#HLMBB Weekly Notebook – February 16
#HLMBB Standings | #HLMBB Statistics | #HLMBB Weekly Notebook
INDIANAPOLIS – With just two weeks left in the regular season, teams are battling for position in the Horizon League standings and Week 9 features a marquee matchup on national television with major postseason implications as Oakland welcomes Wright State on Friday at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
#HLMBB NEWS & NOTES
• This Friday features the final #HLMBBonESPN game of the season and will showcase two of the top teams in the HL standings as Oakland hosts Wright State at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2. This game highlights two of the top offenses during Horizon League play as both the Golden Grizzlies and the Raiders rank in the top-3 in scoring offense at over 76 points per game. Both teams do a great job at getting to the free throw line as they rank 1-2 in made free throws in HL play.
• Detroit Mercy’s Antoine Davis currently ranks second in all of Division I men’s basketball in scoring at 23.4 points per game, while also fourth in the country in 3-pointers per game with just under four triples. The senior is the nation’s active career leader in scoring average (24.6) and total points (2,554), while also second in 3-pointers per game (3.88) and second in total 3-pointers (403). 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 also set the HL’s all-time scoring record in League play with 1,562 points against HL opponents.
• After leading the country in assists a year ago, Oakland’s Jalen Moore is averaging 8.2 assists per game and has totaled 197 dimes this season, both ranked second in the nation. During, League play Moore has been even better averaging 8.9 assists per game to go along with 15.2 points. He has 10 double-digit assist games this season and is second behind teammate Jamal Cain for the League-lead with nine double-doubles.
• Wright State’s Tanner Holden is third in the HL in scoring at 19.9 points per game, good for 26th nationally, thanks to leading the country in free throws with 150. In addition, he has posted a League-best 16 20-point performances this season and ranks third in the League in field-goal percentage at 50.8 percent while adding 6.9 rebounds per game.
• Jamal Cain is leading the charge for the Golden Grizzlies as he is averaging 20.5 points and 10.1 rebounds per game, one of only two players in the country to average over 20 points and 10 rebounds and the only HL player to be averaging a double-double. In addition, Cain is also eighth in the country double-doubles with 13. Last week the redshirt senior posted his second 30-point performance of the season as he scored 32 points and grabbed 12 boards against Metro Series rival Detroit Mercy.
• Two #HLMBB teams are ranked in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Poll with Cleveland State leading the way at No. 15, while Oakland is right behind at No. 18.
• 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.
• Cleveland State sits on top of the Horizon League standings at 13-4. The CSU offense has led the way this season as it is the top scoring offense during League play at 77.7, while leading in assists at 17.5 and second in field-goal percentage shooting 48.3 percent from the floor. D’Moi Hodge leads the offensive charge for the Vikings with 17.0 points per game on 50.5 percent shooting during HL play, while Torrey Patton is averaging 15.4 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists. The Vikings defense is also getting it done as it is holding HL opponents to just 41.7 percent shooting from the floor, including 31.8 percent from long range, both ranking top-2 during #HLMBB play.
• Oakland comes into the week in second place in the Horizon League standings at 11-4 and will host the third and fourth place teams in Northern Kentucky and Wright State, respectively. During Horizon League play, the Golden Grizzlies are the No. 3 scoring offense at 76.2 points per game thanks to hitting more free throws than any other team and shooting at a League-best 80.5 percent clip from the line. Oakland’s defense also leads all teams in 3-point defense holding teams to just 29.4 percent shooting from distance and also ranks second in steals with 8.6 per game.
• Northern Kentucky comes into the week having won nine out of its last 10 games and jumped to third place in the standings at 11-5. The reigning Freshman of the Year Marque Warrick leads the Norse with 15.8 points per game in League play, while seven-time Freshman of the week honoree Sam Vinson is right behind him with 13.8 points per game. As a team, the Norse hold the top scoring defense in the League at 64.9 points allowed as they rank 11th in the country in steals at 9.4 per game.
• Wright State sits at 12-6 as it heads into its final road trip of the regular season. The Raiders continue to play well offensively as they are the No. 2 scoring offense during Horizon League play at 76.9 points per game as they are shooting a League-best 48.3 percent from the field. WSU boasts two players in the top 5 in scoring during HL play as Holden is averaging 19.6 points against HL opponents, while Grant Basile is totaling 18.1 points along with 8.3 boards per game.
