball are good to start 2022-23.  The Bluejays finished 8-20 a season ago with a 6-18 record in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference but have started this season 2-0 in conference play.  The Tabor season ended in a first-round loss in the KCAC Tournament at Kansas Wesleyan.  The 'Jays are trying to avoid consecutive losing seasons for the first time since finishing with three-straight losing records from 2017-20.  Tabor last posted consecutive winning records in five-straight campaigns from 2012-17 highlighted by a 30-4 record in 2015-16 that included a perfect 20-0 run through KCAC play.  The span was capped off with four-straight appearances in the NAIA Tournament, the Bluejays' last appearance in a national postseason event to date.  Tabor was selected 12^th in the 2022 KCAC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll and also in the media poll.
 
Thanksgiving week will be busy for the Bluejays as they are set to exhibition against Missouri Southern tonight.  Adam Nance leads Tabor scoring 13.7 ppg while Thatcher McClure paces the Bluejays with 5.7 rpg.
 
York University also appears to be improving in 2022-23.  In their last season in their 130-year history played as York College, the Panthers finished 11-20 last season with an 8-16 record in KCAC play.  York's season ended at McPherson in a first round loss in the KCAC Tournament.  The Panthers have posted four-consecutive losing seasons since their last winning campaign in 2017-18 when they finished 17-15 with a 14-10 KCAC record.  York is seeking their first NAIA Tournament appearance since 2016-17 when the Panthers finished 26-11 while going 18-5 in KCAC action.
 
York is set to visit Sterling in league play Tuesday.  Erik Talton leads the Bluejays scoring 13.7 ppg while Brent Clark is averaging 3.9 apg with an impressive 1.9 assist to turnover ratio.  KCAC coaches and media picked the Panthers ninth in their preseason poll.
 
THE SERIES
Newman has won all six meetings with Tabor since becoming an NCAA Division II program.  The Jets won three of the last five meetings between the schools as NAIA rivals.
 
The Jets and Panthers have met twice in NU's Division II era with NU winning both meetings.  The Navy & Red won five of the last eight meetings with York College as an NAIA program. 
 
PREVIOUS MATCHUP
A poor second-half offensive effort by the Jets allowed Tabor to put a scare into the Jets, but NU held on for a 59-53 victory November 18, 2021, at Fugate Gymnasium in Wichita.  The Jet defense was stingy all game and allowed just 20 first-half points to the BlueJays holding Tabor to 7-for-29 shooting from the field.  The Jets were unable to build a large lead though and took a 29-20 lead into the break.  While the Jet offense continued to sputter, the Bluejays found their rhythm in the second frame and shot 45.2% from the field in the second half and, trailing 41-28 four minutes into the frame, hit the Jets with a 15-2 run to tie the game at 43 with nine minutes to go.  The Jets immediately answered with a 10-3 run to go up seven with under four minutes to go.  Tabor closed to within two twice with less than two minutes to go, but Ian Lee scored the Jets' last six points to seal the victory.  David Javorsky and Damani Thomas paced NU with 11 points while Deandre Johnson led all rebounders with 12.
Full Recap | Box Score
 
Keaton Schultz torched the Panthers for 28 points as NU survived a stern challenge from York College with an 88-76 victory December 13, 2009, at Fugate Gymnasium in Wichita.  The Jets had pounded York 119-68 the season before, but the Panthers were determined to not repeat that performance the next year.  The game was tied at 32 with five minutes to go in the half before the Jets finally got on a roll to end the half on a 12-2 run taking a 44-34 lead into the intermission.  After a York basket to start the second half, the Jets scored nine straight to lead by 17 just four minutes into the frame.  The Panthers used a 16-1 run to cut the deficit to five before the Jets slowly pulled away for the 12-point win.  No box score is available.
Full Recap
 
ASSERTING THEIR AUTHORITY
Since becoming an NCAA Division II program in the 2007-08 season, the Jets are a perfect 35-0 against NAIA-level competition.  Overall, the Jets have won 36-straight games against NAIA-level schools dating back to their last season as a member of the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference in 2006-07.  The Jets last fell to an NAIA school in their penultimate game in the MCAC, a 73-64 defeat to Bellevue in Wichita February 16, 2007.  Newman's previous win over an NAIA-level or lower squad came in a 95-64 runaway victory over Sterling Nov. 16.
 
