#HLMBB Notebook – March 9, 2025

#HLMBB Notebook – March 9, 2025

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Rachel White

#HLMBB Notebook
INDIANAPOLIS (March 9, 2025) – No. 1 seed RMU, No. 2 seed Cleveland State, No. 4 seed Youngtown State and No. 6 seed Oakland earned victories in Thursday’s quarterfinals to advance to Indy for the semifinals and championship of the 2025 Barbasol #HLMBB Championship.

#HLMBB RECENT RESULTS
  • Tuesday, March 4 – First Round
    • No. 6 seed Oakland 96, No. 11 seed Green Bay 72
    • No. 7 seed Northern Kentucky 99, No. 10 seed Detroit Mercy 75
    • No. 8 seed Wright State 98, No. 9 seed IU Indianapolis 85
  • Thursday, March 6 – Quarterfinals
    • No. 1 seed RMU 83, No. 8 seed Wright State 62
    • No. 2 seed Cleveland State 68, No. 7 Northern Kentucky 63
    • No. 6 seed Oakland 72, No. 3 seed Milwaukee 64
    • No. 4 seed Youngstown State 72, No. 5 seed Purdue Fort Wayne 67
       
#HLMBB DIG DEEPER
  • Horizon League Player of the Year Alvaro Folgueiras averages 14.2 points and 9.3 rebounds per game for the Colonials while Kam Woods adds 14.8 points and 5.1 assists and Defensive Player of the Year Amarion Dickerson totals 13.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game.
  • Five Colonials scored in double figures in Thursday’s win over Wright State. Folgueiras posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, Woods scored 19 points and D.J. Smith totaled 14 points and seven assists.
  • The Colonials lead the League in assists per game (15.66).
  • During the regular season, RMU defeated Oakland by eight on the road in early January and again by two points at home in later in the month.
  • RMU is making its first appearance in the #HLMBB semifinals and is seeking its first League title.
  • RMU is 1-1 against both Cleveland State and Youngstown State this season.
  • Allen Mukeba leads Oakland with 14.5 points and 7.7 rebounds per game while Tuburu Naivalurua contributes 13.9 points and 7.2 rebounds.
  • Mukeba scored 21 points and Naivalurua contributed 20 points in OAK’s quarterfinal win at Milwaukee on Thursday. Mukeba also posted a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds in the first round win over Green Bay on Tuesday.
  • The Golden Grizzlies are seeking a second consecutive #HLMBB title after defeating Milwaukee in last year’s championship game then upsetting Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament.
  • Oakland split its regular season meetings with Cleveland State, winning in overtime in Rochester on February 23. The Golden Grizzlies are 0-2 against Youngstown State this season.
  • All-League First Team selection Tevin Smith leads Cleveland State with 13.8 points per game and Tahj Staveskie adds 12.1 points and Dylan Arnett averages 11.5 points and 7.4 rebounds.
  • Arnett posted a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double for CSU in Thursday’s win over NKU Tevin Smith added 16 points.
  • Cleveland State is the top scoring defense in the League, allowing 66.3 points per game, and also leads the League in steals per game (8.78).
  • Cleveland State has advanced to its fifth straight #HLMBB semifinal. The Vikings won their second League title in 2021 after first taking the #HLMBB crown in 2009.
  • CSU and YSU split their regular season meetings with each team winning on the road. The Vikings earned an 80-72 win in Youngstown on January 11 before the Penguins won 68-60 in Cleveland on February 16.
  • The Vikings are 1-1 against both Oakland and RMU this season.
  • EJ Farmer leads Youngstown State with 15.1 points per game while Nico Galette averages 12.7 points and 7.2 rebounds and Gabe Dynes posts a League-best 3.0 blocks per game.
  • In Thursday’s quarterfinal win against Purdue Fort Wayne, Galette totaled 22 points and 10 rebounds for YSU while Ty Harper scored 20 points and Cris Carroll also posted a double-double.
  • YSU leads the League in opponent field goal percentage (42.4) and blocked shots per game (5.25).
  • The Penguins are seeking their first #HLMBB championship game appearance.
  • Youngstown State is 2-0 against Oakland this season and 1-1 vs. RMU.
#HLMBB ON THE HORIZON
  • Monday, March 10
    • No. 1 seed RMU vs. No. 6 seed Oakland, 7 p.m. ET (ESPNU)
    • No. 2 seed Cleveland State vs. No. 4 seed Youngstown State, 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
  • Tuesday, March 11
    • 2025 Barbasol #HLMBB Championship, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN/ESPN2)