• Purdue Fort Wayne won a game for the ages on Monday as it went into triple overtime with first-place Cleveland State with the Mastodons pulling out a 102-98 win at home for its fifth win in a row. The Mastodons trailed by as many as 14 points in the second half but fought back to send the game to overtime on a Damian Chong Qui 3-pointer from the top of the arc as time expired. Pipkins sent the game to a second overtime on a free throw with under 10 seconds to play and CSU’s Deshon Parker hit a triple with three seconds on the clock to send the game to a third overtime. In triple OT, Purdue Fort Wayne was able to complete the comeback as it went 9-for-11 from the free throw line to secure the victory.
• Youngstown State has won six out of its last seven contests and sits at 10-7 in Horizon League play. The Penguins have a balanced offensive attack during HL games as three players are within two points of each other for the team-lead with Dwayne Cohill averaging 15.5 points per game, followed by Michael Akuchie each averaging 14.3 points, along with 8.2 rebounds, and Tevin Olison is right behind at 13.8 hitting nearly 2.5 triples per game.
• The Horizon League boasts some of the best free-throw shooting teams in the country with five ranked inside the top-30 nationally. Oakland leads the way at No. 6 at 79.4 percent, followed by Detroit Mercy at No. 12 at 77.9, Purdue Fort Wayne at No. 17 at 77.5, Wright State at No. 26 at 76.8 percent, and RMU at No. 28 at 76.7 percent.
RECENT RESULTS
| DATE |
GAME |
RECAP |
| Wednesday, Feb. 9 |
Youngstown State 78, Oakland 71 |
Box Score |
|
Detroit Mercy 79, RMU 62 |
Box Score |
|
Wright State 79, Green Bay 62 |
Box Score |
|
Northern Kentucky 75, Milwaukee 39 |
Box Score |
| Thursday, Feb. 10 |
Purdue Fort Wayne 72, IUPUI 57 |
Box Score |
|
UIC 76, Cleveland State 75 |
Box Score |
| Friday, Feb. 11 |
Milwaukee 60, Wright State 57 |
Box Score |
|
Youngstown State 82, Detroit Mercy 69 |
Box Score |
|
Oakland 71, RMU 68 |
Box Score |
|
Northern Kentucky 71, Green Bay 62 |
Box Score |
| Saturday, Feb. 12 |
Cleveland State 83, IUPUI 45 |
Box Score |
|
Purdue Fort Wayne 73, UIC 66 |
Box Score |
| Sunday, Feb. 13 |
Northern Kentucky 75, Wright State 71 |
Box Score |
|
RMU 73, Youngstown State 68 |
Box Score |
|
Oakland 75, Detroit Mercy 59 |
Box Score |
|
Milwaukee 54, Green Bay 44 |
Box Score |
| Monday, Feb. 14 |
Purdue Fort Wayne 102, Cleveland State 98 (3OT) |
Box Score |
|
UIC 57, IUPUI 54 |
Box Score |
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
UPCOMING SCHEDULE (All times ET)
Thursday, Feb. 17
UIC at Youngstown State, 7:00 PM (ESPN+)
IUPUI at RMU, 8:00 PM (ESPN+)
Friday, Feb. 18
Northern Kentucky at Detroit Mercy, 7:00 PM (ESPN+)
Purdue Fort Wayne at Green Bay, 8:00 PM (ESPN+)
Cleveland State at Milwaukee, 8:00 PM (ESPN+)
Wright State at Oakland, 9:00 PM (ESPN2)
Saturday, Feb. 19
IUPUI at Youngstown State, 2:00 PM (ESPN+)
UIC at RMU, 7:00 PM (ESPN+)
Sunday, Feb. 20
Wright State at Detroit Mercy, 1:00 PM (ESPN+)
Purdue Fort Wayne at Milwaukee, 2:00 PM (ESPN+)
Northern Kentucky at Oakland, 3:00 PM (ESPN+)
Cleveland State at Green Bay, 3:00 PM (ESPN+)