Louisville (18-10) at Connecticut (17-11)

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Louisville (18-10) at Connecticut (17-11)



DATE & TIME: Sunday, February 28th, 2:00 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Gampel Pavilion (10,027) -- Storrs, Connecticut. Television: CBS. Home Record: Louisville 14-4, UConn 14-3. Away Record: Louisville 3-6, UConn 2-6. Neutral Record: Louisville 1-0, UConn 1-2. Conference Record: Louisville 9-6, UConn 7-8. Series Record: Connecticut leads, 5-3.

GAME NOTES: The surging Connecticut Huskies entertain the Louisville Cardinals in a Big East showdown today at Gampel Pavilion.

The Huskies were in serious jeopardy of missing the NCAA Tournament just a few weeks ago, but a recent three game winning streak has put them right back in the mix for an at-large bid. Two of the three victories have come over Top 10 opponents, including a 73-62 besting of No.8 West Virginia on Monday. UConn is now 17-11 overall and just one win away from .500 in Big East play at 7-8.

The Cardinals are also a team that could be considered on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament, although they have helped their cause with wins in five of their past seven outings. Unfortunately, Louisville is coming off a 70-60 loss to No.11 Georgetown on Tuesday. The Cardinals missed a good chance to add another quality win to their resume, but they are still a solid 18-10 overall and 9-6 within the conference.

Louisville captured an 82-69 victory over UConn earlier this month, but the Huskies still hold 5-3 edge in the all-time series.

The Cardinals led 35-29 at the intermission before Georgetown shot a scorching 59.1 percent from the floor over the final 20 minutes of a 70-60 victory. Louisville made just 40.0 percent of its field goals in the second half and was outscored at the foul line, 16-10, on the night. Edgar Sosa scored a season-high 24 points and dished out eight assists in the setback, while Samardo Samuels and Reginald Delk pitched in with 11 points apiece. On the season, it is Samuels who leads the club in scoring (16.0 ppg) as well as rebounding (7.1 rpg). Sosa checks in with 13.3 ppg and he runs the show, distributing a team-high 4.4 apg.

The game was decided at the foul line, as UConn went 30-of-42 compared to just 12-of-23 by WVU in a 73-62 triumph earlier in the week. The Huskies also forced 13 turnovers, capitalizing on those mishaps with 26 points. Kemba Walker went 14-of-17 at the stripe for 21 points in the win, while Jerome Dyson dropped in 17 points. Dyson currently leads the team in scoring at 18.6 ppg, to go along with 4.6 rpg and 4.5 apg. Stanley Robinson, who had a double- double of 15 points and 13 rebounds against WVU, adds 15.5 ppg and a team-high 7.7 rpg to the mix. Walker turns in 14.3 ppg and a team-best 5.4 apg for UConn, while Gavin Edwards logs 10.6 ppg and 6.3 rpg coming off the bench.

The Huskies have found their stride down the stretch here and should continue to roll behind the perimeter play of Dyson and Walker.

Predicted Outcome: Connecticut 75, Louisville 68

 

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Marquette (18-9) at Seton Hall (16-10)

Marquette (18-9) at Seton Hall (16-10)

Marquette (18-9) at Seton Hall (16-10)


DATE & TIME: Sunday, February 28th, 12:00 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Prudential Center (18,500) -- Newark, New Jersey. Television: BEN. Home Record: Marquette 12-3, SHU 13-3. Away Record: Marquette 4-5, SHU 3-6. Neutral Record: Marquette 2-1, SHU 0-1. Conference Record: Marquette 9-6, SHU 7-8. Series Record: Marquette leads, 6-1.

GAME NOTES: The Marquette Golden Eagles will try to wrap up a perfect three- game road trip today, as they take on the Seton Hall Pirates in Big East play at the Prudential Center.

The Eagles have really turned it on down the stretch to enhance their NCAA Tournament resume, as they have won seven of their past eight outings. Included in the team's run are two straight overtime wins on the road, including a 63-61 besting of St. John's on Tuesday. With the recent run, Marquette has soared to 18-9 overall and 9-6 in conference play.

As for SHU, it too has played well of late, winning four of its past five outings. The most recent of those triumphs came on Tuesday, a 76-70 victory over Rutgers. It marked the sixth straight home win for the Pirates, who are now 16-10 overall and 7-8 within the conference.

This is the eighth all-time meeting between Marquette and SHU, with the Eagles holding a 6-1 advantage in the series.

Jimmy Butler hit a baseline jumper at the buzzer in overtime, lifting the Eagles to a dramatic 63-61 win over St. John's earlier in the week. It was obviously a huge bucket from Butler, who finished the night with 18 points and eight boards. Lazar Hayward also had a big game, as he posted 22 points and seven rebounds. For the season, Hayward has nearly done it all for the Eagles, as he leads the team with 18.2 ppg, 8.1 rpg and 47 steals. Butler has provided a nice complement to him with 15.6 ppg and 6.7 rpg, while Darius Johnson-Odom chips in with 12.5 ppg on the strength of 48.4 percent shooting from downtown.

The Pirates forced 16 turnovers and scored 23 points off those giveaways in a 76-70 victory over Rutgers on Tuesday. SHU meanwhile, had just six mishaps and shot 43.1 percent from the floor. Jeremy Hazell dropped in 5-of-14 three- pointers on his way to 25 points for SHU, while Jordan Theodore posted 12 points and six assists. On the campaign, Hazell ranks among the top scorers around with an average of 21.5 ppg and he also leads the Pirates with 47 steals. Herb Pope turns in a double-double of 11.0 ppg and a team-high 11.0 rpg for the Pirates, while Jeff Robinson adds 10.8 ppg and 5.5 rpg.

The Eagles are flying high at the moment, but the Pirates have been terrific at home and should be able to grab the victory today behind a big game from Hazell.

Predicted Outcome: Seton Hall 77, Marquette 71

 

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UC Riverside (12-15) at UC Davis (11-16)

UC Riverside (12-15) at UC Davis (11-16)

UC Riverside (12-15) at UC Davis (11-16)


DATE & TIME: Sunday, February 28th, 4:00 p.m. (et).

