GAME DAY INFORMATION   DATE: December 10, 2019 LOCATION: Butova Gym | Springfield, Mass.   GAME DAY LINKS   LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO

NEWS NEWS ROSTER ROSTER SCHEDULE SCHEDULE STATS STATS GAME NOTES

THE FIRST LOOK
New Haven will look for a second-straight NE10 Southwest Division victory on Tuesday night when they travel to Springfield for a date with the AIC Yellow Jackets.

INSIDE THE SERIES

• New Haven and American International meet for the 59th time in the history of the two programs.
• Overall, the Chargers trail AIC 28-30 in the first 58 meetings, with the series dating back to February 1994. 
• Under 10th-year head coach Ted Hotaling, the Chargers hold a slim advantage over the Yellow Jackets, 10-8.
• After breaking a five-game win streak against the Yellow Jackets in the second meeting in 2016-17, the Chargers have once again won five-straight in the series, including a sweep of the home-and-home series in each of the last two seasons.

SCOUTING THE CHARGERS
The Chargers have relied on the returning experience of seniors Elijah Bailey (Freeport, N.Y./The Hotchkiss School) Kessly Felizor (Hightstown, N.J./Hightstown) and redshirt junior Derrick Rowland (Cohoes, N.Y./Green Tech) who combined have provided over 60% of the overall scoring for the season. Leading the way is Bailey who is averaging 18.6 points per game and is the only player to score 30+ this season setting a season-high of 31 against Southern Connecticut. Following Bailey is Felizor who averaged a double double last week, increasing his scoring total to 11.6 points per game and his team-leading rebounding average to 7.9 per game. Rounding out the three leaders is Rowland who adds 11.6 points per game while leading the team with 31 assists including seven in each of last week's two games.

SCOUTING THE YELLOW JACKETS
AIC enters Tuesday night looking to break a two-game skid that includes losses to Bentley and Adelphi, both of which came on the road. Leading the Yellow Jackets on the season is senior Zekiah Owens who is one of four players averaging double digits with a team-best 11.6 points per game. The post player also leads the team with his .571 shooting average, connecting on 36-of-63 field goal attempts. He is also second on the team in rebounding, hauling in 5.1 rebounds per game. Following Owens in leading the offense is Shyheim Hicks at 11.0 ppg, Bane Terzic at 10.3 ppg and Logan Santiago at 10.0 ppg, the last of which has come in a sixth-man roll off the bench. 

UP NEXT
The Chargers will return home for the final time in 2019 when they welcome Holy Family for the final game before the holiday break. The mid-afternoon Sunday (3 p.m.) match-up against the Tigers is the penultimate game in December as the Chargers will travel to Jefferson to close out 2019 on New Year's Eve.

LAST TIME THEY MET
All five starters registered double figures as the Chargers capped off their regular season road schedule with a 79-65 win over AIC. Leading all scorers in the game was Elijah Bailey (Freeport, N.Y./The Hotchkiss School) who finished with 23 points, which came on 10-of-21 from the field, including a pair of three pointers. Joining him in leading the way was Kessly Felizor (Hightstown, N.J./Hightstown) who finished with 18 points on a hot shooting night as he connected on all but one of his seven field goal attempts. He was also a perfect 6-of-6 at the free throw line, while as a team the Chargers made all 17 of their free throw attempts on the afternoon. Rounding out the leading scorers was Roy Kane, Jr. (Norwalk, Conn./Norwalk) with 13 points, Derrick Rowland (Cohoes, N.Y./Green Tech) who chipped in a dozen and Quashawn Lane (Trenton, N.J./Trenton Catholic Academy) who finished a perfect 3-of-3 from the field and 4-of-4 at the free throw line for 11 points. As a team, New Haven shot 54.9 percent (28-of-51) from the field, with their best shooting coming in the second half when they made 14-of-22 field goal attempts for a 63.6 percent effort. The Blue and Gold also won the battle of the boards with a 33-25 advantage, led by Felizor who pulled down eight boards.

LAST TIME OUT
New Haven outscored Saint Rose 30-11 over the final 10-plus minutes to erase a second half deficit and secure a 68-57 win over the Golden Knights. Leading the Chargers was Elijah Bailey (Freeport, N.Y./The Hotchkiss School) who net 20+ points for the third straight game dropping in 28 against the Southwest Division foe. Overall, Bailey was one of three players in double figures, joined by Kessly Felizor (Hightstown, N.J./Hightstown) and Derrick Rowland (Cohoes, N.Y./Green Tech) who added 16 and 14 points, respectively. Felizor also hauled in a team-high 11 rebounds for his second-straight double double. As a team, New Haven converted 25-of-48 shot attempts (52.1 percent) with a season-low six of those buckets from beyond the arc. The also added 12 points at the free throw line, which came on 17 attempts. Overall, all seven Chargers who saw action against the Golden Knights scored at least one point.

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) has earned the distinction twice while he is joined by classmate Kessly Felizor (Hightstown, N.J./Hightstown) who earned the honor once.
2019-20 NE10 Honor Roll Recipients
Nov. 25 :: Elijah Bailey (Freeport, N.Y./The Hotchkiss School)
Dec. 09 :: Elijah Bailey (Freeport, N.Y./The Hotchkiss School)
Dec. 09 :: Kessly Felizor (Hightstown, N.J./Hightstown)

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 seven games, the Chargers have converted 66 three pointers, if they were to maintain their current average for the remainder of the regular season the Chargers would stand at 245 three pointers made. 

TIGHTENING THE BELT
In the Chargers last two games, head coach Ted Hotaling may have hit the point in the season where he has tightened the belt on his rotation, relying on just seven players total against the Owls and Golden Knights. Additionally, all 71 of the Chargers points against their crosstown rival Owls came from their starting five, while Kessly Felizor (Hightstown, N.J./Hightstown) and Derrick Rowland (Cohoes, N.Y./Green Tech) played the entire 40 minutes in each of the last two games. Take it one step farther and

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 nine points shy of passing John Sullivan (2003-06) for 19th all-time, and needs just 22 points to jump three positions to 17th which is currently held by Dick Jackson (1961-65) with 1,335 points.

MILESTONE MAN
Senior Kessly Felizor (Hightstown, N.J./Hightstown) is on par to become the first player since Eric Anderson (Newark, N.J./Newark Tech) (2011-15) to enter a pair of prestigious lists at New Haven; the 500 Rebound and 1,000 Point clubs. Last season, Felizor broke into the 500 rebound club and has since moved up to 18th all-time. In the hunt for 1,000, Felizor currently stands 191 points shy of breaking the plateau, where he would become the 36th player to do so. Upon completing that feat, Felizor would be the 18th player all-time to join both the 500 rebound and 1,000 point club.

DIALING LONG DISTANCE
Senior Elijah Bailey (Freeport, N.Y./The Hotchkiss School) entered another top-10 in program history in the early part of the season when he broke in among the top three point shooters at New Haven. He currently stands at ninth in program history in three pointers made with 159 and with just 20 more would break into the top-five all-time. Extended beyond that, Bailey has the ability to close out his career third all-time in three pointers made which is currently held by both Alberto Alberdi (1998-03) and Gary Battle (1987-91) who each had 190 three pointers to their credit.

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 to 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.