#HLMBB Weekly Notebook – February 2
#HLMBB Standings | #HLMBB Statistics | #HLMBB Weekly Notebook
INDIANAPOLIS – With the calendar flipping to February, there are just four weeks remaining the #HLMBB schedule with every team jockeying for position in the standings prior to the start of the Horizon League Tournament on March 1.
#HLMBB NEWS & NOTES
• Detroit Mercy’s Antoine Davis currently leads the all of Division I men’s basketball in scoring 24.0 points per game, while also second in the country in 3-pointers per game with 4.2. The senior is the nation’s active career leader in scoring average (24.7), 3-pointers per game (3.91) and total points (2,448), while also second in total 3-pointers (387) and fourth in free-throw percentage (89.0).
• Davis became the program’s all-time leading scorer earlier this season and has moved into third place on the HL’s all-time scoring list while also setting the Horizon League record for career 3-pointers. The two-time Preseason Player of the Year is 25 points away from breaking the HL’s all-time scoring record in League play of 1,481 set by Alfredrick Hughes at Loyola.
• After leading the country in assists a year ago, Oakland’s Jalen Moore is averaging 8.3 assists per game and has totaled 157 dimes this season, both ranked second in the nation. During, League play Moore has been even better averaging 9.3 assists per game to go along with 15.1 points. He has eight double-digit assist games this season and is second behind teammate Jamal Cain for the League-lead with eight double-doubles.
• Since returning to Horizon League play on Dec. 30, Wright State’s Tanner Holden has been on a scoring spree averaging 22.7 points over his last 11 games. Holden is second in the HL in scoring at 20.9 points per game, good for 12th nationally, thanks to leading the country in free throws with 133. In addition, he has posted a League-best 15 20-point performances this season and ranks third in the League in field-goal percentage at 51.6 percent while adding 6.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game.
• Jamal Cain is leading the charge for the Golden Grizzlies as he is averaging 20.3 points and 10.1 rebounds per game, one of just two players in the country averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds. In addition, Cain is also 19th in the country double-doubles with nine and ranks fifth in the HL in field-goal percentage at 49.1 percent and fourth in steals with 1.8.
• Three #HLMBB teams are ranked in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Poll with Oakland leading the way at No. 12, Cleveland State right behind at No. 18, while Wright State is receiving votes.
• A total of three Horizon League men’s basketball players were tabbed to the Lou Henson Award Midseason Watch List. The award is presented annually to the top mid-major player in division I college basketball. The list included Oakland’s Jamal Cain and Jalen Moore and also Wright State’s Tanner Holden.
• Oakland sits on top of the Horizon League standings at 9-1 but is heading into one of its toughest tests of the season beginning a four-game roadtrip this weekend at Wright State and Northern Kentucky, both top-4 in the HL standings. During Horizon League play, the Golden Grizzlies are the No. 1 scoring offense at 78.4 points per game thanks to hitting more free throws than any other team and shooting at a League-best 82.3 percent clip from the line. Oakland is also third in scoring defense at 67.6 points allowed per game during HL play as it leads all teams in steals with 9.0 and is holding teams to just 27.4 percent shooting from long range.
• Cleveland State suffered just its second loss of the HL season but remains in second-place in the standings heading into this weekend with a record of 10-2. The CSU offense has taken a step forward this season as it is a top-three scoring offense during League play at 74.6, while leading in assists at 16.8 and second in field-goal percentage shooting 47.6 percent from the floor. D’Moi Hodge leads the offensive charge for the Vikings with 16.2 points per game on 48.3 percent shooting from the floor during HL play, while Preseason All-League First Team selection Torrey Patton is averaging 14.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists. The Vikings defense is also getting it done as it is holding HL opponents to just 42.8 percent shooting from the floor while also averaging 3.8 blocks and 8.1 steals per game, all ranking top-3 during #HLMBB play.