FACTS & STATS: Site: The Pavilion (7,100) -- Davis, California. Television: None. Home Record: UCR 8-6, UC Davis 7-5. Away Record: UCR 4-9, UC Davis 3-10. Neutral Record: UCR 0-0, UC Davis 1-1. Conference Record: UCR 5-9, UC Davis 6-7. Series Record: UC Riverside leads, 26-24.

GAME NOTES: The Aggies of UC Davis play their final home game of the regular season this afternoon as they entertain the UC Riverside Highlanders in a Big West Conference showdown.

The Aggies were last in action on Thursday night when they suffered a 68-65 loss to Long Beach State at home, the third setback in the last four games for the program. As a result, UC Davis is now a game below .500 in conference play at 6-7.

As for the Highlanders, they too were active three nights ago, but in their case they picked up a 62-53 win over Pacific on the road, giving UCR three straight victories and four in the last five games.

UC Davis won the first meeting of the season last month by a score of 60-50, which means the all-time series now stands at 26-24 in favor of the Highlanders.

With Pacific trying to stay close to the top of the Big West standings, the Tigers should have been favored as they hosted UCR on Thursday night, but in the end the Highlanders came alive and captured the nine-point decision. Kyle Austin accounted for a game-high 23 points and cleared eight rebounds for the Highlanders, but more importantly the team held Pacific to a mere 33.3 percent shooting from the field and 6-of-24 behind the three-point line. Austin, a starter in all 27 games for Riverside this season, is scoring a lofty 18.3 ppg which is more than twice as high as Larry Gurganious who is second on the unit in scoring with a mere 7.9 ppg. The leading rebounder as well with his 7.2 rpg, Austin has already made more field goals (175-of-380) than anyone else has taken for UCR and the same goes at the free-throw line (120-of-193) as well.

The UC Davis defense was all over the 49ers the last time out, albeit a bit too much at times as Long Beach State made good on 28-of-35 at the free-throw line in the three-point decision. Nevertheless, LBSU shot a mere 32.7 percent from the field and 4-of-21 (.190) beyond the arc in the outing. Joe Harden led the way for the Davis offense with his game-high 26 points and a team-best 11 rebounds, followed by Mark Payne and Dominic Calegari with 12 and 10 points, respectively. Calegari and Harden are the only two players to have started all 13 conference games this season and as such are also two of the leading scorers in those meetings with 16.9 and 14.0 ppg, respectively, while Payne checks in with his 14.1 ppg stemming from 85.7 percent accuracy at the free- throw line in his eight appearances. Nevertheless, even with those three carrying most of the load, the Aggies are still getting outscored by the opponents on the average.

The Highlanders haven't been that great on the road this season, but topping Pacific by a convincing score is certainly something the squad can build upon this afternoon.

Predicted Outcome: UC Riverside 65, UC Davis 61

 

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Niagara (17-13) at Fairfield (19-9)

Niagara (17-13) at Fairfield (19-9)

Niagara (17-13) at Fairfield (19-9)


DATE & TIME: Sunday, February 28th, 12:00 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Arena at Harbor Yards (9,500) -- Bridgeport, Connecticut. Television: MSGN. Home Record: Niagara 8-4, Fairfield 10-2. Away Record: Niagara 6-8, Fairfield 8-7. Neutral Record: Niagara 3-1, Fairfield 1-0. Conference Record: Niagara 9-8, Fairfield 12-5. Series Record: Niagara leads, 35-20.

GAME NOTES: The regular season will come to an end for two schools this afternoon, when the Fairfield Stags host the Niagara Purple Eagles at the Arena at Harbor Yards.

The Purple Eagles are soaring at the right time, as the team heads into this contest riding a four-game winning streak. The last time the Purple Eagles were on the floor the team pushed its MAAC mark to 9-8 on the year with a 74-72 victory over Manhattan.

As for the Stags, they currently sit in second place in the MAAC with a 12-5 ledger. Fairfield has won three of its last four matchups, including a 71-54 victory over Iona earlier this season.

The Purple Eagles currently own a 35-20 edge over Fairfield in the all-time series, and that includes 15 wins in the last 21 meetings. Earlier this season, Niagara defeated the Stags by a 77-68 margin.

The Purple Eagles have the potential to be very dangerous offensively, as the team currently possesses four players netting double figures. Tyrone Lewis is pacing the squad with 16.9 ppg, while Bilal Benn is posting 13.4 ppg, to go along with a team-high 98 rpg. Rob Garrison is netting 10.9 ppg, while Anthony Nelson is contributing 10.2 ppg, to go along with 155 assists. The last time the Purple Eagles were in action the team shot 51.9 percent from the floor, en route to a win over Manhattan. Lewis led the way with 21 points and became the first player in MAAC history to record 1,500 points, 500 rebounds, 200 assists and 200 steals in a career. Kashief Edwards added 14 points, while Nelson tallied 12 points, to go along with eight assists and six rebounds.

The Stags shot 48.1 percent from the floor in their last matchup and went on to grab a solid victory over Iona. Anthony Johnson exploded in the win with a double-double of 28 points and 12 rebounds. Derek Needham was the only other player on the floor to finish with double figures, as the guard tallied 15 points. Needham has been the best player on the floor for Fairfield, as the guard is posting 16.0 ppg, to go along with 152 assists. Johnson has also been solid throughout the season and heads into this game netting 15.3 ppg, to go along with a team-best 9.5 rpg. As a whole, the Stags are producing a mediocre 70.6 ppg, behind a mediocre 43.7 percent shooting effort.

The Stags are home in this matchup, and have been solid all year. However, look for the red-hot Purple Eagles to remain in the win column this afternoon.

Predicted Outcome: Niagara 72, Fairfield 70

 

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Northwestern (18-10) at Penn State (10-17)

Northwestern (18-10) at Penn State (10-17)

Northwestern (18-10) at Penn State (10-17)





DATE & TIME: Sunday, February 28th, 12:00 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Bryce Jordan Center (15,261) -- State College, Pennsylvania. Television: Big Ten Network. Home Record: Northwestern 14-4, Penn St. 6-8. Away Record: Northwestern 2-6, Penn St. 3-7. Neutral Record: Northwestern 2-0, Penn St. 1-2. Conference Record: Northwestern 7-9, Penn State 2-13. Series Record: Penn State leads, 23-12.

