Games 14 & 15:
Newman (5-8, 1-6 MIAA) @ Rogers State (8-5, 4-3 MIAA)
Thursday, January 5, 2023 | 7:30 p.m. | Claremore, Okla. (Claremore Expo Center)
Audio: 91.3 KRSC-FM (Play-by-Play:  Steven Blackiston) | Video:  MIAA Network | Live Stats:  RSU Athletics
 
@ Northeastern State (7-4, 4-3 MIAA)
Saturday, January 7, 2023 | 3:30 p.m. | Tahlequah, Okla. (NSU Event Center)
Audio:  None | Video:  MIAA Network | Live Stats:  NSU Athletics
 
A FRESH START
The Navy & Red hit the road looking for their second conference victory this week.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The after a strong first half, the Newman offense never got off the ground in the second in an 89-64 loss to #20 Emporia State December 31, 2022, at Fugate Gymnasium in Wichita.  The Jets started well with a 7-0 run, but E-State answered with an 11-2 push to take the lead.  A Latik Murphy 3-pointer tied the game at 17 for the Navy & Red when the Hornets made their push.  ESU slammed the Jets with a 14-2 run to take a 31-19 lead with 8 minutes to play in the first half.  NU closed to within six twice in the closing moments of the frame, but a late 6-1 run gave the Hornets a 49-37 halftime lead.  The Jets cut the deficit to eight just minutes into the second half but never got closer as the Hornets gradually built the lead as high as 30.  The Navy & Red shot 57.7% from the field in the first half but struggled to just 25.9% shooting in the second.  Stevie Strong led NU with 23 points.
Full Recap | Box Score
 
BEHIND ENEMY LINES
Rogers State finds themselves squarely in the mix of the MIAA standings in a three-way tie for sixth with Northeastern State and Emporia State as the calendar turns to 2023.  RSU bounced back with a winning record a season ago finishing 16-14 in 2021-22 with a 9-13 record in 'The Association.'  RSU found success in Kansas City with a first round win in the 2022 MIAA Tournament before falling to eventual national champion Northwest Missouri in the quarterfinals.  2020-21 is RSU's only sub-.500 season as an NCAA Division II program.  Prior to that, the Hillcats had posted seven-straight winning seasons since joining NCAA Division II for the 2013-14 campaign.  Rogers State is seeking their second NCAA Tournament berth this year and first since being unable to participate in the cancelled 2020 event.  The Jets are very familiar with their visitors from Claremore, Okla. as the schools battled for six seasons as members of the Heartland Conference.  The Hillcats aborted a planned move to the Lone Star Conference to join the Jets as affiliate members of the MIAA.  Newman and Rogers State are the only two MIAA members that do not sponsor football as an NCAA sport.  Both NU and RSU gained full membership into the league this past summer.
 
Joey Saracco leads Rogers State in scoring and rebounding at 14.3 ppg and 6.6 rpg which is also good for seventh in the conference.  He's tied at that mark with Kofi Hamilton who also grabs 6.6 boards per night.  Saracco is tied for sixth in the league in field goal percentage at 52.8% from the field while Chris Whitaker is tied for third in the league in steals at 1.8 spg.  RSU is tied for sixth offensively in conference play at 68.6 ppg and ranks 10^th defensively allowing 71.1 ppg.
 
The RiverHawks showed massive improvement last season by finishing 16-14 with a 9-12 record in MIAA play.  It was an 11-game turnaround for the 'Hawks and allowed them to post their first winning record since 2019-20.  NSU had suffered through five-straight losing seasons from 2014-19.  The RiverHawks started their MIAA tenure in 2012 by making the MIAA Tournament three-straight years.  As the Redmen, NSU became a national power with four-straight 20-win seasons from 1999-2003 culminating with a 32-3 record in 2002-03, an 11-1 record in the Lone Star Conference, and the 2003 NCAA Division II National Championship.  After ending with the national title on their fourth-straight trip to the Big Dance, Northeastern returned to the tournament in 2013, their most recent to date.
 
The 'Hawks are second in the conference at 74.6 ppg in league action and rank 11^th in defense allowing 72.0 ppg.  NSU's Christian Cook is third in the MIAA in scoring at 17.7 ppg and is second in the league shooting 47.1% from outside the arc while Rashad Perkins is fourth in the league in field goal percentage at 53.8%.  Jaxon Jones is tied for third in the league in assist to turnover ratio at 2.4.
 
THE SERIES
Rogers State leads 14-5 and has won six in a row and seven of the last eight against the Jets.  Newman is RSU's third-most played rivalry in their recent history behind only former Heartland Conference members Oklahoma Christian and Lubbock Christian.  RSU is 6-0 against the Jets in the MIAA.  The Hillcats went 8-4 against the Jets in the Heartland Conference and won the only postseason and neutral-site meeting against Newman with a 70-61 win in the first round of the 2019 Heartland Conference Tournament.
 
Northeastern State leads the series 8-3 overall and 5-3 in the Division II era of the rivalry.  The 'Hawks are 4-0 against the Jets in Tahlequah in the NCAA Division II era of the series.  NSU is in front 4-2 in MIAA games.
 
