GAME DAY INFORMATION
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DATE: February 8, 2020
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LOCATION: Ted Grant Court | Syracuse, N.Y.
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GAME DAY LINKS
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LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO
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THE FIRST LOOK
New Haven begins a two-game road trek with its longest trip in Southwest Division play when they travel to Syracuse, N.Y. for a date with the Le Moyne Dolphins. The Chargers look to rebound from a loss last time out against Pace while avenging an overtime setback to the Dolphins back in November.
INSIDE THE SERIES
· New Haven and Le Moyne meet for the 38th time in the history of the two programs.
· Overall, the Dolphins hold a 23-14 advantage in the first 37 meetings, dating back to 1983-84 when New Haven opened the series with a 52-50 home win.
· Under 10-year head coach Ted Hotaling, the Dolphins an 12-8 advantage following three-straight wins for Le Moyne.
· Overall since joining the Northeast-10 (2008-09), New Haven is 8-15 against the Dolphins.
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 65.8% of the overall scoring for the season. Leading the way is Bailey who is averaging 19.9 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 a recent cross-division 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. while leading the team with 96 assists. Among his highlights this season was a career-high 32 points against Adelphi and a career-high 10 handouts which came against Holy Family. Felizor rounds out the three leaders adding 13.3 ppg while leading the team in rebounding (8.5 rpg), steals (26) and blocks (16). Among Felizor's highlights was a career-high 33 points at STAC.
SCOUTING THE DOLPHINS
Winners in six of its last seven games, Le Moyne enters Saturday with a three-game lead at the top of the NE10 Southwest Division standings. Overall for the season, Le Moyne is averaging 84.0 points per game, tied with the Saint Anselm Hawks for the highest in the league. On the flip side, Le Moyne has surrendered 77.0 points per game, which is 10th in the NE10. Individually, the Dolphins scoring comes from a balanced attack that includes five players who average double figures. Leading the way is senior guard Ryan Roland who puts up an average of 15.5 points per game and is one of three players to start all 22 games. Following him in the scoring column is sophomore guard Nino Hernandez who is averaging 13.4 ppg while he is second on the team in rebounding at 4.9 rebounds per game. Leading the rebounding efforts is senior forward Tom Brown who hauls in 9.9 per game, second most in the NE10.
UP NEXT
The Chargers will remain on the road for a second-straight outing when they travel to the capital of the Empire State, Albany, for a date with the Saint Rose Golden Knights. Opening tip against the Golden Knights is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 12.
LAST TIME THEY MET
Senior Elijah Bailey (Freeport, N.Y./The Hotchkiss School) dropped 20 points in his home court debut as the Chargers dropped a 75-73 overtime decision to the visiting Le Moyne Dolphins. Bailey was one of three Chargers in double figures joined by Quashawn Lane (Trenton, N.J./Trenton Catholic Academy) and Derrick Rowland (Cohoes, N.Y./Green Tech) who finished with 14 and 10 points, respectively. Among the three leading scorers for the Blue and Gold, the point guard, Lane finished the game perfect from the field on five attempts, including two of those from outside the arc, while he was also 2-of-2 at the free throw line. Lane added to that five rebounds and four assists. Following Rowland's 10 points was Kessly Felizor (Hightstown, N.J./Hightstown) and Ross Jones II (Edgewood, Md./Friends School) who each chipped in nine points, while Felizor added a team-best 10 rebounds Felizor also added four assists and set a career-high with four blocks.
LAST TIME OUT
The men's basketball team dropped a 53-48 decision to the visiting Pace Setters on Wednesday. Leading the Chargers was Quashawn Lane (Trenton, N.J./Trenton Catholic Academy) who finished with 12 points and was the only Charger player to net double figures. Lane's team-high 12 points came on a 50 percent shooting effort, connecting on 5-of-10 from the field, including a pair of three pointers while he also pulled down four rebounds, picked off a pair of steals and dished out a single assist. Joining him in leading the Charger offense was redshirt junior Derrick Rowland (Cohoes, N.Y./Green Tech) and senior Elijah Bailey (Freeport, N.Y./The Hotchkiss School) who finished with nine and eight points, respectively. The Blue and Gold also trailed Pace in the battle of the boards by a final margin of 39-32. Leading New Haven over all was Kessly Felizor (Hightstown, N.J./Hightstown) who hauled in eight rebounds. As a squad, New Haven closed out the night shooting 34.6 percent from the field as they connected on 18 field goals in 42 attempts. The 18 buckets and 34.6 percent effort were season lows for the Chargers.
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)
Feb. 3 :: Elijah Bailey (Freeport, N.Y./The Hotchkiss School)
Feb. 3 :: 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 19 games, the Chargers have converted 174 three pointers, if they were to maintain their current average for the remainder of the regular season the Chargers would stand at 238 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 eight points last time out against Pace he inched closer to moving into 12th all-time. He now stands 17 points from passing Mike Grove (1990-93) who is currently 12th with 1,589 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 five 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. With his two made three pointers against Franklin Pierce, Bailey moved into third all-time in program history with 191. Bailey will likely settle into the number two spot all-time as he would need to convert 60 more three pointers to tie Mike Grove for second (251, 1989-93).
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, 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 10 games since the New Year, Rowland is averaging 17.0 points, shooting 61-of-109 (56.0%) overall and 30-of-53 (57%) from long range and has dished out 49 assists, grabbed 19 boards, picked off 10 steals and blocked four 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.