GAME NOTES: The Northwestern Wildcats visit the Penn State Nittany Lions this afternoon in what should be a competitive Big Ten battle.

Northwestern halted a two-game skid with a 74-57 decision over Iowa on Thursday. That victory enabled the Wildcats to improve to 18-10 overall and 7-9 in conference. On a down note, six of the eight true road games that NU has played thus far have resulted in defeat, not exactly a reason for optimism heading into today's affair.

As for Penn State, it fell to Ohio State on Wednesday as expected in a 75-67 final. That loss halted a modest two-game win streak for the Nittany Lions, who are 10-17 overall and a woeful 2-13 in Big Ten action. On a positive note, Penn State did beat Northwestern, 81-70, two weeks ago to earn its first league win, and the Lions own a 23-12 series advantage over the Wildcats.

John Shurna has quietly had an outstanding year for Northwestern, as he is netting 18.5 ppg to go along with 6.1 rpg and 71 assists, proof of his tremendous versatility. Michael Thompson's 114 assists lead the club, and he chips in 13.3 ppg. As for Drew Crawford, he adds 10.7 ppg, and the fact that four players have started every game for Northwestern so far is both rare and impressive. The Wildcats are scoring 69.3 ppg while allowing 65.0 ppg, but they are being outscored by nearly two points per contest by league foes. In the recent romp over Iowa, Shurna poured in 29 points on 10-of-14 shooting from the floor, and Jeremy Nash added 15 points. Both Thompson and Luka Mirkovic tallied 12 points for the Wildcats, who shot 58.3 percent from the floor and finished with 21 assists against only eight turnovers.

It is hard to find a player who means more to his team than Talor Battle does to Penn State. The standout guard is not only tops in scoring (19.1 ppg), steals (32) and assists (108), but he is the club's leading rebounder as well (5.5 rpg). The fact that there isn't another double-digit scorer on the roster helps to explain PSU's struggles. The Nittany Lions are being outscored by 6.5 rpg in league play and have lost plenty of close contests. Against Ohio State last time out, the Lions were certainly competitive in a game that featured seven lead changes. A 13-4 deficit in points off turnovers proved costly. Battle tallied 22 points in defeat.

Northwestern will avenge the earlier loss to Penn State, as Shurna will out-duel Battle.

Predicted Outcome: Northwestern 70, Penn State 67

 

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Manhattan (10-18) at Loyola-Maryland (12-16)

Manhattan (10-18) at Loyola-Maryland (12-16)

Manhattan (10-18) at Loyola-Maryland (12-16)


DATE & TIME: Sunday, February 28th, 1:00 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Reitz Arena (3,000) -- Baltimore, Maryland. Television: None. Home Record: Manhattan 6-8, Loyola-Maryland 5-7. Away Record: Manhattan 4-10, Loyola-Maryland 7-9. Neutral Record: Manhattan 0-0, Loyola-Maryland 0-0. Conference Record: Manhattan 4-13, Loyola-Maryland 5-12. Series Record: Manhattan leads, 30-17.

GAME NOTES: The Greyhounds will try to close out their regular season with a victory when Loyola-Maryland hosts the Manhattan Jaspers this afternoon in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference battle at Reitz Arena.

The last time the Jaspers were on the floor the team suffered a 74-72 setback to Niagara. It was the 10th loss in the last 13 games for Manhattan, which is a meager 4-13 in conference play.

As for the Greyhounds, they have suffered four consecutive losses, including a 74-62 setback to Canisius on Friday. The loss dropped the Greyhounds to 5-12 in league play, and 5-7 at Reitz Arena.

Earlier this season the Greyhounds grabbed a 62-56 victory over Manhattan. Despite the loss, the Jaspers own a 30-17 edge over the Greyhounds in the all- time series.

Scoring has been a problem for Manhattan, as the Jaspers are netting just 64.9 ppg, behind a pedestrian 40.5 percent shooting effort. Rico Pickett is pacing the team with 17.7 ppg, while Darryl Crawford is posting 14.6 ppg, to go along with a team-best 64 assists. The last time the Jaspers were on the floor the team scored 72 points, but still fell to Niagara. The Jaspers shot 44.3 percent from the floor, but finished just 5-of-16 from long range and 13-of-25 from the foul line. Crawford led the way in the loss with 18 points and five assists, while Brandon Adams posted a double-double of 15 points and 10 boards. As for Pickett, he tallied 17 points in the contest, and also pulled down six rebounds.

The Greyhounds did not perform well in their last matchup, as the team netted just 62 points in a loss to Canisius. Loyola-Maryland shot 42.4 percent from the floor in the setback, and finished a meager 3-of-16 from behind the arc. Jamal Barney led the way with 20 points and eight rebounds, while Robert Olson and Brian Rudolph tallied 13 and 12 points, respectively. Brett Harvey is pacing the team on the season with 12.7 ppg, while Barney is posting 12.1 ppg, to go along with 4.3 rpg for Loyola-Maryland, which as a whole is netting just 64.2 ppg, behind a mediocre 42.0 percent shooting effort,

Neither team has performed at a high level offensively, but with a home crowd behind them, look for the Greyhounds to get a victory here.

Predicted Outcome: Loyola-Maryland 67, Manhattan 64

 

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(23) Richmond (22-6) at Xavier (20-7)

(23) Richmond (22-6) at Xavier (20-7)

(23) Richmond (22-6) at Xavier (20-7)




FACTS & STATS: Cintas Center (10,250) -- Cincinnati, Ohio. Television: ESPN2. Home Record: Richmond 13-1, Xavier 13-0. Away Record: Richmond 6-5, Xavier 6-5. Neutral Record: Richmond 3-0, Xavier 1-2. Conference Record: Richmond 11-2, Xavier 11-2. Series Record: Xavier leads, 10-3.

