GAME DAY INFORMATION |
DATE: December 29, 2022
LOCATION: Charger Gymnasium
West Haven, Conn.
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GAME DAY LINKS |
LIVE STATSÂ | LIVE VIDEO
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THE LEAD
After 19 days off, the New Haven men's basketball team returns to the court for a second-straight non-conference game as they meet the Molloy Lions in the first of two-straight home games to close out the 2022 portion of the schedule. Tip-off from Charger gym is set for 7:00 p.m. with all of the action available on the Charger Sports Network, part of NE10 NOW.
SCOUTING THE CHARGERS
After dropping its final game before the holiday break, the Chargers return to the court for the first time since December 11, with that loss to Chestnut Hill snapping a four-game win streak for the Blue and Gold. With its starting five all averaging more than 30 minutes per game, New Haven is led by a trio of players who average double figures with senior transfer Ty Perry (Boston, Mass./Brighton) leading the team at 15.7 ppg. He is followed closely by both graduate guard Quashawn Lane (Trenton, N.J./Trenton Catholic Academy) and junior Davontrey Thomas (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Poughkeepsie) at 14.4 and 14.3 ppg, respectively. Rounding out the starting five is Victor Olawoye (Elmont, N.Y./Elmont Memorial High School) and Majur Majak (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./) who average 9.7 and 9.0 ppg, respectively. Among the five, Majak leads the team and the NE10 with an impressive 72.9 percent (35-of-48) shooting from the field, while Lane is also among the best in the league at 59.1 percent (52-of-88). Majak is also the NE10's leading shot blocker with 24 stuffed attempts, which also ranks him 12th nationally in total blocks.
SCOUTING THE LIONS
After opening its ECC schedule 3-0, the Lions dropped an 83-76 decision to Roberts Wesleyan in their final game before the holiday break. Overall for the season, Molloy holds a 4-9 record, including a 3-1 mark in the ECC. Their lone non-conference win came at home against Holy Family. For the season, Molloy is being out scored by just shy of nine points per game and out rebounded by just under three rebounds per game. Individually, the Lions are led by sophomore guard Darren Fergus who not only leads his team, but leads the entire ECC conference with his 20.2 points per game average. The majority of his scoring has come inside the three point arc as he is 90-of-189 overall (47.6%) with just 19 of those baskets from beyond the arc. Following him in the scoring column is senior forward William Muller who is averaging 11.7 ppg.
SERIES HISTORY vs MOLLOY
·       New Haven and Molloy meet for the 19th time in the history of the two programs.
·       New Haven holds an 11-7 record in the previous 18 games, including wins in five of the last seven meetings.
·       The Chargers opened up the series with back-to-back wins and wins in five of the first six games.
·       Molloy has never had a streak longer than three-straight over New Haven in the series which dates back to the 2002-03 season.
·       Last season, the Chargers took an 80-59 decision over Molloy, the third straight win as the Blue and Gold opened the season 3-0.
APPROACHING AN ELITE GROUP
Just nine games into his fourth year of eligibility, graduate guard Quashawn Lane (Trenton, N.J./Trenton Catholic Academy) is quickly approaching an elite group in Charger Nation, the 1,000 point club. With 973 career points entering Thursday night, Lane needs 27 more to become the 38th player in program history to score at least 1,000 career points. Once reaching that milestone, he will quickly ascend the list as he would need just 28 more to take over 37th place all-time.
NEXT TIME OUT
Following today's non-conference game, the Chargers jump right back into NE10 action as they host the Le Moyne Dolphins. The conference battle is scheduled as the second game of a New Year's Eve doubleheader with the women's program. Tip-off between the Chargers and Dolphins is set for 3:30 p.m. before both teams ring in the New Year.