• Wright State sits at 9-4 but is coming off a 1-2 week. The Raiders continue to play well offensively as they are the second-best scoring offense during Horizon League play at 77.9 points per game as they are shooting a League-best 49.9 percent from the field. Holden is second in the HL averaging 21.3 points per game in League play and Grant Basile is not far behind at 16.9 points per game and is also second in rebounds with 8.1.
• Northern Kentucky comes into the weekend riding a five-game winning streak and propelled itself to fourth place in the standings at 7-4 heading into the end of a five-game home stand. Over the five-game stretch, six-time Freshman of the Week honoree Sam Vinson is averaging 17.0 points per game on 48.3 percent shooting, while reigning Freshman of the Year Marques Warrick is averaging 15.8 points with more than two 3-pointers per game. As a team, the Norse are the second-best scoring defense in the League at 64.9 points allowed as they rank 18th in the country in steals at 9.3 per game.
• Youngstown State swept the HL’s Wisconsin schools at home last weekend to move back to .500 in Horizon League play. The Penguins have a balanced offensive attack during HL games as three players are within one point of each other for the team-lead with Dwayne Cohill and Michael Akuchie each averaging 14.4 points and Tevin Olison right behind at 13.7 as he is leading the HL shooting 41.3 percent from long range.
• RMU won back-to-back games in League play for the first time since joining the Horizon League last season and stretched its home winning streak to three games. In the two wins, Michael Green III averaged 17.0 points, 2.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists, while Kahliel Spear finished with 17.0 points and 8.5 rebounds over the two games including a 25-point performance against the Panthers.
• The Horizon League boasts some of the best free-throw shooting teams in the country with five ranked inside the top-25 nationally. Oakland leads the way at No. 5 at 80.1 percent, followed by Purdue Fort Wayne at No. 12 at 78.4, Detroit Mercy at No. 16 at 77.5 percent, Wright State at No. 19 at 77.3 percent and RMU at No. 25 at 76.9 percent.
RECENT RESULTS
| DATE |
GAME |
RECAP |
| Thursday, Jan. 27 |
Youngstown State 63, Green Bay 50 |
Box Score |
|
RMU 77, Milwaukee 53 |
Box Score |
|
Detroit Mercy 80, UIC 67 |
Box Score |
| Friday, Jan. 28 |
Northern Kentucky 59, Purdue Fort Wayne 49 |
Box Score |
|
Cleveland State 71, Wright State 67 |
Box Score |
| Saturday, Jan. 29 |
Youngstown State 86, Milwaukee 72 |
Box Score |
|
Oakland 81, UIC 74 |
Box Score |
|
RMU 62, Green Bay 60 |
Box Score |
| Sunday, Jan. 30 |
Wright State 75, Purdue Fort Wayne 63 |
Box Score |
|
Northern Kentucky 78, Cleveland State 72 |
Box Score |
| Monday, Jan. 31 |
Detroit Mercy 96, UM-Dearborn 51 |
Box Score |
|
IUPUI 75, East-West University 59 |
Box Score |
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
UPCOMING SCHEDULE (All times ET)
Thursday, Feb. 3
Oakland at Northern Kentucky, 7:00 PM (ESPN+)
Youngstown State at IUPUI, 7:00 PM (ESPN+)
Detroit Mercy at Wright State, 7:00 PM (ESPN+)
RMU at UIC, 8:00 PM (ESPN+)
Friday, Feb. 4
Milwaukee at Purdue Fort Wayne, 7:00 PM (ESPN+)
Green Bay at Cleveland State, 7:00 PM (ESPN+)
Saturday, Feb. 5
RMU at IUPUI, 12:00 PM (ESPN+)
Youngstown State at UIC, 2:00 PM (ESPN+)
Detroit Mercy at Northern Kentucky, 7:00 PM (ESPN+)
Oakland at Wright State, 7:00 PM (ESPN+)
Sunday, Feb. 6
Green Bay at Purdue Fort Wayne, 2:00 PM (ESPN+)
Milwaukee at Cleveland State 3:00 PM (ESPN+)
Monday, Feb. 7
Detroit Mercy vs. Rochester University, 7:00 PM (ESPN+)