CHICAGO - Off to the best start in school history and receiving votes in the NAIA Division II Coaches' Top 25 Poll for the very first time, the 9-1 Roosevelt men's basketball team begins a two-game home stretch over the next three days on Thursday, Dec. 12 against city foe Moody Bible Institute before hosting one of the country's best squads on Saturday.
Thursday's contest against the Archers at the Lillian and Larry Goodman Center starts at 7 p.m.
That game is followed by a tough Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference contest this Saturday, Dec. 14 against defending NAIA Division II champion Cardinal Stritch, currently ranked third in the latest Top 25 poll. Tip for Saturday's affair inside the Goodman Center is slated for 3 p.m., right after the women's basketball contest between Roosevelt and Stritch.
Roosevelt is off to the best 10-game start to a campaign since the program was revived in 2010-11, with the Lakers' sole loss coming in a close four-point overtime game against No. 21 St. Ambrose. The Lakers received votes in the latest Top 25 poll revealed on Dec. 10, marking the first time head coach Joe Griffin's squad has ever garnered consideration for a national ranking from multiple coaches across the country.
Aiding the Lakers' cause is their defense, a staple of Griffin's philosophy. Roosevelt is currently ranked 16th in Division II scoring defense, allowing just 66.8 points per game. The Green and White also rates 17th nationally in field goal percentage defense, allowing opponents to connect at a clip of just 40.6 percent from the floor.
The offensive show is run by junior point guard Tyree York, who continues to take his place among the best floor generals in the nation. York ranks third overall in assists per game (7.4 apg) and fifth in total helpers (74). His assists-per-game average is currently leading the CCAC by more than two dimes per outing.
Fellow junior backcourt mate Joe Harks is averaging 18.1 ppg in 10 contests to lead the Lakers, while sophomore Kevin Priebe has been a scoring force in his five games thus far with 18.8 ppg.
Junior forward Jeremiah Jackson has been a double-double machine with five performances composed of double-digit points and rebounds. Jackson leads the Lakers and the CCAC on the boards with 10.8 rpg.
Tickets to all Roosevelt home games are just $5 for the general public, while Roosevelt students, faculty and staff get admitted free with their valid RU IDs. University Center residents and Columbia College students, faculty and staff also get into Roosevelt basketball games for free with their respective forms of identification.
With final exams week at its end, there is no better way to start off winter break on the right note and show school spirit than to support the Lakers this weekend!