GAME NOTES: Two teams competing for the Atlantic 10 title hook up at the Cintas Center today, as the 23rd-ranked Richmond Spiders battle the Xavier Musketeers.

Coming into the day, Richmond and Xavier, along with Temple, are all tied for first place in the A-10 standings at 11-2. With the season winding down, this is obviously a crucial game for both squads.

The Spiders are the hottest team in the conference, as they have won eight straight and 10 of their last 11 bouts. Richmond, which has been ranked in consecutive weeks for the first time since the 1957-58 season, has had plenty of time to prepare for this game, last participating in a 74-70 triumph of George Washington on February 20th. Now at 22-6 overall, the Spiders are out for their first nine-game winning streak since the 1990-91 season.

As for the Musketeers, the are streaking as well, notching four straight victories and eight in their past nine contests. Xavier edged Saint Louis, 73-71, on Wednesday, giving the program its fifth straight 20-win season. The Musketeers now return back home, where they have won 30 consecutive games in A-10 play.

Xavier leads the head-to-head series with Richmond, 10-3, but the Spiders knocked off the 17th-ranked Musketeers, 80-75, in last season's meeting.

The Spiders have been tough on defense this season, holding opponents to just 38.7 percent shooting from the floor while forcing 15.5 turnovers per game. Kevin Anderson has gotten the job done at both ends for Richmond, as he tops the roster in scoring (17.5 ppg) as well as steals (55). David Gonzalvez follows with 13.6 ppg and 49 steals, while Justin Harper chips in with 10.4 ppg. In the team's prior outing, Anderson tallied 24 points and seven assists to lift the Spiders past George Washington. Gonzalvez and Harper both had 10 points for Richmond, which went 20-of-29 at the foul line and forced 16 turnovers.

Xavier shot 47.6 percent from the floor and dominated the boards, 42-28, as it escaped Saint Louis with a 73-71 win on Wednesday. Jordan Crawford led the charge with 26 points and five boards, while Jason Love had 21 points and nine rebounds. On the season, Crawford averages a healthy 20.0 ppg to pace the Musketeers and he also turns in 4.7 rpg and 3.0 apg. Love adds 11.8 ppg and a team-high 8.4 rpg to the mix, while Terrell Holloway contributes 10.9 ppg and a team-best 4.0 apg. Overall, the Musketeers are tallying a hardy 79.4 ppg and converting on 47.1 percent of their attempts from the field and 38.2 percent from downtown.

This is clearly a huge game in the A-10. Expect the Musketeers to continue their run at home behind a big performance from Crawford and company.

Predicted Outcome: Xavier 74, Richmond 67

 

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(20) Temple (23-5) at La Salle (11-16)

(20) Temple (23-5) at La Salle (11-16)

(20) Temple (23-5) at La Salle (11-16)




FACTS & STATS: Site: Tom Gola Arena (4,000) -- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Television: None. Home Record: Temple 12-1, La Salle 5-6. Away Record: Temple 10-3, La Salle 4-8. Neutral Record: Temple 1-1, La Salle 2-2. Conference Record: Temple 11-2, La Salle 3-10. Series Record: Temple leads, 65-40.

GAME NOTES: The 20th-ranked Temple Owls are clearly favored in today's Atlantic 10 Conference clash with Philadelphia rival La Salle.

Temple enters this tilt riding a four-game win streak and came into the weekend tied with Xavier and Richmond atop the league standings. The Owls put forth another stellar defensive effort on Wednesday in a 49-41 victory over Dayton. They are now 23-5 overall and 11-2 in league action, and they have held an opponent more than 20 points below their scoring average on eight occasions this season. A win today would give Temple just its fifth 4-0 Big 5 campaign, and its first since 1987-88.

La Salle has been hit hard by injuries, and the result has been seven consecutive losses. The Explorers are 11-16 overall, including 3-10 in conference, and they are coming off an 81-72 loss to George Washington.

Temple beat La Salle in a 64-52 final on January 30th, and the Owls own a 65-40 series lead over the Explorers.

Ramone Moore has emerged as a serious threat at the offensive end of the court for Temple, as he has led the team in scoring the last three times out. Moore tallied 13 points against Dayton on Wednesday, but his team only shot 32.1 percent from the field, including 2-of-15 from three-point range. Fortunately, Temple held the Flyers to 41 points on 26.3 percent shooting from the field, and outscored them 13-6 from the charity stripe. The Owls only turned the ball over eight times, and Lavoy Allen ripped down 17 rebounds in the clash. Ryan Brooks scored 11 points, and he continues to pace Temple on the year with his 14.8 ppg. Keep an eye on Allen, as he is scoring 11.3 ppg while grabbing 10.5 rpg, one of a small number of players nationally that average a double-double. Temple is holding opponents to 57.2 ppg this season on 37.8 percent field goal efficiency.

Rodney Green is a big-time scorer for La Salle who is averaging 18.2 ppg to go along with 113 assists and 43 steals. Aaric Murray, a promising freshman center, provides 12.5 ppg and 6.7 rpg for the Explorers, who are putting up 70.7 ppg while allowing 73.2 ppg. La Salle has committed 116 more turnovers than its opponents this season. It is certainly ironic that the Explorers are shooting the exact same percentage as their foes (.440). In the recent loss to George Washington, Green led four double-digit scorers for La Salle with 21 points. Murray added 16 points and nine rebounds before fouling out, and Jerrell Williams contributed 13 points and 16 boards. A 21-12 deficit in points from the foul line certainly hurt the cause.

Temple is simply a better team than La Salle and will win today. Still, expect Green and his Explorers to keep it close.

Predicted Outcome: Temple 63, La Salle 57

 

[Lumi]

Canisius (14-15) at Rider (15-15)

Canisius (14-15) at Rider (15-15)

Canisius (14-15) at Rider (15-15)

DATE & TIME: Sunday, February 28th, 2:00 p.m. (et).

