Game Notes
The Panthers are undefeated at 12-0, atop the Great Lakes Valley Conference standings at 4-0, and ranked No. 2 nationally entering a three-game league road trip that begins tonight at Rockhurst.
All the more reason for KWC head coach Todd Lee to be wary.
“We're playing good basketball, but in this league you've got to bring it every night -- especially on the road,” Lee said. “No conference game is easy, and they become much harder on the road.
“This trip will be a really good test for us. We'll definitely find out where we stand once it's over.”
In addition to tonight's game, the Panthers visit William Jewell on Saturday before facing arch-rival and No. 7 Southern Indiana in Evansville on Monday.
The business at hand, however, concerns Rockhurst, which is 5-7 overall and 2-2 in the GLVC. At home, however, the Hawks have won five of six games.
Rockhurst, coming off a 91-59 loss at Northern Kentucky on Saturday, is led by Brandon McCann (12.7 ppg) and James Robinson (10.6 ppg). Other major contributors for the Hawks include Kareem Amedu (9.5 ppg), Najja Nicholson (8.1 ppg), Martin Roper (7.2 ppg), Liam Duffy (4.8 ppg) and Russell Burns (3.1 ppg).
Rockhurst shoots 44 percent from the field, makes 33 percent of its 3-point attempts, and hits 67 percent from the foul stripe. The Hawks score 67 points per game, but surrender 75.
The Hawks' two conference victories came at home against Illinois Springfield (72-69, overtime) and Quincy (61-57).
“I've told our team that Rockhurst is a different team at home,” Lee said. “Their (gymnasium) is small and it's a tough place to play for visiting teams. We really need to be focused on what we want accomplish to have success at Rockhurst.”
Kentucky Wesleyan, meanwhile, is coming off a thorough 91-58 decimation of visiting Missouri S&T on Saturday.
The Panthers are paced by the dynamic senior duo of forward
Anthony Young (21.5 ppg, 8.6 rpg) and guard
Cardell McFarland (20.9 ppg).
Talented and deep, KWC features six other players averaging better than four points per game, including
Dominique Dawson (10.8 ppg),
Marseilles Stewart (10.7 ppg),
Brandon Johnson (10.3 ppg),
Cornbread Walker (7.9 ppg),
Luke Shelley (5.8 ppg) and
Kreig Oxley (4.3 ppg).
The Panthers are shooting 53 percent from the field, including 41 percent from 3-point range, and are stroking free throws at a 78 percent clip. KWC is outrebounding foes by eight per game.
Wesleyan is averaging a stunning 95.2 points per game, while holding the opposition to only 69.2 -- a plus-26 advantage.
“I'm not concerned about our ability to score the basketball,” Lee said, “but we need to continue to improve at the defensive end. We're getting better defensively in terms of communicating and working together out there, but we can still become better.
“Our team is continuing to work hard to improve as the season goes along, and that's the way you have to be.”
