GAME DAY INFORMATION DATE: November 29-30, 2019 LOCATION: Jenkins Field House | Lakeland, Fla. GAME DAY LINKS LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO

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THE FIRST LOOK
With just three games under its belt, the New Haven men's basketball team takes its game to the Sunshine State for a pair of games against Florida Southern and Saint Leo. The Chargers look to bounce back from back-to-back losses with a pair of games against first time opponents.

INSIDE THE SERIES

• New Haven meets its two Sunshine State opponents for the first time in the history of the men's basketball program.

SCOUTING THE CHARGERS
The Chargers have seen a balanced attack from four of its five starters through the first three games of the season. Leading the way is redshirt junior Derrick Rowland (Cohoes, N.Y./Green Tech) who is averaging 13.5 points per game who is the only player to muster double figures in all three games thus far. Following Rowland in leading the offense is sophomore point guard Quashawn Lane (Trenton, N.J./Trenton Catholic Academy) who is averaging 12 ppg and in addition to that leads the team with 13 assists, followed closely by Rowland who has dished out 11 assists. Seniors Elijah Bailey (Freeport, N.Y./The Hotchkiss School) and Kessly Felizor (Hightstown, N.J./Hightstown) round out the leading scorers with an average of 11.7 and 10.7 ppg, respectively. Felizor also leads the team with an average of 7.3 rebounds per contest.

SCOUTING THE MOCS
Florida Southern enters the holiday tournament with a 4-1 record, averaging 87.8 points per game and more than 11 points than their opponents. Much of the Mocs offense comes inside the three point arc as they average just seven three pointers per game among their 32 field goals per contest. Leading the way individually is senior guard Brett Hanson who is averaging 21.2 ppg. Just behind him in the scoring column is junior forward Jalyn Hinton who is making 64.3 percent of his shots for an average of 17.8 ppg.

SCOUTING THE LIONS
Following a season opening loss, Saint Leo has rattled of five straight wins heading into the Thanksgiving Classic. As a team, the Lions are scoring nearly 16 points more than their opponents, holding the opposition to just 55.3 points per game. Leading the team is senior guard Kyran McClure, one of two players to average in double figures at 16.8 ppg. Following him is senior guard Isaiah Hill who is averaging 13.5 ppg. As a team, the Lions are averaging 9.7 three pointers per game, led by McClure's 18 three point field goals, which come on a 41 percent average from beyond the arc.

UP NEXT
Upon returning to the Nutmeg State, the Chargers will jump back into conference action with their second home game of the season when they welcome crosstown rival Southern Connecticut State University for the first two of meetings against their local rival. Opening tip against the Owls is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. following the women's on Wednesday, December 4.

LAST TIME OUT
A strong second half from Pace was too much to handle as New Haven fell 77-61 on the road. Redshirt junior Derrick Rowland (Cohoes, N.Y./Green Tech) and sophomore Quashawn Lane (Trenton, N.J./Trenton Catholic Academy) tied for the team lead with 13 points apiece, while shooting a combined 10-for-17 from the floor. Senior Kessly Felizor (Hightstown, N.J./Hightstown) also scored in double figures with 11 points and six rebounds. Rowland led the Chargers with four assists. With the Chargers leading by three at halftime, Pace exploded for 47 points in the second half, shooting nearly 63 percent over the final 20 minutes and connected on six three-pointers, finishing the game at 55.8 percent from the floor. New Haven finished the game shooting an even 37 percent (20-for-54) and outrebounded Pace 35-29. Peyton Wejnert led all scorers with 30 points for the Setters.

HONOR ROLL
In addition to its Player and Rookie of the Week awards, the Northeast-10 Conference also doles out Honor Roll accolades to some of the best performances from the week prior. So far this season, Elijah Bailey (Freeport, N.Y./The Hotchkiss School) is the long Charger to earn the distinction. His honor came after opening NE10 play with a 20-point performance against Le Moyne.
2019-20 NE10 Honor Roll Recipients
Nov. 25 :: Elijah Bailey (Freeport, N.Y./The Hotchkiss School)

THREE POINT THREAT
With the return of the top two three point shooters from a season ago, New Haven is poised to build on the momentum of a school record 267 three point field goals last season. It was the second straight year the Chargers hit a school record from long range as they did so with 239 during the 2017-18 campaign. Leading New Haven into the new season will be Elijah Bailey (Freeport, N.Y./The Hotchkiss School) (68) and Derrick Rowland (Cohoes, N.Y./Green Tech) (66) who combined for half of the total three pointers from last season. The biggest loss from outside the arc comes in the form of Roy Kane, Jr. (Norwalk, Conn./Norwalk) who finished with 46 three pointers. Through the first three games, the Chargers have converted 32 three pointers, if they were to maintain their current average for the remainder of the regular season the Chargers would stand at 278 three pointers made. 

