Chicago, Ill. - The Roosevelt men's basketball team opens a three-game homestand at Attack Athletics on Wednesday night. The Lakers play host to Trinity Christian College at 7:00 p.m., with Roosevelt looking to duplicate its pre-Thanksgiving victory over the Trolls from a season ago.
GM3 - Roosevelt (0-2) vs. Trinity Christian (3-5)
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Attack Athletics * 7:00 p.m.
GM4 - Roosevelt vs. Ashford (2-3)
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Attack Athletics * 3:00 p.m.
THE WEEK THAT WAS:
Roosevelt has been off for the last seven days, following a 59-42 loss at NCAA Division I University of Illinois at Chicago on Nov. 16. The Lakers were led by senior Paul Tometich's 13 points. Freshman Elliott Vaughn just missed a double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds. Roosevelt's last game versus an NAIA opponent was back on Nov. 12 at William Penn.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION:
Trinity Christian
The Trolls enter Wednesday night's game versus Roosevelt with a record of 3-5 and fresh off a 67-54 setback on Tuesday night at home to Mount Mercy. Versus the Mustangs, Trinity Christian shot just 28 percent from the field. They were led by Matt Buren's double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds. For the season, Buren, a 6-foot-5 senior, tops the squad in both points (14.4 ppg) and rebounds (8.5 rpg). Josh Flikkema, a 6-foot-6 senior, adds 13.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per outing. Wednesday will mark just the second true road game for the Trolls this season. They have played five games at home and have had two neutral court games this year. Trinity Christian is under the direction of first-year head coach Brandon Nicol. The Trolls are fellow members of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference, but compete in Division II for basketball. Roosevelt competes as a Division I school, despite not offering athletic scholarships.
Roosevelt vs. TCC:
Roosevelt won its only prior meeting with Trinity Christian, 74-67, on the Trolls' home court last season on Nov. 23, 2010. In that contest,
Paul Tometich scored 32 points and added six rebounds and four assists. Twin brother
Mark Tometich chipped in with 19 points and seven rebounds. The Lakers trailed by seven points at the half, but shot 57 percent in the final 20 minutes to rally for the victory.
Ashford
The Saints will have had more than a week off to prepare for Roosevelt as Ashford last took the court on Nov. 19, rolling to a 113-44 win over Crossroads College. Senior Jason Landry tallied 23 points and eight rebounds in the win. The Saints shot 59 percent from the field in the second half and 53 percent overall for the game. Landry, a 6-foot-2 guard, is the team's leading scorer (16.0 ppg) and rebounder (6.8 rpg). Ashford is 2-0 at home this season, but has yet to find the win column in its three road games. The Saints are under the guidance of Oliver Drake, who led the team to a Midwest Collegiate Conference Tournament title and spot in the NAIA Division II Tournament last season, his first with the program.
Roosevelt vs. Ashford:
Roosevelt is 0-1 all-time versus Ashford losing its meeting with the Saints, 99-52, last season on Nov. 28, 2010. In that contest, the Lakers' leading scorer,
Paul Tometich, was held to just six points.
Mark Tometich led Roosevelt with eight points. The Lakers shot just 33 percent from the field in the contest.
GAME NOTES:
A NEW HOME:
Wednesday night's game marks the Roosevelt men's basketball team's first-ever contest in its new home facility, Attack Athletics. The Lakers played their first home contest this season at its practice facility, the UIC Physical Education Building.
GO TO GUY:
Senior
Paul Tometich has picked up where he left off last season, anchoring Roosevelt as its top offensive threat. Tometich is averaging 18.5 points per game and is coming off of a 29-point outing on Nov. 12 at William Penn. The 6-foot-2 guard is also adding 6.0 rebounds per game and 1.0 assist per outing.
A POST PRESENCE:
Junior
Brandyn Denson has given Roosevelt a true post threat in his first season. The 6-foot-6 forward, who transferred from Triton Junior College, is averaging a double-double of 11.5 points and 11.0 rebounds per game and is shooting 53 percent from the field. Denson totaled 15 points and nine rebounds versus William Penn on Nov. 12, and registered nine points and seven boards at UIC on Nov. 16.
TO THE POINT:
Newcomers
Tyree York and
Dominic Jackson have proved to be a potent one-two punch for the Lakers at point guard this season with duo combining for 13.5 points and 7.0 assists per game. York, a freshman from Glenbard East High School, and Jackson, a sophomore transfer from St. Ambrose, each total 3.5 apg with Jackson also one of three Lakers scoring in double figures at 10.0 ppg.
