Last Week: The Albertus Magnus College men's basketball team returned to action after the holiday break with a trio of Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) contests. The Falcons went 2-1 in conference action last week, sandwiching road wins against Anna Maria and Saint Joseph's (Maine) around a home setback versus Lasell. The 13-point defeat against the Lasers snapped a 27-game GNAC winning streak for Albertus Magnus. The Falcons opened the week with a 108-93 victory against the AMCATS as five players scored in double figures. The team ended the week by erasing a 17-point halftime deficit to score a 56-52 victory over host Saint Joseph's (Maine). In the second half, the Falcons outscored the Monks, 34-13, to improve to 8-2 on the year and 5-1 in conference action.
This Week: Albertus Magnus will once again take to the court three times in the next six days. The squads opens up with a non-conference home clash against Baruch before traveling to face Johnson & Wales in league play in the middle of the week. The Falcons end with a home GNAC games against Mount Ida over the weekend.
Match-up:
Albertus Magnus (8-2) vs. Baruch (8-5)
Monday, January 11, 2016 at 7:00 pm
The Nest inside the Cosgrove Marcus Messer Athletic Center
New Haven, Conn.
Live Stats: Click here (All links will become active at the start of the contest)
Live Video: Click here
Series History: Monday evening's contest between the two squads will the first-ever meeting.
Scouting the Bearcats: Baruch enters the game riding a two-game winning streak and boasting a 4-1 record on the road this season. The Bearcats and Falcons have each scored double-digit victories against Brooklyn College during the year. The team averages over 77 points a contest and is shooting 46 percent from the field, highlighted by knocking down over 37 percent of their shots from beyond the arc. Five Bearcats average in double figures led by big man Chimaechi Ekekeugbor with 17 points and nine rebounds a contest. Ekekeugbor also leads the squad in field goal percentage (53.8).
Match-up:
Albertus Magnus (8-2, 5-1) at Johnson & Wales (12-1, 6-0)
Wednesday, January 13, 2016 at 7:00 pm
The Wildcat Center
Providence, R.I.
Live Stats: Click here
Live Video: Click here
Series History: The Wildcats lead the all-time series, 24-21. Albertus Magnus has been in control of late, taking six straight meeting against Johnson & Wales, including last season's GNAC Championship game.
Scouting Johnson & Wales: The Wildcats enters Wednesday night's contest red hot, riding a 12-game winning streak and holding a perfect, 6-0, mark in league play. JWU has won their last five GNAC games by an average of 40 points. Johnson & Wales leads the conference in points per game (88.1), steals per game (13.7), field goals made (406) and field goal percentage (49.1). The Wildcats have the top-two scorers in league with Quarry Greenaway averaging 25 a game and Tom Garrick adding 21, while shooting over 35 percent from beyond the arc.
Match-up:
Albertus Magnus (8-2, 5-1) vs. Mount Ida (7-6, 3-3)
Saturday, January 16, 2016 at 3:00 pm
The Nest inside the Cosgrove Marcus Messer Athletic Center
New Haven, Conn.
Live Stats: Click here
Live Video: Click here
Series History: Albertus Magnus has won 13 of the 15 meeting between the two squads, including each of the last nine. At home, the Falcons are a perfect 7-0 against the Mustangs with an average margin of victory of 17 points.
Scouting the Mustangs: Mount Ida enters the week riding a two-game conference winning streak following a road win at Suffolk and a home triumph against Emmanuel. The Mustangs are averaging over 77 points a game and shooting 47 percent from the field and 66 percent from the free-throw line. The team ranks second in the GNAC in blocks per game (3.2) and third in offensive rebounds per game (13.7). The balanced Mustang attack sees five players average in double figures led by sophomore Patrick McKearney's 14 points per game. The forward also leads the team with eight rebounds per contest.
Albertus Notes:
- Freshman forward Shontaey Lovell continued his strong play in GNAC action last week, averaging 16 points and just under 10 rebounds a game in three conference tilts. The 6-5 post player also shot 69 percent from the field, hitting 20-of-29 shots, and averaged three blocks per game, while also recording a pair of double-doubles. He currently leads the conference in rebounding (13.5), field goal percentage (67.2) and blocks (2.1), while ranking third in scoring (20.5 ppg). He is also second in the country in rebounds per game.
- Sophomore forward Jaqhawn Walters averaged over 16 points and 11 rebounds per game in three GNAC games last week for the Falcons. Walters recorded three double-doubles as Albertus Magnus picked up a pair of road conference wins. Walters was key in the Falcons comeback win against Saint Joseph's, scoring the team's final seven points down the stretch.
- Albertus Magnus averages over 86 points per game (second in the GNAC) and is shooting 48 percent from the field (second in the GNAC). The Falcons lead the conference in blocks per game (3.4) and rebounds per game (44.5). The squad averages more than 16 offensive rebounds per tilt which is also tops in the league.
- As a team, AMC is shooting over 33 percent from three-point range. Sophomore forward Chaunce Dunbar has a team-high 29 treys, while Dayron Caldwell has knocked down eight and Ryan Pittman has hit seven.
- Marc Wilson is one of four Falcons to average in double figures this season along with Dunbar, Walters and Lovell.
- Albertus Magnus is receiving votes in the more recent D3Hoops.com poll.