EARNING RESPECT
Last season's late run that ended in the NCAA Division II East Regional semifinals has put the Chargers on the national radar in 2019-20 as they opened the year receiving votes in both the NABC and D2SIDA national polls. In the coaches' poll, the Chargers received 17 votes and were one of three NE10 teams represented. In the media poll, New Haven scored 21 votes, falling three spots shy of reaching the top-25.

MOVIN' ON UP
Senior Elijah Bailey (Freeport, N.Y./The Hotchkiss School) became the 35th player in program history to hit the 1,000 career point plateau as part of a career-high 32-point night against crosstown rival Southern Connecticut State University on February 6, 2019. After opening the season rounding out the top 25 on the career scoring list, Bailey will continue to quickly ascend the ranks. He currently stands 11 points shy of passing Ken Coleman (1984-88) for 23rd all-time, and just 50 points shy of moving up three spots to 21st which is currently being held by Barry Cunningham (1,261 pts, 1973-77).

LITERACY MATTERS
For the fourth straight season, the New Haven men's basketball team will partner with Coaching for Literacy to promote the #Fight4Literacy initiative on February 1 when they host Franklin Pierce. New Haven remains the only Division II program to partner with Coaching for Literacy, a program whose goal is to promote childhood reading in local communities. In addition to raising awareness on February 1, the Chargers will offer a special admission opportunity that afternoon-Any fan who brings a new or gently used book to the game will receive complimentary admission. All books collected will then be donated to the West Haven Read to Grow program.

FUTURE FOAL
Tenth year head coach Ted Hotaling announced the commitment of one player during the early signing period in November, a 6-2 forward out of Elizabeth High School in Elizabeth, N.J., Jordan Price. As a junior last season, Price averaged 14.6 points per game, while pulling down 6.8 rebounds per game. Among his highlights last year was a 30-point outing versus Christian Brothers on February 9, while he also posted a 23 point, eight rebound and six block performance against Plainfield on January 15.

PRESEASON PROPS
After being picked second in the previous two seasons, New Haven was the unanimous pick to win the Southwest Division in the Northeast-10 as predicted by a tally of the league's head coaches. New Haven registered 91 points in the poll, the most among all 14 teams in the league. The reigning NCAA East Region Champion Saint Anselm was picked to finish first in the Northeast Division earning five of the 14 possible first place votes, while Stonehill matched the five first place votes but finished second in the overall vote tally.
2019-20 NE10 Men's Basketball Coaches Poll
Northeast Division:
1. Saint Anselm - 78 (5)
2. Stonehill - 72 (5)
3. Bentley – 62 (1)
t-4. Franklin Pierce – 60 (3)
t-4. Southern New Hampshire – 60
6. Assumption – 33
7. Saint Michael's - 20 
Southwest Division:
1. New Haven - 91 (13)
2. Adelphi - 69 (1)
3. Southern Connecticut – 61
4. Pace – 53
5. Le Moyne – 51
6. Saint Rose – 36
7. American International - 24

THE SCHEDULE
"Our goal each year is play a competitive non-league schedule to prepare us for the Northeast-10, one of the toughest leagues in the country," said head coach Ted Hotaling. "We have accomplished that again this season with games against teams both inside and outside of the East Region."

• The New Haven men's basketball schedule consists of 26 total dates.
• The Chargers open up the season with a big test, playing four of their first five games away from the friendly confines of Charger Gymnasium. Included is a trip to the Sunshine State to compete in the Terrace Hotel Thanksgiving Classic against perennial Sunshine State Conference power Florida Southern, and Saint Leo.
• Among the 13 Northeast-10 Conference opponents, the Chargers will play their six divisional opponents twice; Adelphi, Southern Connecticut State, Saint Rose, Pace, Le Moyne and American International.
• New Haven will play seven non-conference games including Concordia (N.Y.), Florida Southern, Saint Leo, Holy Family, Jefferson, Saint Thomas Aquinas and a season-ending match-up with Molloy.