Games 21 & 22:
Newman (4-16, 1-13 MIAA) vs. #13/16 Central Oklahoma (19-4, 14-3 MIAA)
Saturday, February 12, 2022 | 3:30 p.m. | Wichita, Kan. (Fugate Gymnasium)
Audio:  Newman Jets Audio Network | Video:  MIAA Network | Live Stats:  NU Athletics
 
vs. Missouri Western (10-13, 6-9 MIAA)
Monday, February 14, 2022 | 5:30 p.m. | Wichita, Kan. (Fugate Gymnasium)
Audio:  Newman Jets Audio Network | Video:  MIAA Network | Live Stats:  NU Athletics
 
CALM BEFORE THE STORM
The Jets return home for two games before heading out on their last road trip of the season next week.  Monday's game against Missouri Western was postponed from earlier in the season due to Coronavirus protocols inside the Griffon program.  The games are part of a stretch that will see Newman play an unprecedented 18 games in just eight days.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Leading by two with 12 minutes to go in the first half, the Jets allowed the Mules to stomp their way to a 37-12 run to end the half on the way to an 86-49 victory over NU Wednesday, February 9 in Warrensburg.  The Jets were no closer than 21 points in the second half.  Deandre Johnson, David Javorsky, and Jorge Oliva all paced the Jets with 7 points apiece.
Full Recap | Box Score
 
The Jets were tripped up by Fort Hays State 63-60 last week and fell 89-75 against Nebraska-Kearney to wrap up Week 11 of the MIAA schedule.
 
SCOUTING THE SQUADRON
Newman ended last year's pandemic-abbreviated season 4-18 while playing all 22 games within the MIAA.  The Jets return 10 players from a year ago, including two of their top three scorers from that team.  The Jets will suit up four players classified as juniors this season who played at that classification a year ago, but plan to utilize the extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA in response to the Coronavirus Pandemic.  The Jets welcome five new freshmen to the program and they are joined by three sophomores and three other juniors.  Transferring into the Jets program are Clay Center High School product Anthony Atkinson (Barton County), former Wichita Southeast High School star Israel Barnes (Texas-Permian Basin, Weber St.), and A. J. Morris (Alcorn St.).
 
TOP RETURNERS
Junior guard Branden Bunn is the Jets' leading returning scorer after scoring 11.8 ppg a year ago.  Bunn also led the Jets in 3-pointers connecting on 42.5% of his attempts.  Bunn also proved a valuable addition to the Jets defense by leading the Navy & Red with 24 steals last season.  Redshirt junior forward Deandre Johnson is NU's leading returning rebounder after snatching 4.3 rpg for the Jets last year.  Sophomore guard Ian Lee returns to pilot the Jets offense after tallying the second-most assists for NU a year ago with 46 dimes against just 40 turnovers.  Lee is also the best returning free throw shooter from last year's team after connecting on over 86% of his tries from the line.
 
BEHIND ENEMY LINES
Central Oklahoma enters the week in second place in the MIAA standings and has clinched a berth into the 2022 MIAA Tournament.  The Bronchos finished 13-11 in 2020-21 with a 12-10 MIAA record, ending a three-year streak under .500, the first for UCO since three nine-win seasons in a row from 1986-89.  The Bronchos are looking to log consecutive winning seasons for the first time since notching 14 in a row from 2004-18.  UCO is on pace for its first 20-win season since going 20-10 under Tom Hankins in 2017-18.  The program enjoyed its longest period of sustained success under the direction of Terry Evans who led the Bronchos to a 263-124 record in his 13-year tenure from 2002-15.  The Bronchos are seeking their 18^th appearance in a national postseason tournament in 2022.  The Bronze & Blue's last berth in the Big Dance came when they hosted the 2011 South Central Regional and fell in the Sweet 16 to Midwestern State.
 
Missouri Western started the week in ninth place on the conference leaderboard.  The Griffons are looking to continue stringing successful seasons together in 2022 after logging a second-straight winning year in 2020-21 with a 14-11 record and a 13-9 mark in MIAA play.  2021 also marked Western's return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2010 ending a 10-year drought.  The Griffons finished 18-12 with a 12-8 MIAA record in 2009-10 which, until 2020-21, was the last winning record for the program and the last time they finished above .500 inside 'The Association' until an 18-14 season in 2019-20 that saw Western go 13-6 against league foes.  The Griffons made their only other Big Dance trip this millennium following a 23-7 campaign in 2001-02 in which the Griffs finished 16-3 versus MIAA opponents.  Missouri Western is looking for its 13^th berth in the NCAA Tournament in 2022 and third-straight postseason appearance overall.
 
