GAME DAY INFORMATION |
DATE: January 6, 2024
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LOCATION: Butova Gymnasium | Springfield, Mass. |
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GAME DAY LINKS |
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO |
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THE LEAD
Looking to get back in the win column, the Chargers head to the birthplace of basketball, Springfield, Mass., for a date with the American International Yellow Jackets. As New Haven looks to move up the league standings, the Yellow Jackets look to take their conference record above .500 and build on a one point win last time out.
SCOUTING NEW HAVEN
Despite a loss last time out at Saint Michael's, the Chargers have outscored their last four opponents by an average of 13.3 points per game. Could head coach Ted Hotaling have found the right recipe of players remains to be determined, however the addition of redshirt guard Ethan Simmon (Edison, N.J./St. Joseph Metuchen) coming off the bench has been huge for the Blue and Gold of late, including a career-high 27 points against Georgian Court. Over the four-game stretch mentioned above, Simmon is averaging 17.8 points per game and for the season, Simmon is one of three players to average in double figures with the rookie averaging 11.1 ppg. Leading the way individually is senior Davontrey Thomas (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Poughkeepsie) who is averaging 14.6 ppg, while Jah'Likai King (Newburgh, N.Y./Newburgh Free Academy) is putting up 13.7 ppg following his third 25+ performance of the year which came against the Purple Knights. Thomas, who has scored in double figures in each of the last nine games, has seen nearly half of his field goals fall from outside of the three point arc (28 threes, 58 total FG), while Simmon has also been a threat from long range lately, finishing that career-high outing 7-of-10 from outside the arc and is 23-of-45 from long range on the year. Another welcome addition for the Chargers has been junior transfer Jojo Lingisi-Ombongo (Hamilton, Ontario/St. Thomas More) who has come off the bench to lead the Chargers with 34 assists.
SCOUTING AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL
Sitting at an even .500 in conference play after a one-point victory over Saint Rose on Wednesday night, the Yellow Jackets stand in the bottom third of the league in scoring offense (73.6) and scoring defense (76.7) while they are last in the conference in rebounding, surrendering an average of 4.2 more rebounds to their opponents. Individually, three different Yellow Jackets are putting up double figures on the season including the NE10's leading scorer Justice Ellison who is scoring an average of 21.1 points per game. One of two players to start all 12 games for AIC, Ellison is shooting 45.5 percent for the season and leads the team from outside the arc with 25 three pointers, while also getting to the free throw line at a high average where he is 44-of-55 which also leads the team. The only other player to start every game is Lovre Zaja who leads the Yellow Jackets with 61 assists and 19 steals while averaging 5.8 points per game. Following Ellison in the scoring column is Jack Hall (12.5 ppg) and Jalen Jordan (10.0 ppg).
SERIES HISTORY vs AIC
·        New Haven and American International meet for the 65th time in the history of the two programs.
·        One of the most evenly contested series for the Chargers, New Haven holds a slight 34-30 advantage in the previous 64 games.
·        Last season, New Haven swept three meetings against the Yellow Jackets, the third coming in the opening round of the Northeast-10 Championship as the Blue and Gold made their run towards an East Region Championship.
NEXT TIME OUT
For the first time in 2024, the New Haven men's basketball team will return to the Hazell Athletic Center in West Haven when they begin a two-game homestand on Wednesday, January 10 against crosstown rival Southern Connecticut State University. Opening tip in the first half of the Battle for the Elm City is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. following the women's game. All of the action from Charger Gymnasium will be carried live on NE10Now.tv.
