PREVIEW: Men's Basketball at Covenant College (11/18) | LaGrange College (11/19)
(Covenant College 11/18)
(LaGrange College 11/19)
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OPENING TIP
The University of Dallas men's basketball team continues a busy first week with a road trip to Lookout Mountain, Georgia, for games on November 18-19. The Crusaders will take on host school Covenant College on Friday at 7:30 p.m. (6:30 CST) and LaGrange College the next day at 4 p.m. (3 CST). Dallas is in the midst of a five-game road trip to start the campaign.
Dallas rallied in its season opener at Hendrix College on Tuesday. The Crusaders erased a 12-point deficit at halftime and tied the game for the first time since early in the contest on a trifecta from Lorenzo Gonzalez (San Antonio, Texas). His three-pointer brought the score to 77-77, and the guests prevailed in overtime by one point.
QUOTABLES
"That was a big win for us. Last year we lost our first game to Hendrix and kind of brought us down a little bit as a team. This year to win our first game as a team it helps us grow as a team and gives us the confidence moving forward in our season." - (SR Lorenzo Gonzalez on the team pulling out Tuesday's win)
"When we got the win it felt great, but during it was hard. When Zo hit the big three and got us to overtime, I knew we were going to get it. Our momentum was flowing..." - (FR Xavier Cannon on the momentum shifting at the end to extra regulation)
UD NOTABLES
- Michael Sarrat (Colleyville, Texas) led all UD players with 21 points. He was 5-for-6 at the free throw line, as the team scored 10 overall from there.
- Tom Kaiser (Nashville, Tenn.) contributed 14 points and had one of his two offensive rebounds on a tip that led to Gonzalez's game-tying trey. Last season's team-leading rebounders finished with five.
- Darrius Colvin (Waco, Texas) went 3-for-5 downtown and had 11 points.
- Gonzalez finished with 10 points and six assists.
- Prince Giadolor (Rockwall, Texas) finished with team-highs in boards (10) and assists (7). His total dimes was a personal best in a single game.
A LOOK AT THE OPPONENTS
(Covenant College)
The Scots opened their season at home with a big victory over 15th-ranked Emory on Tuesday night in 74-70 fashion. The home team led 36-32 at intermission and were able to hold on in the waning seconds. Two big steals on back-to-back possessions with under 17 seconds and a one point difference (71-70) helped secure the thrilling triumph.
In 2015-16, the Scots produced an 18-10 record and finished second in the USA South (USAS) with a 10-4 mark. They were 7-5 at the Barnes PE Center that season.
Berto Dryden led CC in scoring that night with 19 points and shot 7-for-13 from the field. This included 50 percent (3-6) behind the arc. Will Portlock contributed 11 points and Patjo Twagirayezu chipped in 10. A trio of players tied team-highs with eight rebounds and combined for 24 of the team's 41 total. Making up the unit were: Portlock, Bailey Spragg, and Twagirayezu.
These programs will play each other for the first time in history Friday.
Covenant Season Stats (Current Season)
Covenant Season Stats (2015-16)
(LaGrange College)
The Panthers earned a 73-59 victory in its season opener at home on Tuesday over Pensacola Christian. Drew Vanderbrook led the team with 15 points. Justyn Olson followed with 14. Tyler Langston and Elijah Adedoyin added 11 apiece.
LaGrange posted a 20-9 record last year and went 9-5 in the USAS. The Panthers went 4-3 on a neutral court during that span, and were 10-7 in all contests away from the home confines.
Both teams have won once in two meetings historically between the programs. The Crusaders prevailed in the most recent game in Irving, Texas, by a 79-71 final on December 18, 2006.
LaGrange Season Stats (2015-16)
UP NEXT
Dallas heads to the west coast a week later for the PLU Thanksgiving Tournament on Nov. 25-26. The Crusaders will play Puget Sound University and host Pacific Lutheran University on respective dates.