GAME DAY INFORMATION
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DATE: January 25, 2020
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LOCATION: Laska Gym | Worcester, Mass.
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GAME DAY LINKS
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LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO
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THE FIRST LOOK
New Haven looks to remain unblemished in cross-divisional play as they head on the road for the first of two-straight away from West Haven with a Saturday afternoon date with Assumption at Laska Gymnasium. As the Chargers continue to move up the SW Division standings, they have slowly been dismantling the top of the NE Division handing losses to three (Bentley, Stonehill, Saint Anselm) of the top four teams in the division.
INSIDE THE SERIES
· New Haven and Assumption meet for the 25th time in the history of the two programs.
· Including wins in the last seven meetings, the Chargers hold a 14-10 advantage in the first 24 meetings of a series that dates back to the 1979-80 season.
· The most recent Charger loss in the series was a slim one-point decision in Worcester, the first of two meetings in 2012-13.
· Under 10th-year head coach Ted Hotaling, the Chargers are 9-3 against the conference foe.
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 65.1% of the overall scoring for the season. Leading the way is Bailey who is averaging 20.2 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. In the most recent outing against Saint Anselm, Bailey net 30+ for the second time this season, dropping in a career-high 33 points. Rowland follows Bailey adding 13.8 ppg. Since the start of the New Year, Rowland is averaging 19.2 ppg while shooting 42-of-67 (62.7 percent), In addition, he has dished out 37 of his team-high 84 assists in that same stretch. 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. Felizor rounds out the three leaders adding 13.1 ppg while leading the team in rebounding (8.6 rpg), steals (19) and blocks (11). Among Felizor's highlights was a career-high 33 points at STAC.
SCOUTING THE GREYHOUNDS
Since opening cross-divisional play, the Greyhounds have gone 2-2, including their most recent outing, a two-point loss to SW Division leading Adelphi, 74-72. For the season, the Greyhounds are averaging 81.5 points per game, fifth most in the NE10, while limiting their opponents to 77 ppg. Individually, junior point guard Matthew Kelly leads the team in scoring at 17.1 ppg while also dishing out a team-best 72 assists and picking off a team-high 26 steals. Overall, Kelly is one of three players to average double digits with redshirt-junior forward Malik Brown second on the team at 13.9 ppg and senior guard Branislav Vujadinovic rounding out the leaders at 10.1 ppg.
UP NEXT
New Haven closes out the month of January with a second-straight road game on Tuesday, January 28 when it travels to the Granite State for a date with the Southern New Haven Penmen. Opening tip from Stan Spirou Field House in Manchester, N.H. is slated for 7:30 p.m., following the women's game.
LAST TIME THEY MET
For the fifth time in the last six games, Elijah Bailey (Freeport, N.Y./The Hotchkiss School) surpassed 20 points to lead the men's basketball team over Assumption 69-56. Overall, Bailey was one of four players in double figures while he led all players in the game with 24 points. Joining him in leading the Chargers was Derrick Rowland (Cohoes, N.Y./Green Tech) who poured in 14 points while Kessly Felizor (Hightstown, N.J./Hightstown) and Roy Kane, Jr. (Norwalk, Conn./Norwalk) each net 11 points in the victory. Felizor picked up more than half of his points at the free throw line where he finished a perfect 6-of-6, while adding two field goals including a three pointer. Both Kane and Bailey finished the game shooting 50 percent from the field with Kane going 5-of-10 and Bailey shooting 10-of-20, while Rowland led all of the Chargers double digit scorers going 5-of-8 from the field for a 62.5 percent average. Additionally, freshman point guard Quashawn Lane (Trenton, N.J./Trenton Catholic Academy) closed out the game with seven points, going a perfect 3-of-3 from the field. As a team, New Haven finished the game shooting an even 50 percent, connecting on 26-of-52 attempts, including five from outside the three point arc. New Haven also led the battle of the boards with a 26-27 margin, led by Najee Larcher (Brooklyn, N.Y./Xaverian) who pulled down seven boards off the bench.
LAST TIME OUT
Behind a career-high 33 points from Elijah Bailey (Freeport, N.Y./The Hotchkiss School), the men's basketball team continued its dominance of the NE10 Northeast Division with an 80-73 victory over visiting Saint Anselm. Bailey's second game of the season with 30+ points came on 12-of-22 shooting, which included a team-high four three pointers. He was also a perfect 5-of-5 at the free throw line. Overall, Bailey was one of four players in double figures, followed by Derrick Rowland (Cohoes, N.Y./Green Tech) who put up 15 points which came on 5-of-11 shooting while he also matched the team-high with four three pointers. Rowland also led New Haven with six assists as he extended his team lead to 84 for the season. Also among the leading scorers was Kessly Felizor (Hightstown, N.J./Hightstown) who chipped in 14 points while Davontrey Thomas (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Poughkeepsie) closed out the pack with 12 points. Overall, all but two of the Chargers 80 points came from the starting five. As a team, New Haven finished the night shooting 44.6 percent from the field, converting 25-of-56 field goal attempts. Among the 25 buckets were 10 from long range, which came on 25 attempts for a 40 percent average. The Blue and Gold also capitalized on their 22 attempts from the free throw line, converting 20 of those for a 90.9 percent performance. The Chargers did surrender the battle of the boards by a 37-28 margin with Felizor and Thomas combining to lead the team. The senior post player pulled down a team-high eight rebounds while Thomas followed just behind him with seven.
ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST
For the fifth time in the last six years, New Haven knocked off a ranked opponent when they defeated the No. 17/18 Bentley 72-42 in cross-divisional action. The win over Bentley also marks the second-straight year New Haven defeated a ranked Bentley team. Overall under Hotaling, the Chargers have defeated seven ranked opponents, including the highest ranked team in program history; No. 2 Southern Connecticut State University in 2015-16.
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) (4x), Kessly Felizor (Hightstown, N.J./Hightstown) (2x) and Derrick Rowland (Cohoes, N.Y./Green Tech) (2x) 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)
Jan. 20 :: Elijah Bailey (Freeport, N.Y./The Hotchkiss School)
Jan. 20 :: Derrick Rowland (Cohoes, N.Y./Green Tech)
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 16 games, the Chargers have converted 150 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 then-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 new career-high of 33 points last time out vs Saint Anselm, he became the 14th player to hit the 1,500 point plateau, currently with 1,507 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 14th all-time. In the hunt for 1,000 points, Felizor currently stands 62 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 fourth in program history in three pointers made with 183 and with just eight more would take over third place 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) flew a bit under the radar in the month of December, but in doing so he has compiled a double double in four of the five games that month. In that same stretch, the senior post player averaged with 18.6 ppg and 10.6 rebounds per game, while shooting an impressive 65.5 percent in that same stretch (36-of-55). In addition to that, Felizor picked off 10 steals over the five game stretch.
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 five games since the New Year, Rowland is averaging 19.2 points, shooting 42-of-67 (62.7%) overall and 21-of-34 (62%) from long range and has dished out 37 assists, grabbed eight boards, picked off four steals and blocked three shots.
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.