THE SERIES
The Bronchos lead the series 6-2 with a 4-1 edge in both NU's NCAA Division II era and in MIAA competition.  In the NCAA Division II era of the series, the teams have split the two games placed in Wichita.
 
Western leads the series 2-0 with both games counting toward the MIAA standings.  The Griffons lead 1-0 in Wichita.
 
PREVIOUS MATCHUP
Central Oklahoma used a big second half run to put away the Jets 87-66 January 3, 2022 in Edmond.  The teams placed a competitive first half with UCO taking a 35-32 lead into the break.  The Jets continued to battle early in the second and traded the lead with the Bronchos to hold a 42-41 edge with just under 16 minutes to play.  The 'Chos then erupted for a 26-4 run that took just six minutes to build that put the Bronze & Blue in front for good.  The Navy & Red didn't get closer than 16 in the final 10 minutes of the game.  Israel Barnes led NU with 21 points while Deandre Johnson matched a career high with a game-high 14 rebounds.
Full Recap | Box Score
 
Missouri Western weathered several Newman runs to stave off the Jets 86-75 in St. Joseph February 16, 2021 and win the teams' only meeting of the season.  Overcoming an early six-point deficit, the Griffons slowly built a 12-point lead in the first half only to see the Navy & Red end the first on a 7-2 run to get within five at the break.  Western opened the second half on a 12-3 run to take a 52-38 lead with just over 16 minutes to play when Newman answered back with six-straight points to cut the deficit to 8.  NU couldn't get any closer and cut the lead down to eight twice more before the Griffons put the game away with a 16-3 run that gave them a 21-point cushion with just over seven minutes to go that NU could never reel in.  David Javorsky poured in 23 points on 6 of 9 shooting from outside the arc to lead the Jets.  Five Griffons scored in double figures for Missouri Western.
Full Recap | Box Score
 
CAPTAIN OF THE FLEET
R. J. Allen begins his fifth season as the head coach of the Jets in 2021.  It will be his 11th season with the program.  Allen has compiled a record of 47-60 over his first 4 years in Wichita with a 7-34 record in MIAA play.  Allen has coached a player to the All-MIAA team each of his first two years in the league.  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 1-4 against the Bronchos and 0-2 against the Griffons.
 
BUCKING WITH THE BRONCHOS AND GRINDING WITH THE GRIFFONS
Bob Hoffman is in his third year leading the Bronze & Blue and entered the season with a 24-28 record while tallying a 20-21 mark against 'The Association'.  In his 28^th year of coaching, Hoffman began the year with a 631-364 record.  Hoffman previously coached at NCAA Division I member Mercer of the Southern Conference from 2008-19 and led the Bears to a 208-165 record, two Atlantic Sun Conference championships, the 2014 Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament title and a victory over No. 3 seed Duke in the 2014 NCAA Tournament.  During his time in Macon, Ga., Hoffman also led the Bears to one National Invitation Tournament berth (2013), two College Basketball Invitational appearances, and two trips to the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament, including the 2012 CIT title.  Hoffman previously spent five seasons at Texas-Pan American where he led the Broncs to a 68-77 record. 
 
Hoffman is no stranger to the Sooner State after spending nine seasons at Oklahoma Baptist where he led the Bison to a sparkling 243-78 record from 1990-99 with six NAIA Tournament appearances, seven 20-win seasons and four 30-win seasons.  Hoffman started as a collegiate head coach by going 88-16 in three seasons leading the Crimson Storm women's basketball program at Southern Nazarene from 1987-90.  He began his coaching career as a high school coach at Piedmont High School from 1981-85.  Hoffman has also spent time as a head coach in the American Basketball Association, the NBA Development League, and as an assistant for two seasons at Oklahoma.  Hoffman is 4-1 against Newman.
 
Will Martin is in his second year with Missouri Western men's basketball and led the Griffons to a 14-11 record while going 13-9 in MIAA play last season.  The Griffons finished tied for third in the league standings and danced in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in a decade.  Martin ascended to the head coaching role following two years on the staff of former Western head coach Sundance Wicks who returned to his home state to join the coaching staff at Wyoming.  Martin previously spent time as an assistant at Martin Methodist College (NAIA) and as director of basketball operations at San Francisco serving under former Jayhawk Rex Walters.  Martin was a graduate assistant at Tulsa for two seasons working as video coordinator on the staff of Jayhawk Danny Manning and former Missouri head coach Frank Haith.  Martin's collegiate years were spent as a manager of the men's basketball team at Kentucky.  During his time in Lexington, the Wildcats made three trips to the Elite Eight, twice reached the Final Four, and won the 2012 National Championship with their defeat of Kansas in the title match.  St. Joseph is Martin's only stop as a head coach in his basketball career.  Martin is 1-0 against the Jets while at Western.
 