FACTS & STATS: Site: Alumni Gym (1,650) -- Lawrenceville, New Jersey. Television: None. Home Record: Canisius 7-5, Rider 6-6. Away Record: Canisius 5-9, Rider 8-8. Neutral Record: Canisius 2-1, Rider 1-1. Conference Record: Canisius 8-9, Rider 8-9. Series Record: Rider leads, 24-6.

GAME NOTES: The Rider Broncs and the Canisius Golden Griffins fight for sixth place in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference standings this afternoon as the teams close out the regular season at Alumni Gym.

The Broncs were here just two nights ago facing off against league-leading Siena, but Rider did little to stand in the way of the Saints as they steamrolled their way to a 16-1 MAAC mark with an 80-54 decision in front of a packed house. The loss was the second in a row and the third in the last four outings for a Rider group that is just 8-9 in conference play in 2009-10 after being expected to finish near the top of the standings.

As for the Golden Griffs, they played their way into a tie with Rider in the standings by winning two in a row and three of the last four. Friday night had Canisius taking care of Loyola-Maryland on the road in a 74-62 final.

Canisius won the first meeting of the season last month at home by a score of 74-58, which means the all-time series now favors the Broncs by a count of 24-6.

The Griffs made a total of just seven field goals in the first half of their meeting with Loyola a couple nights ago, yet that was still good enough to give the visitors a halftime lead. In the second half, Canisius exploded with 62.1 percent accuracy from the floor to capture the double-digit win. Tomas Vazquez-Simmons recorded a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Greg Logins chipped in 15 points off the bench and Elton Frazier 11 points and six boards. Frank Turner shot just 3-of-10 from the field, but still contributed 10 points and six of the unit's 11 assists. One of the most reliable performers in the league this season, Turner is the one who makes the offense operate for Canisius from his 16.5 ppg and 5.1 rpg to his team-best 166 assists and 61 steals, giving it all he has at both ends of the floor. Julius Coles (14.4 ppg) and Logins (10.0 ppg, 5.9 rpg) are also important pieces to the Canisius puzzle, even if the team is fighting to reach .500 on the season.

With Alumni Gym filled, the Broncs did little to reward the support of the fans on Friday night as they came out and laid an egg in the lopsided loss to Siena. Rider shot just 37.3 percent from the field and 8-of-28 behind the three-point line, while lazy play resulted in a mere four opportunities at the free-throw line. Novar Gadson was the one bright light for the squad with his 25 points and 10 rebounds off the bench, while Ryan Thompson squeaked by with just 10 points and five assists, but just a single rebounds. The uninspired effort by the Broncs gave the impression that this was it for them in 2009-10 and not to expect much in the MAAC Tournament coming up, even if Thompson is still averaging a team-best 16.9 ppg and could be considered an all-conference performer. Justin Robinson (12.9 ppg) and Gadson (11.5 ppg, 7.4 rpg) have tried to give this group a lift but it takes more than just a couple of guys on any given night to push the Broncs to new heights.

Perhaps Rider has a better effort in store against the Golden Griffins this afternoon, as it certainly can't get much worse than Friday night's display. Considering this is the last time Thompson will get to play in front of his fans, he needs to do something to elevate the Broncs.

Predicted Outcome: Rider 69, Canisius 66

 

[Lumi]

Iona (20-9) at Saint Peter's (16-12)

Iona (20-9) at Saint Peter's (16-12)

Iona (20-9) at Saint Peter's (16-12)



DATE & TIME: Sunday, February 28th, 2:00 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Yanitelli Center (3,200) -- Jersey City, New Jersey. Television: None. Home Record: Iona 11-3, Saint Peter's 7-6. Away Record: Iona 8-4, Saint Peter's 9-6. Neutral Record: Iona 1-2, Saint Peter's 0-0. Conference Record: Iona 11-6, Saint Peter's 11-6. Series Record: Iona leads, 52-46.

GAME NOTES: With the third seed in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament on the line, the Saint Peter's Peacocks will host the Iona Gaels this afternoon at the Yanitelli Center.

The last time the Gaels were on the floor the team suffered a 71-54 setback to Fairfield. It was the third loss in the last six games for Iona, which is 11-6 in conference play.

Saint Peter's, which is also 11-6 in league action, is coming off a convincing, 62-39 win over Marist. It was the third win in the last five games for the Peacocks, who are just 7-6 at home this season.

Earlier this season the Peacocks defeated Iona 56-54. Despite the loss, the Gaels still own a 52-46 edge over Saint Peter's in the all-time series.

The Gaels were ice cold in their last matchup, as the team shot just 35.2 percent from the floor, en route to a loss to Fairfield. Iona connected on just 7-of-20 attempts from behind the arc, and finished 9-of-18 from the foul line. Kyle Smith was the only player in double figures for Iona, as the guard tallied 12 points. On the season however, the team has been paced by Scott Machado, who is netting 12.4 ppg, to go along with a team-high 111 assists. As a whole, the team is producing just 66.8 ppg, but fortunately the Gaels have used solid defensively play, limiting opponents to just 62.2 ppg.

Performing at the offensive end of the court has been a problem for Saint Peter's, as the team is netting just 62.8 ppg. Wesley Jenkins is pacing the team with 14.1 ppg, while Nick Leon is contributing 13.5 ppg, to go along with 73 assists. Ryan Bacon, who is grabbing a team-best 9.0 rpg, is chipping in 10.0 ppg as well. The last time the Peacocks were on the floor the team only scored 62 points, but that was good enough to grab a win over Marist. The Peacocks shot 40.0 percent from the floor and were paced by Leon, who scored 15 points. Jeron Berlin added 13 points in the win, while Jenkins finished with nine points.

Do not expect a high-scoring game between these two schools, as neither team has played well offensively. However, the Gaels are the more complete team and should grab a victory on the road.

Predicted Outcome: Iona 67, Saint Peter's 65

 

[Lumi]

(14) Michigan State (21-7) at (3) Purdue (24-3)

(14) Michigan State (21-7) at (3) Purdue (24-3)

(14) Michigan State (21-7) at (3) Purdue (24-3)



FACTS & STATS: Site: Mackey Arena (14,123) -- West Lafayette, Indiana. Television: CBS. Home Record: Michigan State 13-2, Purdue 13-1. Away Record: Michigan State 7-4, Purdue 7-2. Neutral Record: Michigan State 1-1, Purdue 4-0. Conference Record: Michigan State 11-4, Purdue 12-3. Series Record: Purdue leads, 63-44.

