PREVIEW: Men's Basketball - Colorado College (12/16) | Hendrix College (12/18)
MULTIMEDIA COVERAGE
(Colorado College 12/16)
(Hendrix College 12/18)
SOCIAL MEDIA
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Men's Basketball Twitter: @UDallasMBB
Facebook: University of Dallas Athletics
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OPENING TIP
The University of Dallas men's basketball team (3-4) begins Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) action this Friday at Colorado College. Tip-off is slated around 7:30 p.m. MST (8:30 p.m. CST) following the women's game. After that, UD is home at the Maher Center to start a five-game home stand beginning with Hendrix College.
Note that Sunday afternoon's tip was moved to 4 p.m. (originally was at 7).
The Crusaders have won both games to start December since dropping four straight. Both wins were against non-NCAA opponents and Dallas combined for 198 points. The most recent outing was a week ago at Dallas Christian College with a 95-78 result. The Crusaders have been off the court since then due to completing finals.
UD NOTABLES
- A trio of players are averaging around 12 points a contest. Leading the group is Prince Giadolor (Rockwall, Texas) with a 12.4-clip. Michael Sarrat (Colleyville, Texas) is right behind at a 12.3 mark, while Darrius Colvin (Waco, Texas) averages 12.1.
- All three players are within a point of each other respectively at 87, 86, and 85.
- Giadolor headlines the team by leading in assists (32) and is second in rebounds (38).
- Colvin remains atop the squad in boards with 52.
- Tom Kaiser (Nashville, Tenn.) ranks 1st in SCAC for field goal percentage (70.3). That number slots him second in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) for same category.
- Dallas averages as many points as it allows with both at 79.0-marks.
- The Crusaders are shooting 47.4 percent in field goals (1st in SCAC) and also have the most assists (120) in the league.
- The Crusaders are tied for 2nd place in the SCAC with Southwestern University currently.
- UD went 4-10 against SCAC opponents last year.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Colorado College (1-6) has dropped the last three contests. The most recent setback was a 93-91 final in overtime at Johnson and Whales last Tuesday. John Hatch led the Tigers with 24 points, Ryan Young had a team-high 13 rebounds, and Eric Houska dished 10 assists. CC is 1-2 at the Reid Center.
Prior to the most recent game, three players entered averaging double figures led by Hatch with 15.5 points. Houska follows with 13.2 and Chris Martin rounds the group out at 12.5 ppg. Martin paces the boards with 43 and Hatch has garnered 30 overall. Houska has dished 41 of the team's 75 dimes and was the lone player to eclipse 10 at that juncture of the year.
Dallas is 12-17 against the Tigers and fell in both matchups last season. In the Colorado Springs game, the Crusaders utilized a 39-31 second half to close the gap but were short in a 67-63 final. Sarrat and Kaiser each had 11 points and Kaiser added 10 rebounds for a double-double. Colvin had nine points and Giadolor tossed eight in. Houska had 10 points for the Tigers and was one of four starters in double-digits. Neither team shot above 40 percent from the floor.
SCOUTING THE WARRIORS
Hendrix (3-4) last played the first weekend of Dec. and are coming off a pair of home wins, including SCAC leader Texas Lutheran University. The Warriors knocked the Bulldogs off 81-77 before cruising by Rust College 101-74. Hendrix has won three-of-four games and is 2-3 against the SCAC.
Preston Smith headlines three players leading the team in offense with 136 points and 19.4 ppg. Hank Aldous has posted 18.8 ppg in four games, and is two points beneath Gearen Littlefield who has 77 (11.0 ppg). Littlefield also holds the team-high in rebounds with 45, and Jacob Link is not far behind with 35. Overall, six players have at least 20 boards to contribute to the team's 254. Opponents have grabbed 281 balls off the glass. Seven players have at least 10 assists.
Dallas won the season opener at Conway this year 89-88 in extra regulation. Lorenzo Gonzalez (San Antonio, Texas) drilled a three-pointer to send the game to OT. The Crusaders also erased a 12-point deficit at halftime to force the extra frame. Sarrat posted a game-high 21 points while three other starters had double-digits. Kaiser had 14, Colvin etched 11, and Gonzalez earned 10. Giadolor was the lone starter not in double figures for scoring but claimed a team-high 10 boards. Hendrix was led by Smith's 27 points. Bryce Parker scored 20 points with 15 coming from five treys. Link and Littlefield led the boards with 11 and 10, respectively.
In 2015-16, the Crusaders also prevailed in the home meeting. Ahead 34-30 at intermission, UD scored 47 points the next 20 minutes en route to an 81-69 home opener victory. Giadolor made his first home appearance with 20 points. Kaiser added 17 points and 15 rebounds for a double-double, and Gonzalez had 12 points and six assists. Colvin chipped 10 points from the bench.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Dallas will close 2016 out and start next year on a season-long home stretch. The final game this calendar season will be Dec. 29 versus Carroll University. Another non-conference tilt awaits on January 2 with Rhodes College.