#HLMBB Weekly Notebook – February 9
#HLMBB Standings | #HLMBB Statistics | #HLMBB Weekly Notebook
INDIANAPOLIS – Week 8 of the #HLMBB season features another marquee matchup on national television as Wright State travels to Milwaukee at 7 p.m. ET on ESPNU.
#HLMBB NEWS & NOTES
• This Friday features the fourth #HLMBBonESPN game of the season as Wright State heads to Milwaukee at 7 p.m. ET on ESPNU. DeAndre Gholston leads the Panthers scoring 15.3 points per game, while Patrick Baldwin Jr. returned last weekend for his first action in eight games and is averaging 12.5 points per game. Wright State enters the weekend riding a three-game as the Raiders are the only team to showcase multiple players inside the top-5 in scoring during HL play in Tanner Holden (20.7) and Grant Basile (17.7).
• Detroit Mercy’s Antoine Davis currently leads all of Division I men’s basketball in scoring 23.3 points per game, while also fourth in the country in 3-pointers per game with 4.0. The senior is the nation’s active career leader in scoring average (24.6) and total points (2,482), while also second in 3-pointers per game (3.88) and second in total 3-pointers (392). 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 1,491 points against HL opponents.
• After leading the country in assists a year ago, Oakland’s Jalen Moore is averaging 8.0 assists per game and has totaled 167 dimes this season, both ranked second in the nation. During, League play Moore has been even better averaging 8.6 assists per game to go along with 15.6 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.
• Wright State’s Tanner Holden is second in the HL in scoring at 20.6 points per game, good for 14th nationally, thanks to leading the country in free throws with 141. 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 51.8 percent while adding 6.7 rebounds per game.
• Jamal Cain is leading the charge for the Golden Grizzlies as he is averaging 19.5 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, the only HL player to be averaging a double-double. In addition, Cain is also 12th in the country double-doubles with 11 and ranks sixth in the HL in field-goal percentage at 48.6 percent.
• Three #HLMBB teams are ranked in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Poll with Cleveland State leading the way at No. 13, Oakland right behind at No. 16, 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.
• Cleveland State sits on top of the Horizon League standings once again with a record of after a weekend sweep at home. The CSU offense has taken a step forward this season as it is a top-three scoring offense during League play at 76.0, while leading in assists at 17.4 and second in field-goal percentage shooting 48.7 percent from the floor. D’Moi Hodge leads the offensive charge for the Vikings with 16.1 points per game on 49.4 percent shooting from the floor during HL play, while Preseason All-League First Team selection Torrey Patton is averaging 14.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 4.2 assists. The Vikings defense is also getting it done as it is holding HL opponents to just 42.2 percent shooting from the floor, including 31.4 percent from long range, while also averaging 4.1 blocks per game, all ranking top-2 during #HLMBB play.
• Oakland comes into the week in second place in the Horizon League standings at 9-3 after playing back-to-back road games on Friday and Saturday at Northern Kentucky and Wright State due to weather. During Horizon League play, the Golden Grizzlies are the No. 2 scoring offense at 77.2 points per game thanks to hitting more free throws than any other team and shooting at a League-best 81.3 percent clip from the line. Oakland’s defense also leads all teams in 3-point defense holding teams to just 28.9 percent shooting from distance and also ranks second in steals with 8.5 per game.
• Wright State sits at 11-4 after a weekend sweep of the HL’s Michigan teams at home. The Raiders continue to play well offensively as they are the top scoring offense during Horizon League play at 78.5 points per game as they are shooting a League-best 50.2 percent from the field. During HL play this season, WSU has posted three 90-point games, while no other team has more than one.
• Northern Kentucky comes into the week having won six out of its last seven games and propelled itself to fourth place in the standings at 8-5. Over the seven-game stretch, six-time Freshman of the Week honoree Sam Vinson is averaging 15.4 points per game, while reigning Freshman of the Year Marques Warrick is also averaging 15.4 points with more than two 3-pointers per game. As a team, the Norse are the second-best scoring defense in the League at 66.6 points allowed as they rank 12th in the country in steals at 9.5 per game.
• Youngstown State is riding a four-game winning streak heading into this week’s games and are just behind Northern Kentucky and Detroit Mercy for the No. 4 spot in the standings at 8-6. The Penguins have a balanced offensive attack during HL games as three players are about one point away from each other for the team-lead with Dwayne Cohill averaging 14.7 points per game, followed by Michael Akuchie each averaging 13.9 points, along with 7.9 rebounds, and Tevin Olison right behind at 13.6 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. 5 at 79.7 percent, followed by Purdue Fort Wayne at No. 11 at 78.2, RMU at No. 18 at 77.4 percent, Detroit Mercy at No. 20 at 77.1 percent, and Wright State at No. 30 at 76.5 percent.
RECENT RESULTS
| DATE |
GAME |
RECAP |
| Thursday, Feb. 3 |
Youngstown State 61, IUPUI 55 |
Box Score |
|
UIC 80, RMU 75 |
Box Score |
| Friday, Feb. 4 |
Wright State 90, Detroit Mercy 59 |
Box Score |
|
Purdue Fort Wayne 70, Milwaukee 60 |
Box Score |
|
Northern Kentucky 87, Oakland 78 (OT) |
Box Score |
|
Cleveland State 85, Green Bay 69 |
Box Score |
| Saturday, Feb. 5 |
RMU 66, IUPUI 49 |
Box Score |
|
Youngstown State 66, UIC 64 |
Box Score |
|
Detroit Mercy 74, Northern Kentucky 68 |
Box Score |
|
Wright State 75, Oakland 64 |
Box Score |
| Sunday, Feb. 6 |
Purdue Fort Wayne 71, Green Bay 55 |
Box Score |
|
Cleveland State 84, Milwaukee 71 |
Box Score |
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
UPCOMING SCHEDULE (All times ET)
Wednesday, Feb. 9
Oakland at Youngstown State, 7:00 PM (ESPN+)
Detroit Mercy at RMU, 7:00 PM (ESPN+)
Wright State at Green Bay, 8:00 PM (ESPN+)
Northern Kentucky at Milwaukee, 8:00 PM (ESPN+
Thursday, Feb. 10
IUPUI at Purdue Fort Wayne, 7:00 PM (ESPN+)
UIC at Cleveland State, 7:00 PM (ESPN+)
Friday, Feb. 11
Wright State at Milwaukee, 7:00 PM (ESPNU)
Detroit Mercy at Youngstown State, 7:00 PM (ESPN+)
Oakland at RMU, 7:00 PM (ESPN+)
Northern Kentucky at Green Bay, 8:00 PM (ESPN+)
Saturday, Feb. 12
IUPUI at Cleveland State, 3:00 PM (ESPN+)
UIC at Purdue Fort Wayne, 7:00 PM (ESPN+)
Sunday, Feb. 13
Northern Kentucky at Wright State, 12:00 PM (ESPN+)
RMU at Youngstown State, 12:00 PM (ESPN+)
Detroit Mercy at Oakland, 1:00 PM (ESPN+)
Green Bay at Milwaukee, 2:00 PM (ESPN+)
Monday, Feb. 14
Cleveland State at Purdue Fort Wayne, 7:00 PM (ESPN+)
IUPUI at UIC, 8:00 PM (ESPN+)