GAME NOTES: The third-ranked Purdue Boilermakers have lost one of their best players for the season, and it will be interesting to see how the team responds in today's critical Big Ten Conference showdown with the 14th-ranked Michigan State Spartans.

Michigan State carried a modest two-game win streak into last Sunday's matchup with Ohio State, and that resulted in a disappointing 74-67 setback. The Spartans, who have been idle since that tilt, are now 21-7 overall and 11-4 in league action. They are still very much alive in the race for the Big Ten regular season crown, but can't afford a setback today.

The Boilermakers were dealt a crushing blow with the news that star forward Robbie Hummel will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL. Still, Purdue has posted its fourth straight 20-win season for just the second time in program history, and there is still plenty of talent on the roster. The Big Ten leaders are 12-3 in league play and 24-3 overall, including a 13-1 mark at home.

Purdue beat Michigan State by a 76-64 final earlier this month and owns a 63-44 series advantage over the Spartans.

Michigan State is a balanced offensive team that features four double-digit scorers. Kalin Lucas is tops with 15.4 ppg, and he has dished out 110 assists. Durrell Summers (10.5 ppg), Raymar Morgan (10.3 ppg) and Draymond Green (10.1 ppg, 7.9 rpg) are all solid contributors for the Spartans, who are posting 74.0 ppg while limiting foes to 64.6 ppg on 40.9 percent field goal efficiency. MSU is a strong rebounding team that grabs 8.5 rpg more than the opposition on average. Summers scored 16 points to lead his team in last week's loss to Ohio State, while Chris Allen and Green tallied 11 points apiece. The Spartans were actually outrebounded in that tilt by three boards and were also outscored by seven points from the foul line. Clearly, the MSU starters were outplayed by the first five of OSU.

Hummel was second on the team in both scoring (15.7 ppg) and rebounding (6.9 ppg), so there is no doubt he will be missed. Still, E'Twaun Moore and JaJuan Johnson are capable of picking up the slack. Moore is scoring 17.0 ppg to go along with 78 assists, and Johnson provides 14.8 ppg, 7.1 rpg and 54 blocks. The Boilermakers are generating 73.4 ppg this season while holding foes to 61.1 ppg on 40.2 percent shooting. They have committed 123 fewer turnovers than the opposition, and the solid decision-making has been a major key to success. Hummel scored 11 points in just 12 minutes of action against Minnesota before suffering the knee injury. Johnson had 14 points and 10 rebounds in Wednesday's win for Purdue, which finished with 19 assists against seven turnovers.

A victory over the Spartans would make this group of Boilermakers the first in program history to defeat six ranked teams in a season. Everyone will be picking against the Boilermakers because of the loss of Hummel, but this is a proud and well-coached club.

Predicted Outcome: Purdue 74, Michigan State 69

 

[Lumi]

Marist (1-27) at Siena (23-6)

Marist (1-27) at Siena (23-6)

Marist (1-27) at Siena (23-6)


DATE & TIME: Sunday, February 28th, 4:00 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Times Union Center (15,500) -- Albany, New York. Television: TW3. Home Record: Marist 1-12, Siena 13-0. Away Record: Marist 0-15, Siena 9-5. Neutral Record: Marist 0-0, Siena 1-1. Conference Record: Marist 1-16, Siena 16-1. Series Record: Siena leads, 42-22.

GAME NOTES: Two teams at the opposite end of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference standings will collide this afternoon when the top-seeded Siena Saints host the bottom dwelling Marist Red Foxes.

It is has been a nightmare of a season for Marist, which has lost 27 of its 28 matchups. The Red Foxes, who are 1-16 in MAAC play, have lost 16 straight games, and that includes a 62-39 setback to Saint Peter's last time out.

The Saints have already clinched the regular season conference title by posting a 16-1 mark in league play. The last time the Saints were on the floor the team grabbed a convincing, 80-54 victory over Rider.

Siena pushed its advantage in the all-time series with Marist to 42-22 with a 79-60 decision over the Red Foxes earlier this season.

The Red Foxes really struggled in their last matchup, netting just 39 points in a loss to Saint Peter's. Marist shot just 30.2 percent from the floor in the matchup and finished 3-of-15 from behind the arc. Devin Price led the way in the setback with 12 points, but also committed a team-high six turnovers. Offensively the Red Foxes have been terrible throughout the season, as the team is netting a meager 56.4 ppg, behind a lackluster 38.9 percent shooting effort. Candon Rusin is currently pacing the team at the offensive end of the floor, but he is averaging just 9.8 ppg.

The Saints put forth a strong effort in their last contest, as they shot 55.4 percent from the floor, en route to an easy win over Rider. Edwin Ubiles led the way with 21 points, while Ryan Rossiter tallied a double-double of 14 points and 13 rebounds. Clarence Jackson tallied 16 points for Siena, while Alex Franklin helped out with 12 points. Franklin has been the best player on the floor for Siena, as the forward is netting 15.8 ppg, to go along with 7.6 rpg. Ubiles is posting 15.0 ppg, while Rossiter is netting 14.3 ppg, to go along with a team-best 10.8 rpg. As a whole, the Saints have been a dangerous bunch offensively and come into this contest netting 75.6 ppg, behind a 46.5 percent shooting effort.

Clearly the Saints are the better team in this matchup and should have no trouble getting past Marist.

Predicted Outcome: Siena 96, Marist 50

 

[Lumi]

Weber State (19-8) at Portland State (11-17)

Weber State (19-8) at Portland State (11-17)

Weber State (19-8) at Portland State (11-17)


DATE & TIME: Sunday, February 28th, 4:05 p.m. (et).