NEW MANAGEMENT
Kyle McLeroy begins his first year as assistant coach at Newman after spending the previous two years as a graduate assistant at Dallas Baptist University, a former Heartland Conference rival of the Jets.  Serving under long-time head coach Dr. Blake Flickner, McLeroy helped lead the Patriots to a 38-14 record over his two seasons.  DBU also earned a berth into two NCAA Tournaments with McLeroy on the bench.
 
McLeroy prepped at Cypress Ranch High School in Cypress, Texas before beginning his collegiate career at the University of Mary-Hardin Baylor.  As a freshman, he helped the Crusaders to a 25-3 record and a No. 5 ranking in the NCAA Division III Top 25.  He redshirted the next season and then transferred to NCAA Division I Sam Houston State.  There he led the Bearkats to a combined 50-20 record over his two seasons and helped set a new NCAA DI-era program record with 26 wins in the 2014-15 season.  Sam Houston State played twice in the Southland Conference Tournament championship game and made two appearances in the College Insider Tournament with McLeroy on the roster.
 
DE-FENSE!
The Jets will look to slow down a potent Central Oklahoma offense on Saturday before facing a Missouri Western team that ranks in the middle of the pack in scoring output.  NU has allowed opponents to shoot over 50% from the field in six of their last eight games while Jet opponents have hit at least 10 3-pointers in five of the last six against the Jets.  Better defense could also lead to better rebounding as the Navy & Red have lost the rebounding battle in four of the last six games.
 
RANKING IN THE REGION
Central Oklahoma enters the week ranked fourth in the D2SIDA Central Regional Media Poll.  Northwest Missouri tops the chart with all six first place votes.  The top seven stayed exactly the same from last week, so Fort Hays State remains sixth.  Emporia State dropped one spot to ninth in this week's rankings.
 
SCHEDULE UPDATE
Newman's games that were postponed due to Coronavirus protocols are now all back on the calendar.  NU has rescheduled their game against Missouri Western to Monday, February 14.  The game was originally to be played on Thursday, January 20 but was postponed due to Coronavirus protocols inside the Griffon program.  Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. inside Fugate Gymnasium in Wichita.
 
Newman's postponed game at Lincoln will now be played in the last week of the season on Monday, February 21.  It will be the third game in five days for the Jets and will follow on the heels of a road trip to Northeastern State and Rogers State on the normal Thursday/Saturday MIAA schedule.  Tipoff at Jason Gym against the Blue Tigers is set for 5:30 p.m.
 
LEADING 'THE ASSOCIATION'

• Wichita-native Israel Barnes is fifth in the conference in scoring in MIAA games at 19.7 ppg.
• Freshman guard Stevie Strong is lighting up the scoreboard at the foul line for the Jets.  Entering the week, Strong's 89.1% at the line is third best in the league and ranks 19^th in the country.  Strong is also 9^th in the league in 3-pointers per game (2.2).
• Deandre Johnson is tied for eighth in rebounding (6.4 rpg) inside 'The Association' play.
• Canadian guard Ian Lee is 10^th in the MIAA in assists (3.2 assists per game) in conference action.  In the conference schedule, Lee is sixth in Assist/Turnover Ratio (1.8).
• Johnson's career-high four blocks at UNK are tied for second most in the MIAA behind only Christian Bundy's five against the Jets for Missouri Southern.
• Emporia State's Tray Buchanan committed nine turnovers against the Jets, tied for the most by an MIAA player in a game this season.

