GAME DAY INFORMATION
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DATE: January 14, 2020
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LOCATION: Charger Gymnasium | West Haven, Conn.
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GAME DAY LINKS
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LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO
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THE FIRST LOOK
New Haven wraps up a day-night doubleheader on Tuesday evening welcoming the Bentley Falcons to West Haven. New Haven is in search of a fourth-straight victory over the Northeast Division rival in the all-time series. The Chargers are looking to remain undefeated in the cross-divisional battle after opening with a win over Saint Michael's on Saturday.
INSIDE THE SERIES
· New Haven and Bentley meet for the 32nd time in the history of the two programs.
· Overall, the Chargers trail the Falcons 22-9 in the first 31 meetings, with the series dating back to the 1971-72 season.
· Under 10th-year head coach Ted Hotaling, the Chargers are 5-6 against the conference foe.
· After snapping a four-game skid against the Falcons in 2017-18, the Chargers have now won three straight against Bentley, including sweeping a pair of meetings last season.
· Last season's second meeting against Bentley came in the semifinals of the NE10 Championship as then junior Elijah Bailey (Freeport, N.Y./The Hotchkiss School) sank three FT's with 10 seconds remaining and provided the key defense in the final seconds to ice the victory.
SCOUTING THE CHARGERS
The Chargers have relied on the returning experience of seniors Elijah Bailey (Freeport, N.Y./The Hotchkiss School) and Kessly Felizor (Hightstown, N.J./Hightstown) and redshirt junior Derrick Rowland (Cohoes, N.Y./Green Tech) who combined have provided over 65% of the overall scoring for the season. Leading the way is Bailey who is averaging 19.0 points per game and scored 20+ in five straight that spanned the end of November up to the holiday break, increasing his average in that stretch alone to 27.0 ppg. Included in that five-game stretch for Bailey was a season-high 31 points against Southern Connecticut. Felizor, who is second on the team at 13.7 ppg, is averaging a double double over his last eight games, putting up 16.8 ppg and pulling down 10.0 rpg in that stretch, which includes a career-high 33 points at STAC. Rounding out the three leaders is Rowland who adds 13.3 points per game while leading the team with 67 assists including a career-high 10 against Holy Family. Rowland also set a career-high when he dropped in 32 points in the road loss at Adelphi which opened up the 2020 portion of the schedule.
SCOUTING THE FALCONS
Winners in their last seven, Bentley has not fallen victim since the New Year and extended they have won 11 of their last 12 games. The lone two losses for the Falcons came against Bridgeport and Franklin Pierce. Leading the Falcons is senior forward Chris Hudson who is averaging 18.0 points per game and 8.4 rebounds per game. In addition to his scoring and rebounding, the Maine native leads Bentley with 21 steals and 26 blocks. Following him in leading the offense are a pair of guards, sophomore Mason Webb (16.8 ppg) and junior Jordan Mello-Klein (13.3 ppg).
UP NEXT
New Haven continues its month of weekend road games when they travel to North Easton, Mass. for a date with the Stonehill Skyhawks on Saturday, January 18. Opening tip against the Northeast Division rival is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. following the women's game.
LAST TIME THEY MET
It was his only trip to the line all afternoon, but Elijah Bailey (Freeport, N.Y./The Hotchkiss School) went a perfect 3-of-3 with 10 seconds remaining before knocking the ball loose under the basket on the opposite end as the Chargers secured its spot in the NE10 Championship Semifinals with a 70-69 decision over SW No. 3 seed Bentley. Bailey led all New Haven players in the game with 18 points, 13 of which came in the second half. Overall, he was one of three players in double figures joined by Roy Kane, Jr. (Norwalk, Conn./Norwalk) who finished with 13 and Derrick Rowland (Cohoes, N.Y./Green Tech) who chipped in with a dozen. Also among the leaders was Najee Larcher (Brooklyn, N.Y./Xaverian) who stepped up in the first half going a perfect 4-of-4 from the field for eight points, while also adding three assists to his tally. As a team, the Chargers shot a game-best 48.2 percent, connecting on 27-of-56 field goal attempts, which included 11 buckets from outside the three point arc. Bentley closed out the game with a 34-31 advantage on the boards, while junior Kessly Felizor (Hightstown, N.J./Hightstown) led New Haven's rebounding efforts with eight boards.