PREVIOUS MATCHUP
A solid Rogers State first half proved too tough to overcome as RSU kept NU at bay in the second half on the way to a 61-53 Hillcat homecoming win February 19, 2022, at the Claremore Expo Center in Claremore.  NU struggled shooting just 36% from the field in the game while RSU shot at a tidy 46% clip.  The Jets trailed 33-24 at the break but never got closer than eight in the second half.  Due to injuries, Newman played just seven players in the game and four starters played at least 36 minutes.  Branden Bunn led Newman with 14 points.
Full Recap | Box Score
 
After a back and forth 16 minutes, NSU used a late 8-0 run to get their first double digit lead and built the advantage as high as 35 in the second half on the way to an 85-59 win over Newman February 17, 2022, at the NSU Event Center in Tahlequah.  NU would briefly cut the lead to single-digits early in the second frame, but an eight-minute 24-4 run put the Jets away.  Israel Barnes led NU with 22 points.
Full Recap | Box Score
 
FINDING THE MARK
The Jets have been outshot from the field by percentage in seven of their last eight games.  In the same span, Navy & Red opponents have also hit a higher percentage of 3-point baskets in six of eight contests.  The Jets have shot under 40% from the field in five of their last seven contests.
 
SETTLE BACK DOWN
Newman will try to return to their previous form of not turning the ball over this week after stumbling against #20 Emporia State last time out.  Prior to NU's 18 giveaways to the Hornets, NU had finished with 9 or fewer turnovers in three of the previous four games with the high in that stretch being 13 against Missouri Southern December 10, 2022.
 
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. 
 
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 3-7 versus Rogers State and 2-4 against the RiverHawks.
 
HERDING THE HILLCATS AND FLYING WITH THE RIVERHAWKS
Justin Barkley is in his 13^th season as the head coach of Rogers State men's basketball and had amassed a record of 234-120 coming into the season.  Under Barkley's direction, Rogers State was one of the most consistent Heartland Conference programs and successfully transitioned to immediate success in the nationally recognized MIAA.  Barkley's only losing team was 2020-21 when the Hillcats finished 11-12 in the Coronavirus-shortened season.  Barkley has led RSU to at least 20-wins seven times and started the year an incredible 136-33 at home inside the Claremore Expo Center.  From 2015-2017, Barkley coached three-straight Heartland Conference Players of the Year.  In the program's first year in the MIAA, RSU earned their first ever Top 25 ranking as an NCAA member and finished the season ranked 18^th in the country, earning an at-large bid to the cancelled 2020 NCAA Tournament.  Barkley previously led Rogers State to two NAIA Tournament appearances in their final two seasons as an NAIA member while finishing the season in the Top 25 of the NAIA rankings both years.  Barkley's 2016 Hillcats won the Heartland Conference championship while the program was ineligible for postseason play while transitioning from the NAIA and Barkley was honored as the 2016 Heartland Conference Coach of the Year. 
 
Barkley is in his 15^th season on the Hilltop overall after spending two seasons as an assistant coach before being hired in April 2010 to take over the program.  Barkley has spent his entire coaching career inside the Sooner State with stops at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M as an assistant coach and at Northeastern State, his alma mater, as a graduate assistant coach.  As a player, Barkley helped lead the Redmen of NSU to the 2003 NCAA Division II National Championship and also won a state title as a high school player at Inola High School in 1998. 
 
Barkley owns RSU's entire 14-5 record against the Jets.
 
Ja Havens is in his third season on the bench at his alma mater after playing for the Redmen from 1996-98.  After departing for one year, he returned to campus as a graduate assistant and helped Northeastern to two Lone Star Conference North Division titles and an appearance in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.  Havens entered the season with a 152-105 record overall and spent the previous seven years as the head coach at East Central in Ada, Okla.  Havens began the year 21-31 in Tahlequah with a 15-29 mark in MIAA play.  At his previous stop, Havens is the fastest coach to 100 wins in ECU history and led the Tigers to two regular season Great American Conference titles, the 2017 GAC Tournament crown, and the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance later that season.  Havens never missed the postseason in Alva and never posted a losing record with three 20-win seasons, setting a new program record with 25 wins with his 2016-17 team. 
 
Havens previously served eight years as an assistant coach at Drury and helped the Panthers claim the 2013 NCAA Division II National Championship.  He also assisted Tulsa to two Western Athletic Conference titles and started his career at St. Gregory's. 
 
Havens is 2-2 against the Jets.
 
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.
 
LEADING 'THE ASSOCIATION'

• Former Campus Colt Stevie Strong is fifth in the MIAA in scoring at 17.3 ppg.
• Strong is eighth in 'The Association' shooting 78.6% from the free throw line.
• Strong's 3.6 apg ranks him sixth in the league in assists.
• Strong's 1.5 assist to turnover ratio is tied for 10^th in the MIAA.
• Strong ranks tied for third in steals with 1.8 pilfers per game.

 
NU STATS 'N STREAKS

• Stevie Strong has scored in double figures in 14-consecutive games dating back to last season. 
• Strong matched his career high of four steals for the first time against ESU.
• Thomas Zevgaras' streak of double figures in three straight was snapped by ESU.
• In conference games, the Navy & Red rank 13^th offensively scoring 62.9 ppg.
• The Jets are ranked 14^th defensively allowing 77.1 ppg against league foes.
• 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.

 
AND THEN…
Newman returns home to host Missouri Western and the reigning national champions from Northwest Missouri next week.
 
2022-23 MIAA PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Week 1:  Bennett Stirtz – Northwest Missouri
Week 2:  Alijah Comithier – Emporia State
Week 3:  Will Eames – Missouri Western
Week 4:  Kaleb Hammeke – Fort Hays State
Week 5:  Diego Bernard – Northwest Missouri (2)
Week 6:  Owen Long – Emporia State (2)
Week 7:  Jaden Wells – Central Oklahoma
 
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