PREVIEW: Crusaders begin SCAC Action this Week at Centenary (12/18) | vs. Austin (12/19)
HOW TO FOLLOW
(Multimedia Coverage)
(Centenary College): Livestats | Video
(Austin College): Livestats | Video
(Social Media)
UD Twitter: @UDallasSports
UD Basketball Twitter: @UDallasMBB
UD Facebook: University of Dallas Athletics
UD Basketball Facebook: University of Dallas Basketball (Official)
UD Instagram: udallasathletics
UD Basketball Instagram: udallasmbb
UD Basketball YouTube: Univeristy of Dallas Men's Basketball
FIRST TIP
The University of Dallas men's basketball team returns to the floor to open Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) play this week with a pair of matchups. The Crusaders tip-off the conference opener at the Gold Dome against Centenary College on Tuesday. The next day, UD has a quick turnaround with Austin College in the Maher Center. Both games are scheduled to start at 4 p.m. after the women's basketball games against the same opponents.
Dallas will play its next six contests against SCAC opponents. This includes three on the road and three at home. Dallas went 8-6 during SCAC play last season to tie for second in the conference. Centenary had the tiebreaker for the second-seed with the same record. Dallas matched its highest win total for conference games since joining the league in 2011-12 (other season was 2012-13), and also were the only team to win one game against every conference foe.
UD (1-6) has dropped four straight, including its most recent contest on December 5 at University of St. Thomas.
THREE THINGS TO NOTE FOR UD
- Michael Wambsgnass (St. Louis, Mo.), Joshua Nunn (St. Louis, Mo.), and John Russell (Bossier City, La.) are averaging double figures in points this season with 11.4, 10.7, and 10.3, respectively.
- Nunn had a 16-game streak snapped last outing on reaching the free throw line. The sophomore has gone 111-130 (85.4 percent) in 33 career games. Last season in conference, Nunn went 50-56 at the line.
- Wambsganss and Mathis are the top two shooters with at least 20 made field goals. The duo also are the only players to make double-digits in three-pointers with 14 and 11, respectively.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Dallas split the season series last year versus both teams.
- In Shreveport, UD fell 86-78. Wambsganss scored a team-high 19 points, while Nunn added 10. Nunn used a 10-12 at the free throw stripe to lead to 20 points. Wambsganss scored 17 off the bench.
- The Crusaders used a 52-38 second half to pull away in a 99-80 road win over Austin College.
- Dallas is 5-10 all-time versus Centenary and 28-44 against the 'Roos.
A LOOK AT THE OPPONENTS
(Centenary College)
- The Gents enter 2-6 overall. Both victories have come at home (2-2).
- They defeated East Texas Baptist University on Saturday, 75-69.
- Tuesday's conference opener for both sides is the second of a five-game home stretch.
- A quartet of players are averaging double-digits in points: Ty Prince (12.9), Treylan Matthews (11.8), Kaharri Carter (11.6), and Kile Mingo (10.5).
- Carter is fifth in the SCAC with 6.9 rebounds-per-game.
(Austin College)
- The 'Roos are 4-4 overall. They will host Trinity University on Tuesday to start SCAC action.
- They defeated Hendrix College, 98-89, on Saturday.
- AC is 1-3 on the road
- Justice Mercadel leads a quartet of double-digit scorers with 16.8 points-per-game. Kam Hogan (15.5), Devin Roland (12.0), and Michael Holland (10.5) are also part the unit.
- Mercadel is shooting 54.8 percent for third-best in the conference.
UP NEXT
Dallas remains in conference play and will close out the 2018 year with a trip to Colorado. On Dec. 29, the Crusaders play Colorado College at 3 p.m. (MST). They go to new conference member Johnson & Wales University the next day for a 2 p.m. (MST) tilt.