LAST TIME OUT
Backed by four players scoring in double figures, led by Derrick Rowland (Cohoes, N.Y./Green Tech) who scored a game-high 29 points, the men's basketball team ran past Saint Michael's 82-63. Rowland's 29 points came on an 11-for-14 shooting performance, including a 5-for-6 clip from three-point range, while adding four assists and two steals. Senior Elijah Bailey (Freeport, N.Y./The Hotchkiss School) dropped 23 points while freshman Davontrey Thomas (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Poughkeepsie) scored 17 points on 6-of-10 from the field. Redshirt freshman Antonio Lopez (Medford, N.Y./St. Anthony's) also put up double digits, scoring 10 points on 4-for-4 shooting. The Chargers outrebounded Saint Michael's 32-27 and shot over 57 percent in the game, including 54.5 percent (12-for-22) from three-point range.
BRING OUT THE BROOMS
Senior Elijah Bailey (Freeport, N.Y./The Hotchkiss School) and Freshman Davontrey Thomas (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Poughkeepsie) capped off a 2-0 week sweeping the NE10 Weekly awards. Bailey earns the second NE10 Player of the Week accolade of his career, while Thomas is the first Charger to earn Rookie of the Week honors since Derrick Rowland (Cohoes, N.Y./Green Tech) earned the distinction on February 19, 2018. That date also marks the last time the Chargers swept the weekly honors with Rowland joined by then senior Danny Upchurch who earned Player of the Week honors. Bailey closed out last week averaging 25 points on 18-of-24 field goal attempts with eight of those buckets from outside the three point arc. Bailey also hauled in 15 boards including his first career double double with a career-high 10 rebounds against Holy Family. Thomas capped off his weekly performance with a pair of career highs on Sunday afternoon against Holy Family when he scored 18 points and dished out six assists.
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) (3x) and Kessly Felizor (Hightstown, N.J./Hightstown) (twice) have each earned the honor multiple times.
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)
Dec. 16 :: Kessly Felizor (Hightstown, N.J./Hightstown)
Jan. 6 :: Derrick Rowland (Cohoes, N.Y./Green Tech)
Jan. 13 :: 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 13 games, the Chargers have converted 122 three pointers, if they were to maintain their current average for the remainder of the regular season the Chargers would stand at 244 three pointers made.
TIGHTENING THE BELT
Since returning from the Sunshine State, 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 in a three-game stretch against SCSU, Saint Rose and AIC. Additionally, all 71 points against SCSU and all 65 points against American International came from the starting five.
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. With his 23 points last time out at St. Michael's, he is currently 14th all-time with 1,431 career points. Bailey now has his eye on lucky number 13 which is currently held by Eric Anderson (Newark, N.J./Newark Tech) (2011-15) with 1,551 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 16th all-time. In the hunt for 1,000 points, Felizor currently stands 94 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 tied for seventh in program history in three pointers made with 175 and with just five 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.
DOUBLE DIPPING
Senior Kessly Felizor (Hightstown, N.J./Hightstown) has flown a bit under the radar the last few games, but in doing so he has compiled a double double in four of the last eight outings. In that same stretch, the senior post player is averaging a double double with 16.8 ppg and 10.0 rebounds per game, while shooting an impressive 61.0 percent in that same stretch (47-of-77). In addition to that, Felizor picked off 11 steals over a five game stretch, dished out 10 assists over the last four outings and finished a perfect 16-of-16 at the free throw line against STAC.
NEW YEAR, NEW YOU
Since the calendar rolled over to a new decade two weeks ago, the Chargers redshirt junior guard Derrick Rowland (Cohoes, N.Y./Green Tech) has been nothing but impressive, racking up a pair of 25+ performances, including a career-high 32 points against NE10 SW Division foe Adelphi. Over the three games since the New Year, Rowland is averaging 22.7 points, shooting 26-of-36 (72.2%) overall and 12-of-16 (75%) from long range and has dished out 18 assists, grabbed seven boards and picked off four steals.
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.
