GAME DAY INFORMATION   DATE: December 4, 2019 LOCATION: Charger Gym | West Haven, Conn.   GAME DAY LINKS   LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO

NEWS NEWS ROSTER ROSTER SCHEDULE SCHEDULE STATS STATS GAME NOTES

THE FIRST LOOK
New Haven returns to New England after a pair of games in the Sunshine State to take on crosstown rival Southern Connecticut State University in the first of a home-and-home series against the Chargers NE10 Southwest Division rival. The Blue and Gold enter Wednesday night looking to smash a four-game skid and pick up the first win in conference play.

INSIDE THE SERIES

• New Haven and Southern Connecticut meet for the 92nd time in the history of the two programs.
• With a three-game sweep last year, New Haven broke a stalemate in the all-time series and hold a 47-44 edge.
• Under 10th-year head coach Ted Hotaling, the Chargers trail the Owls 11-9 in 20 meetings.
• The initial meeting in 1965 was the only until the two programs began a home-and-home series in 1971-72. Overall, New Haven won the first six meetings.
• Since New Haven joined the NE-10 (2008-09), the Chargers own a slim 13-11 advantage in the head-to-head battle.

SCOUTING THE CHARGERS
The Chargers have seen a balanced attack from four of its five starters through the first five games of the season. Leading the way is senior Elijah Bailey (Freeport, N.Y./The Hotchkiss School) who is averaging 14.2 points per game and is the only player to score 20+ this season setting a season-high of 26 against Saint Leo. Following Bailey is redshirt junior Derrick Rowland (Cohoes, N.Y./Green Tech) who is the only other Charger averaging double figures at 11.8 points per game while leading the team from beyond the arc with 13 three point field goals. Senior Kessly Felizor (Hightstown, N.J./Hightstown) is also among the leaders at 8.8 ppg while leading the team with an average of 6.0 rebounds per game.

SCOUTING THE OWLS
Southern Connecticut enters Wednesday night with a 3-3 overall record after dropping their conference opener 82-76 to American International just before the Thanksgiving break. Leading the Owls is junior guard C.J. Seaforth who is averaging 20.2 points per game, fifth most in the NE10. Seaforth is an outside shooting threat for the Owls, having sunk five three pointers in each of the last two games and enters Wednesday with 21 total on the season. Following Seaforth in leading the Owls is senior forward Taurus Adams II who is averaging 14.8 points per game.

UP NEXT
The Chargers will stay in the friendly confines of Charger Gymnasium for a second-straight date on its home court, welcoming the Saint Rose Golden Knights for an NE10 Southwest Division match-up on Saturday, December 7. Opening tip against the Golden Knights is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. following the women's game.

LAST TIME THEY MET
New Haven and Southern Connecticut met for the third time in 2018-19 in the semifinals of the NE10 Championship with the Chargers scoring an 87-66 victory over the Owls. Leading the Blue and Gold was junior Roy Kane, Jr. (Norwalk, Conn./Norwalk) who was one of five players in double figures with 21 points. Overall, all five of the Chargers starters finished in double figures with Kessly Felizor (Hightstown, N.J./Hightstown) and Quashawn Lane (Trenton, N.J./Trenton Catholic Academy) following him with 18 points apiece. Derrick Rowland (Cohoes, N.Y./Green Tech) closed out the night with 13 points and Elijah Bailey (Freeport, N.Y./The Hotchkiss School) continued his streak of double figures games, now at 20-straight, with 11 points. As a team, New Haven closed out the evening with a 51.9 percent average on 27-of-52 overall including nine from beyond the three point arc. Additionally, New Haven took advantage when it was sent to the line, connecting on 24-of-26 free throw attempts for a 92.3 percent average. New Haven also held a commanding 36-26 lead in the rebounding battle with the rookie point guard Lane leading the efforts with eight boards.

LAST TIME OUT
Senior Elijah Bailey (Freeport, N.Y./The Hotchkiss School) dropped in a season-high 26 points, connecting on 9-of-18 from the field, as the Chargers closed out the Terrace Hotel Thanksgiving Classic with an 84-63 loss to Saint Leo. Bailey's nine field goals included a pair of three pointers while he also finished a perfect 6-of-6 at the free throw line. He added to that with four rebounds and three assists. Joining Bailey in leading the Chargers offense was redshirt junior Derrick Rowland (Cohoes, N.Y./Green Tech) who finished with 16 points, matching his season-high. Overall, Rowland connected on 5-of-11 from the field, including four three pointers. Rounding out the leading scorers was freshman Davontrey Thomas (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Poughkeepsie) and redshirt sophomore Ross Jones II (Edgewood, Md./Friends School) who each finished with a half dozen points. All 12 of the combined points from Thomas and Jones came from beyond the three point arc as each finished with a pair of three pointers, part of 10 total for the team. As a team, New Haven finished the game shooting 44.9 percent with 22-of-49 overall which included the 10 three pointers. Additionally, the Chargers finished perfect from the free throw line where they were 9-of-9. The Chargers also dropped the battle of the boards by a 29-20 margin with Bailey's four rebounds leading the team, one of nine players who finished with at least one rebound.

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 tfive games, the Chargers have converted 51 three pointers, if they were to maintain their current average for the remainder of the regular season the Chargers would stand at 316 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 seven points shy of passing Barry Cunningham (1973-77) for 21st all-time, and needs 45 points to hit the next century mark of 1,300 career points.

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.