FACTS & STATS: Site: Peter W. Stott Center (1,775) -- Portland, Oregon. Television: CSN, Altitude. Home Record: WSU 12-1, PSU 7-4. Away Record: WSU 5-7, PSU 4-11. Neutral Record: WSU 2-0, PSU 0-2. Conference Record: WSU 13-2, PSU 6-9. Series Record: Weber State leads, 25-9.

GAME NOTES: With the Big Sky Conference regular-season title already taken care of, the Weber State Wildcats now turn their attention to the Portland State Vikings before the league tournament begins.

On Friday night, Weber State posted a resounding 85-57 win against Eastern Washington on the road, the team's fifth straight win and the 10th in the last 11 outings for a squad that is already 13-2 versus the rest of the Big Sky.

As for the Vikings, a group that still has a date with Seattle University on the books for March 2nd, they too won their Friday night game with a 98-63 decision versus Idaho State at home. However, the victory only served to snap what had become a five-game slide and was just the third win for the team since January 16th.

WSU won the first meeting of the season at home last month by a score of 86-83, which means the Wildcats now lead the all-time series by a count of 25-9.

The Wildcats made up for 17 turnovers by shooting 11-of-21 behind the three- point line and 16-of-20 at the charity stripe two nights ago against Eastern Washington on the road. Kyle Bullinger registered a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds, while Damian Lillard was credited with 18 points and seven rebounds, not to mention four steals and three assists. Franklin Session added 16 points and Lindsey Hughey 11 and seven boards for the victorious visitors. A 19.7 ppg scorer overall on the season, Lillard is actually up to 20.7 ppg against the rest of the league, having made 80-of-90 shots at the free-throw line versus Big Sky contenders. Steve Panos (11.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg) is one of the more accurate shooters in the league with his 56.1 percent accuracy, but one can only wonder how much more damage he could have caused had he not gotten into so much foul trouble over the campaign.

If nothing else, the Vikings certainly picked the right time to dial up the offense as they registered the 35-point win against Idaho State just two nights ago. In addition to shooting 51.5 percent from the field and 11-of-23 beyond the arc, the Vikings also forced the visiting Bengals into 22 turnovers on the night. Dominic Waters was credited with 29 points, Melvin Jones came up with 22 and six assists, while Jamie Jones and Chris Harriel stepped in with 15 and 10 points, respectively, as well. Waters, the leading scorer in each of the last four games for PSU, is averaging 19.1 ppg to pace and offense that is generating 78.7 ppg. But the bad news is that Portland State is also giving up 79.6 ppg at the same time, one of the highest averages allowed in all of college basketball. More than just a scorer, Waters has also found time and opportunity to distribute a team-best 135 assists, all while shooting 44.4 percent behind the three-point line.

Portland State, which is the two-time defending Big Sky champion, has already been slotted to finish sixth in the standings, so putting it all on the line in this meeting is not necessary. Besides, it might be wise to hold something back at this stage thinking the teams might meet again in the tourney.

Predicted Outcome: Weber State 75, Portland State 70

 

[Lumi]

Clemson (19-8) at Florida State (20-7)

Clemson (19-8) at Florida State (20-7)

Clemson (19-8) at Florida State (20-7)



DATE & TIME: Sunday, February 28th, 5:30 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Donald L. Tucker Center (12,200) -- Tallahassee, Florida. Television: FSN. Home Record: Clemson 13-2, FSU 12-2. Away Record: Clemson 4-5, FSU 5-5. Neutral Record: Clemson 2-1, FSU 3-0. Conference Record: Clemson 7-6, FSU 8-5. Series Record: Florida State leads, 29-25.

GAME NOTES: The Florida State Seminoles go for their fourth consecutive victory this evening, as they tangle with the Clemson Tigers in an ACC bout at the Tucker Center.

The Seminoles aren't a lock for the NCAA Tournament, but they have helped their cause by winning three straight and four of their past five outings. On Wednesday, FSU defeated North Carolina, 77-67, for its first victory in Chapel Hill since 2000. The Seminoles are now 20-7 overall and in good shape heading into the ACC Tournament.

Clemson meanwhile, still could use another quality win to improve its chances of reaching the Big Dance. On Wednesday, the Tigers' road woes continued, as they suffered an 88-79 defeat at Maryland. The loss snapped a three-game win streak and dropped Clemson to 19-8 overall and just 1-5 on the road in conference play.

As far as the all-time series goes, FSU holds a 29-25 lead over Clemson, although the Tigers notched a 77-67 victory in a meeting earlier this month.

Defense was lacking for Clemson on Wednesday, as it allowed Maryland to shoot 54.2 percent from the floor, including 8-of-13 from long range, in an 88-79 defeat. The Tigers, who actually led 48-39 at the break, were also outscored 16-8 at the foul line. Demontez Stitt scored 15 points in a losing cause, while Trevor Booker registered a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds. Booker is both the team's leading scorer (15.3 ppg) and rebounder (8.3 rpg) on the season and he also has 39 steals to his name. Stitt comes in with 10.8 ppg and he has been responsible for setting up Booker, dishing off a team-high 3.3 apg.

The Seminoles built a 48-33 halftime advantage behind 9-of-15 shooting from long range, and they went on for a 77-67 victory at UNC on Wednesday. FSU went just 2-of-9 from beyond the arc in the second half, but shot a sound 47.4 percent from the floor for the game. Chris Singleton led the charge with 19 points and eight rebounds, while Deividas Dulkys had 17 points on 5-of-11 three-pointers. Solomon Alabi scored just six points due to foul trouble, but he still averages a team-high 12.0 ppg, to go with 6.5 rpg, for the season. Singleton adds 11.0 ppg and he leads the squad with 7.5 rpg and 63 steals.

FSU is playing well at the moment and should be able to continue its surge with another balanced effort this evening.

Predicted Outcome: Florida State 78, Clemson 70

 

[Lumi]

Indiana (9-18) at Iowa (9-19)

Indiana (9-18) at Iowa (9-19)

Indiana (9-18) at Iowa (9-19)


DATE & TIME: Sunday, February 28th, 6:05 p.m. (et).

