#HLMBB Weekly Notebook – January 2
#HLMBB Standings | #HLMBB Statistics | #HLMBB Weekly Release
INDIANAPOLIS – It’s a new year and we’ve already completed the first week of #HLMBB play as Northern Kentucky, Oakland and Detroit Mercy each ended 2018 with a pair of wins to sit atop the HL standings.
#HLMBB NEWS & NOTES
• Friday marks another a marquee matchup for #HLMBB on national television as UIC hosts IUPUI starting at 7 p.m. UIC is already 1-0 on ESPN’s family of networks during HL play after a thrilling 75-72 overtime win at Wright State last week. IUPUI will look to get its first win during League play this season behind one of the HL’s top offenses as the Jags average 78.3 points per game.
• Northern Kentucky started HL play with two home wins to improve its record at BB&T Arena to 10-0 this season. The Norse averaged 82.5 points per game in the two wins and held their opponents to under 22 percent shooting from 3-point range. Drew McDonald posted back-to-back double-doubles in the wins including becoming the first HL player since 2011 to grab 20 rebounds in a game.
• Oakland and Detroit each swept their opening HL games to start the League season 2-0. Antoine Davis led the charge again for the Titans averaging 22 points per game, while a balanced attack from Oakland and a last-second triple by Karmari Newman gave the Golden Grizzlies two early victories. Both teams will host Northern Kentucky and Wright State this week.
• Green Bay picked up a win in its HL opener over in-state rival Milwaukee, 92-82, as Sandy Cohen III had the highest point total by an HL player for the week with 28 points to go along with six rebounds and four assists.
• NKU is receiving votes in the College Insider Mid-Major top-25 poll.
• Detroit Mercy’s Antoine Davis is fourth in the country in scoring at 25.4 points per game as he leads all of Division I with 68 total 3-pointers. Oakland’s Xavier Hill-Mais is also top-25 in the country in scoring at 21.8 points, while IUPUI’s Camron Justice is the only other #HLMBB player to average 20 points a game at 20.1 for the Jags.
• UIC’s Tarkus Ferguson and Green Bay’s Cohen are the only two players in the Horizon League that rank in the top-10 in points, rebounds and assists. Ferguson leads the League in assists at 5.3, while Cohen is tied for the HL-lead in steals with 2.1.
• Wright State’s Loudon Love and Northern Kentucky’s Drew McDonald were selected to the 2018-19 Lou Henson Award Watch List, presented annually to the nation’s top mid-major player in Division I College Basketball.
• McDonald has also been selected to the Naismith Hall of Fame’s Karl Malone Award Watch List, presented to the nation’s top power-forward and one of 30 of candidates for the Senior CLASS Award. McDonald is one of only 12 active players to record 1,500 points and 600 rebounds and among active Division I players ranks seventh in double-doubles, 10th in rebounds and 18th in points.
• #HLMBB have been prolific from long range this season as eight out of 10 teams are ranked in the top-100 in total 3-point field goals made per game with Oakland pacing the HL with 10.8, good for 10th in the NCAA.
• Oakland has proved to be early on one of the best in the nation at holding on to the ball and also sharing it. The Golden Grizzlies are 16th in the NCAA in assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.52, 14th in assists per game at 18.0.
RESULTS
| DATE |
GAME |
RECAP |
| Friday, Dec. 28 |
Detroit Mercy 78, Youngstown State 66 |
Box Score |
|
Northern Kentucky 92, IUPUI 77 |
Box Score |
|
Oakland 89, Cleveland State 77 |
Box Score |
|
UIC 75, Wright State 72 (OT) |
Box Score |
| Saturday, Dec. 29 |
Green Bay 92, Milwaukee 82 |
Box Score |
| Sunday, Dec. 30 |
Wright State 72, IUPUI 64 |
Box Score |
|
Oakland 76, Youngstown State 74 |
Box Score |
|
Northern Kentucky 73, UIC 58 |
Box Score |
|
Detroit Mercy 73, Cleveland State 61 |
Box Score |
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
GAME OF THE WEEK
IUPUI at UIC, Friday, Jan. 4, 7 p.m. ET, ESPNU
The new year starts off with a fantastic #HLMBB matchup on ESPNU in the only HL game on Friday as IUPUI travels to UIC. The Flames are coming off a tough road trip where they went 1-1 thanks to the heroics of freshman Travell Washington as he hit a 3-pointer as time expired in overtime to defeat Wright State. The Jags will look to get back on track after a tough stretch to open League play at WSU and Northern Kentucky. IUPUI is led by Camron Justice as he averaged 20.1 points on 2.5 3-pointers per game.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
| DATE |
GAME |
Time (ET) |
TV/Live Stream |
| Thursday, Jan. 3 |
Wright State at Detroit Mercy |
7 p.m. |
ESPN+ |
|
Northern Kentucky at Oakland |
7 p.m. |
ESPN+ |
|
Cleveland State at Milwaukee |
8 p.m. |
ESPN+ |
|
Youngstown State at Green Bay |
8 p.m. |
ESPN+ |
| Friday, Jan. 4 |
IUPUI at UIC |
7 p.m. |
ESPNU |
| Saturday, Jan. 5 |
Northern Kentucky at Detroit Mercy |
1 p.m. |
ESPN+ |
|
Cleveland State at Green Bay |
1 p.m. |
ESPN3 |
|
Wright State at Oakland |
3 p.m. |
ESPN+ |
|
Youngstown State at Milwaukee |
5 p.m. |
My24 Sports |