I LOVE THE 90'S
Newman topped 90 points for the second time in three games with 95 points against Sterling College.  The Jets offense soared to a 97-85 victory in the season opener against Concordia-St. Paul Nov. 11.  The Jets had scored over 90 points in a game just once over the past two seasons; a 90-68 victory against Central Oklahoma December 19, 2020.  The last time the Jets had two 90-point performances in the same season was 2018-19.  The Jets topped 90 points five times that year including twice eclipsing the century mark.
 
YOU GET A CAREER HIGH… YOU GET A CAREER HIGH
The Jets ripped up their personal record books in the 31-point victory over Sterling College.  In total, the Jets matched or set a whopping 23 new NCAA career highs in the victory.  Notable personal bests set include freshmen Jacob Joe and Sam Somerhalder notching their first double-figure scoring nights, Kwaku Agyapong matching a career high with five rebounds, Thomas Zevgaras matching personal bests in scoring and rebounding set from his career at Incarnate Word, Khaleem Bennett snatching a career-high four steals, and Ian Lee matching his personal high of four 3-pointers for the fourth time.
 
IT WAS PERFECT… PERFECT, EVERYTHING DOWN TO THE LAST, MINUTE DETAILS
Ian Lee nearly achieved a rare perfect night from the field against Sterling College.  The Toronto, Canada junior hit all eight of his field goals while going 4-for-4 from outside the arc.  One missed free throw after a hard foul was the only blemish on the night for the Canadian.  Lee now owns the Newman record for single-game field goals made without missing.  He passes a trio of Jets who had all finished the game 7-for-7 from the field:  Shamar Acuay, Juwan Davenport, and Joel Boyce.  Boyce was the last to accomplish the feat with a 7-for-7 performance at Pittsburg State February 27, 2021.
 
SHARING THE LOVE
Five different Jets scored in double-figures in the win over Sterling last week.  It was the first time that the Jets had at least five players score at least 10 points since six Jets scored in double digits against Lincoln February 24, 2022.  The Jets dominated early and coasted to an 89-76 win over the Blue Tigers at Fugate Gymnasium in Wichita.  David Javorsky led NU with 19 points.
 
THE 40-POINT CLUB
Sophomore guard Stevie Strong became just the third NU player to score at least 40 points in a game when he dropped 40 on Concordia-St. Paul in the Jets' season opener.  It is the first time a Jet has scored at least 40 points since Taylor Schieber set the single-game scoring record with 45 against Texas A&M International February 25, 2017, in then head coach Mark Potter's final home game at Fugate Gymnasium.  The 40 points by Strong are the most ever scored by a Newman player in a season opener and tied for second-most all-time. 
 
SINGLE-GAME SCORING
Rk              Player                         Points       Opponent                 Date        
1.               Taylor Schieber        45              TAMIU                        2/25/17
2.               Ryan Bradley            40              TAMIU                        2/16/08
                  Stevie Strong            40              Concordia-St. Paul  11/11/22
4.               Reggie Baker             36              at UAFS                      1/22/15  
5.               Reggie Baker             34              St. Mary's                  1/31/15
6.               Keaton Schultz         32              at OPSU                     1/23/10
                  Taylor Schieber        32              at Rogers State         1/2/17
                  Daniel Nwosu Jr.      32              at St. Mary's             1/21/17
                  Ben Ayre                    32              at Dallas Baptist       3/2/19
10.             Cortrael Colbert       31              at OPSU                     2/5/15     
                  Gavin Thurman        31              TAMIU                        1/2/16
 
In addition, his 11 field goals tied for 10^th most in Division II history and are the 16^th time a Jet has nailed that many shots in a single game.  Strong hit 13 of his 14 free throws in the game, which tied him with Jarvis Jackson and Ben Ayre for fourth on the single-game free throws made list.  The 14 attempted free throws are tied for 10^th most and are the ninth occurrence of that feat.
 