FACTS & STATS: Site: Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,500) -- Iowa City, Iowa. Television: Big Ten Network. Home Record: Indiana 7-9, Iowa 8-9. Away Record: Indiana 1-6, Iowa 1-8. Neutral Record: Indiana 1-3, Iowa 0-2. Conference Record: Indiana 3-12, Iowa 3-12. Series Record: Indiana leads, 94-70.

GAME NOTES: The Indiana Hoosiers try for just their second true road win of 2009-10 as they challenge the Iowa Hawkeyes in a Big Ten Conference battle in Iowa City this evening.

The Hoosiers and Hawkeyes have both experienced dismal conference efforts this season and are currently tied for ninth place in the standings at 3-12, ahead of only Penn State. Since beating the Nittany Lions back on January 21st by a final of 67-61, the Hoosiers have dropped nine in a row. On Thursday night, the team was crushed by Wisconsin at home in a 78-46 final.

As for the Hawkeyes, they too played three nights ago, hitting the road to take on Northwestern in what turned into a 74-57 setback. The loss was the third straight and the seventh in eight games for the group.

With respect to the all-time series between these two schools on the hardwood, the Hoosiers are ahead by a count of 94-70 at the moment.

The starting five for the Hoosiers was dismal against the Badgers earlier in the week, combining to make just 9-of-33 shots from the floor in the 32-point home loss. It took Derek Elston off the bench to shoot 5-of-6 from the floor to become the lone double-digit scorer for Indiana in the lopsided decision. Elston finished with 12 points and a team-best seven rebounds in his 18 minutes of work. Losing Maurice Creek (16.4 ppg) to knee surgery early in the season took a lot out of the Hoosiers and they've never recovered, even with guys like Verdell Jones and Christian Watford trying to shoulder the additional load with 14.4 and 12.1 ppg, respectively. Watford is also clearing close to six rebounds per game, but that doesn't dismiss the fact that he has but 15 assists and 62 turnovers thus far.

Iowa turned the ball over 14 times against Northwestern earlier this week at Welsh-Ryan Arena, and the Wildcats traded in those miscues for 22 points as the home team cruised to the win over the Hawkeyes. Matt Gatens led the way for Iowa with his 15 points, eight rebounds and four assists, but he also shot just 4-of-13 from the floor and missed all six of his three-point tries. Cully Payne chipped in 10 points as one of three players to make one three-point basket on the night. Over the course of 28 games this season Gatens leads the group in scoring with his 12.3 ppg and is second in assists and steals with 95 and 26, respectively. However, Gatens is by no means a clutch shooter with his accuracy from the floor sitting at just 36.7 percent at the moment. With Anthony Tucker (11.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg) now unavailable because of disciplinary issues, Gatens is the lone double-digit scorer on a team that is posting only 61.4 ppg in 2009-10.

The first meeting of the season between these teams amounted to a combined 101 points, so with such limited fire power it could easily be in that neighborhood once again.

Predicted Outcome: Iowa 57, Indiana 53

 

[Lumi]

(5) Duke (24-4) at Virginia (14-12)

(5) Duke (24-4) at Virginia (14-12)

(5) Duke (24-4) at Virginia (14-12)



FACTS & STATS: Site: John Paul Jones Arena (15,219) -- Charlottesville, Virginia. Television: FSN. Home Record: Duke 16-0, Virginia 11-4. Away Record: Duke 4-4, Virginia 3-7. Neutral Record: Duke 4-0, Virginia 0-1. Conference Record: Duke 11-2, Virginia 5-8. Series Record: Duke leads, 110-48.

GAME NOTES: The fifth-ranked Duke Blue Devils continue their quest for the ACC regular season title and top seed in the NCAA Tournament, but they must avoid an upset tonight as they take on the Virginia Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville.

Duke took a break from league play on Thursday to post a 70-52 decision over Tulsa. The Blue Devils are 24-4 overall, and they remain atop the ACC standings with an 11-2 record. Maryland is the only team with a realistic shot of denying Duke the outright regular season crown, and those teams will meet on Wednesday in a much-anticipated showdown.

As for Virginia, it has lost six consecutive outings after a promising ACC start. The Cavaliers are now 5-8 in the league, overshadowing a respectable 14-12 overall record. On Tuesday, the club dropped a 74-62 decision to Miami on the road.

Duke owns a commanding 110-48 series lead over Virginia, which includes three straight wins over the Cavaliers.

Duke is not a deep team by any means, as the squad only has three players averaging more than 5.8 ppg. Fortunately, the club does possess one of the nation's truly elite trios. Jon Scheyer leads the group with 18.8 ppg, and the ACC Player of the Year candidate also contributes 5.4 apg. Nolan Smith checks in with 17.9 ppg, and Kyle Singler adds 16.9 ppg and 7.2 rpg. The Blue Devils are generating 79.7 ppg through 28 outings while limiting opponents to 62.1 ppg on 40.5 percent shooting. Duke connected on only 34.9 percent of its field goal attempts against Tulsa on Thursday, but the Blue Devils did earn a 47-37 rebounding advantage and limited the Golden Hurricane to 32.8 percent shooting. The fact that Coach K's club only committed five turnovers also contributed to the win. The "big three" played well as usual, and Smith led the way with 18 points.

Sylven Landesberg is the only player to start all 26 games for Virginia this season, and he is averaging 17.4 ppg to go along with his team-high 74 assists. Mike Scott contributes 12.8 ppg and 7.2 rpg for the Cavaliers, who are netting 67.0 ppg while allowing 63.2 ppg. Virginia only shot 35.1 percent from the floor against Miami last time out, and the club was also outrebounded by a 39-31 margin. The Cavs only trailed by one point at intermission, but they were completely ineffective at the offensive end in the second half. Landesberg did all he could to keep his team close, as he nailed 6-of-8 three- pointers and tallied 27 points. Jerome Meyinsse added 13 points in the setback, and Jeff Jones scored 11 points. Scott missed all seven of his shots and didn't register a single point.

There is no reason to believe that Duke will slip up tonight. This team has a veteran nucleus that is too wise to look past the Cavs and on to the Maryland game.

Predicted Outcome: Duke 79, Virginia 66