 
NU STATS 'N STREAKS

• The Jets entered the week 13^th in the conference in scoring in MIAA games at 65.0 ppg and 14^th in defense allowing 78.6 ppg.
• NU will look to end a six-game losing streak with a win during this two-game homestand.
• Junior guard Israel Barnes scored just six points in the Jets' defeat at Central Missouri earlier this week.  It is the only time he has not scored at least 10 points in his Jet career and ended a streak of 12-straight double-figure scoring games for the Wichita native.
• UNK's David Simental's 33 points against the Jets in Wichita were the most scored against the Jets since Ryan Hawkins lit NU for 30 in a Jet loss at #3 Northwest Missouri January 21, 2021.  It was five points shy of the all-time record for most points scored against the Jets currently held by Shimeek Johnson who dumped 38 on the Navy & Red in a game at St. Edwards March 2, 2013.
• Barnes poured in a career-high 28 points in Newman's defeat to Fort Hays State in Wichita.  His six treys in the game were also a personal best and the most he'd hit since knocking down four in a game his freshman year at Weber State against Idaho State.
• Graduate transfer A. J. Morris dished out a career-high six assists against the Tigers in Wichita.  It was the most since he had five in a game at North Carolina State as a junior at Alcorn State.
• Tyler Geiman's 11 assists against the Jets' loss at Washburn were the most for an opponent since Cameron Potts dished 11 assists in Newman's defeat at Lincoln February 25, 2021.
• Sophomore guard Ian Lee matched his personal best of seven assists against Northwest Missouri.  It was his best passing performance since dishing seven assists as a freshman at NCAA Division I Howard.
• Strong poured in a career-high 29 points and five three-pointers in NU's first MIAA victory of the season against Northeastern State.
• Northeastern State forward Emeka Obukwelu's 20 rebounds for Northeastern State in the Jets' victory over the RiverHawks tied the most rebounds ever grabbed by a Newman opponent.  Antjuan Ball also snared 20 rebounds against the Jets in a loss at West Texas A&M December 7, 2013.  It is also the most grabbed by any player in the conference this season tying his own season-high from November.
• Strong snared a career-best six rebounds in NU's loss to Rogers State.
• Lee matched a career high with four three-pointers at Central Oklahoma.  He previously hit four in a game against Central Missouri last season.
• Redshirt junior forward Deandre Johnson matched a career high of 14 rebounds in a loss at UCO.  Johnson also corralled 14 boards his sophomore season in a game at Arkansas-Fort Smith.  In the same game this season he also set a new career best with three assists.
• Stevie Strong set a new career high with 24 points in NU's loss at Nebraska-Kearney.  Strong's perfect career ended at UNK when he missed his fifth try at the foul strip against the Lopers, ending a streak of 29-straight free throws.
• Morris snared a career-high five rebounds in NU's loss at Nebraska-Kearney.  Morris has also matched his career-best of two steals for a ninth time this season.
• Johnson swatted four shots to set a new career best for blocks in the Jets' loss to the Lopers.
• Canadian Kwaku Agyapong scored a career-high five points at Nebraska-Kearney.
• Stevie Strong set new career highs with four assists and three steals against Washburn.
• Freshman guard Aleksa Jovanovic grabbed a career-high three rebounds and recorded his first career block in the Navy & Red's loss to Washburn.
• Junior forward Deandre Johnson was a perfect 5 of 5 from the field scoring a season-high 11 points in NU's loss at Missouri Southern.  It is the only time in Johnson's career he has shot 100% from the field while taking at least five shots.
• Despite partially tearing ligaments in his ankle, junior guard David Javorsky hauled in a career-high nine rebounds at Pittsburg State.  Earlier this year, Javorsky matched his career best of three steals against Manhattan Christian College.
• Second-year freshman forward Jorge Oliva set a new career best with five boards in NU's loss at Pittsburg State.
• Agyapong captured a career-high five rebounds against Sterling.
• Graduate guard A. J. Morris notched an NU-career-best 11 points in the Navy & Red's season opening loss @ Concordia-St. Paul.
• 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.

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
Newman stays busy with regularly scheduled games in Northeast Oklahoma after their Monday makeup.  Then, NU will head up to Lincoln for another makeup game on the following Monday leading in to the last week of the regular season.
 
MIAA PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Week 1:  Tray Buchanan – Emporia State
Week 2:  Trevor Hudgins – Northwest Missouri
Week 3:  Tray Buchanan (2) – Emporia State (2)
Week 4:  Trevor Hudgins (2) – Northwest Missouri (2)
Week 5:  Camryn Givens – Central Oklahoma
Week 6:  Isaiah Wade – Central Oklahoma (2)
Week 7:  Trevor Hudgins (3) – Northwest Missouri (3)
Week 8:  Tray Buchanan (3) – Emporia State (3)
Week 9:  Tray Buchanan (4) – Emporia State (4)
Week 10:  Isaiah Wade (2) – Central Oklahoma (3)
Week 11:  Trevor Hudgins (4) – Northwest Missouri (4)
Week 12:  Tray Buchanan (5) – Emporia State (5)