A STRONG START
Stevie Strong's start to his Newman career landed him in the NU record book last season.  Strong's 288 points in just 21 games set the season scoring record for a Newman freshman.  Not only that, but Strong also set the single-game freshman scoring record by pouring in 29 points in a game against Northeastern State last season.  Strong also set the record for season free throw percentage by hitting 89.5% of his charity shots.  Strong's 29 consecutive makes at the line to open a season were also best all-time by a Jet. 
 
'LEE'SING AGREEMENT
Ian Lee has developed into one of the MIAA's premier distributors in the conference over his first two seasons with the Jets.  Through just 49 games, Lee has cracked the Top 10 in career assists for the Jets with 129.  He's currently tied with Jarvis Jackson for sixth in career assists per game with 2.6 apg.  Lee's 83 assists last year also tied him with Jackson for ninth on the season assists list.  His 3.1 apg in 2021-22 also landed him in a tie for 10^th on the season assists per game rankings tied with Kyle Smith, Jarvis Jackson, and Jalen Love.
 
STAYING BUSY
Newman men's basketball played multiple exhibitions this season against NCAA Division I foes for the first time since 2010.  After playing the Shockers to tip off the preseason, Newman headed to Springfield, Missouri to face the Missouri State Bears from the Missouri Valley Conference.  In 2010-11, the Jets played exhibitions at Kansas State and Wichita State before tipping off the season.
 
CAPTAIN OF THE FLEET
R. J. Allen begins his sixth season as the head coach of the Jets in 2021.  It will be his 12th season with the program.  Allen has compiled a record of 53-81 over his first five years in Wichita with a 10-55 record in MIAA play.  Allen has coached a player to the All-MIAA team each of his first three years in the league.  Israel Barnes received All-MIAA Honorable Mention recognition last season, Joel Boyce was named All-MIAA Honorable Mention in 2021, while Marshawn Blackmon earned Third Team recognition in 2020.  During the Jets' last year in the Heartland Conference, Allen led NU to a 20-9 overall record while finishing third in the Heartland Conference at 11-5.  The 20 wins tied the NU record for victories in their NCAA Division II era.  NU also finished the season in the Top 10 of the South Central Regional Rankings.  Allen was named the 2018 Heartland Conference Coach of the Year in his first season at the helm at Newman after guiding the Jets on a dramatic turnaround in the second half of the season that saw NU finish 14-14 overall and third in the conference with a 10-6 record.
 
Allen arrived in Wichita in 2011 and spent six seasons as an assistant and eventually associate head coach under Mark Potter, NU's all-time winningest coach.  The Jets won 88 games over those 6 years and made four trips to the Heartland Conference Tournament and the school's first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance after going 20-8 in 2012-13.  He was also on the bench when the Jets knocked off No. 2 seed Lubbock Christian in the first round of the 2016 Heartland Conference Tournament to earn its first ever postseason victory as an NCAA program.
 
Allen is no stranger to the Air Capital after growing up in Wichita and playing his prep years for his dad, Ron, at Wichita East High School.  Allen was a two time All-City and All-State selection and helped lead the Blue Aces to the 2002 6A state championship.  Following high school, Allen stayed local playing two years at Hutchinson Community College.  The Blue Dragons dominated during Allen's career going 57-9 over the two-year span with a 41-1 record in Jayhawk Conference play and winning the conference title in 2004.
 
Allen is 2-0 against Tabor and is meeting York for the first time as NU's head coach.
 
BLENDING WITH THE BLUEJAYS AND PRATTLING WITH THE PANTHERS
Matt Warren is in his first season on the bench for the Bluejays.  He takes over after Micah Ratzlaff resigned following 15 years at the helm of the program.  Ratzlaff left with a 228-216 record while going 163-134 in KCAC play with four NAIA Tournament appearances and one trip to the Elite Eight.  Warren had previously served as the associate head coach at Warner University for the past five years helping to lead the Royals to three Sun Conference regular season titles.  Warren joined Warner after serving as General Manager of Combine Academy in Orlando, Fla.  He's previously served as assistant coach at Indian River State College in Fort Pierce, Fla.  There he helped IRSC to a Southern Conference Tournament crown and one trip to the NJCAA Tournament.
 
This is Warren's first head coaching post and he has never faced the Jets.
 
Treyon "Tree" Burks is in his third season as the head coach of York Panther basketball and is now in his third season as head coach.  Through two seasons in York, Neb., the Panthers are 15-33 with a 12-26 record in KCAC play.  The Panthers posted a seven-win improvement from year one to year two of the Burks era.  Burks was previously the associate head coach at the program from 2012-14 and helped guide the Panthers to over 40 wins and two berths into the NAIA Tournament.  Burks then served a season as a graduate assistant at Northwestern State University of Louisiana before returning for a second stint with the Panthers in 2015.  Burks previously played for York College from 2009-12 and was named an MCAC Scholar-Athlete.
 
This will be Burks' first game as a head coach against the Navy & Red.
 
LEADING 'THE ASSOCIATION'

• Wichita-native Israel Barnes finished fifth in the league in scoring last season averaging 18.9 ppg.
• Deandre Johnson, who graduated last spring, finished his last season with the Jets tied for ninth in the league in rebounding grabbing 6.0 boards per game.
• Stevie Strong finished eighth in 3-pointers per game in 2021-22 hitting 2.1 per contest.  Strong finished fourth in 'The Association' in free throw percentage at 89.5%.
• Ian Lee finished in a tie for ninth last season with 3.1 assists per game.  Lee was tied for fifth in the MIAA in assist/turnover ratio at 1.9.

 
NU STATS 'N STREAKS

• Stevie Strong has scored in double figures in five-consecutive games dating back to last season. 
• Khaleem Bennett opened his NU career with double-digit scoring in each of his first three games.  His streak was snapped with just 4 points at Dallas Baptist.
• NU's 31-point victory over Sterling College was NU's biggest since beating the Warriors by 32 in the schools' previous meeting.  On that day, the Jets dominated in a 98-66 victory in Wichita December 16, 2019.
• The Navy & Red finished last in the MIAA last year in offense scoring 65.7 ppg.
• NU ended the season 12^th defensively allowing 75.1 ppg.
• The Jets are looking for their first winning season since 2018-19 when Newman finished 20-9 while tying for third in the Heartland Conference.  NU also seeks its first 10-win season since that same campaign.  2018-19 was also the last season NU participated in the postseason, losing in the first round of the final Heartland Conference Tournament to Rogers State.
• In the Jets' last game, Dallas Baptist became the first team to score 80-89 points against the Jets since NU lost 85-59 at Northeastern State February 17, 2022.  It was the first 30-39 point win against the Jets since NU fell 86-49 at Central Missouri February 9, 2022.

 
AND THEN…
The Jets open MIAA conference play on the road at Lincoln and Central Missouri next week.
 
2022-23 MIAA PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Week 1:  Bennett Stirtz – Northwest Missouri
Week 2:  Alijah Comithier – Emporia State
 
2022 MIAA MEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLLS
Coaches
1.  Northwest Missouri (11) – 167 Points
2.  Central Oklahoma (3) – 158 Points
3.  Fort Hays State – 137 Points
4.  Washburn – 131 Points
5.  Emporia State – 125 Points
6.  Northeastern State – 100 Points
7.  Missouri Western – 93 Points
8.  Missouri Southern – 85 Points
9.  Central Missouri – 73 Points
T-10.  Pittsburg State – 63 Points
T-10.  Rogers State – 63 Points
12.  Nebraska-Kearney – 36 Points
13.  Lincoln – 26 Points
14.  Newman – 17 Points
 
Media
1.  Northwest Missouri (14) – 261 Points
2.  Central Oklahoma (4) – 243 Points
3.  Fort Hays State – 216 Points
4.  Washburn – 209 Points
5.  Emporia State – 181 Points
6.  Missouri Western – 163 Points
7.  Missouri Southern – 146 Points
8.  Northeastern State – 135 Points
9.  Central Missouri – 112 Points
10.  Pittsburg State – 106 Points
11.  Rogers State – 92 Points
12.  Nebraska-Kearney – 67 Points
13.  Newman – 33 Points
14.  Lincoln – 31 Points