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The Plot: The latest edition of the
Upstate Challenge features two clubs with identical records that are trying to make one big final push towards the
Northeast-10 Conference Championship Tournament.
Last Time Out: Franklin Pierce shot 51.9 percent (28-for-54) from the floor, including 62.5 percent (15-for-24) in the second half, and buried nine 3-pointers to walk away with a 78-65 victory against host Saint Rose Saturday afternoon. Freshman forward
Tyler Sayre led the Golden Knights in scoring for the third time in the last four games with 18 points, on 8-for-12 shooting, and eight rebounds. He was thus honored as the Capital District Chapter of the Alumni Association Player of the Game as part of the annual Alumni Chapter Day festivities. Furthermore, junior center
Dominykas Milka wound up with 17 points and eight boards as well, while freshman forward
Chris Dorgler had 11 points and three steals throughout 27 minutes of reserve duty. Sophomore forward Ryen Vilmont wound up 5-for-8 from the arc on the way to a game-high 25 points for the Ravens.
Last Meeting: Senior guard
Andre Pope hit a layup at the buzzer to lift Saint Rose to a 68-66 victory at Le Moyne back on November 20. The Golden Knights rallied from an 11 point halftime deficit by holding the Dolphins to 29.6 percent (8-for-27) shooting from the floor throughout the second half. Junior guard
Dan Mundweiler scored 13 of his team-high 21 points in the second half and handed out three assists to pace Saint Rose. Sayre wound up with 11 points while Milka finished with nine points, eight rebounds and three steals. Pope had nine points as did Dorgler who also pulled down five rebounds in 23 minutes off the bench. For Le Moyne, junior forward Brian Zapisek tossed in a game-high 24 points thanks to 5-for-6 shooting from 3-point territory while junior guard Nate Champion wound up with 15.
The Series (Saint Rose 22-6) Saint Rose leads the all-time series that dates back to the 1991-92 campaign by a 22-6 margin. The Golden Knights have won four of the last five meetings although the squads have split the last two contests on this floor.
Scouting Saint Rose (10-9/7-8 NE-10): The Golden Knights have rebounded from five halftime deficits this season. They own a +2.7 turnover margin throughout their 10 victories, but stand at -1.3 in that category throughout their nine setbacks. Saint Rose owns a five, a two, and three-game win streak to account for its 10 victories this season. Milka was named to the Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-District I team last week. He owns a 3.57 GPA as an accounting major and is the only player among the league's top-five in both scoring (17.3) and rebounding (11.7). Milka also owns four of the conference's top-five single-game rebounding performances this season and leads the country in rebounding average. He is also second with 12 “double-doubles”. Furthermore, Milka pulled down his 500th career board last Wednesday, thus becoming one of 18 players in Saint Rose annals to reach that mark. Dorgler has been in double-figures scoring in two of the last three games. He is averaging 9.3 points in 22.0 minutes off the bench during that span.
Scouting Le Moyne (10-9/7-8 NE-10) Le Moyne has won two straight following Saturday's 72-60 triumph against visiting Saint Michael's. The Dolphins are holding opponents to 40.6 percent (440-for-1085) shooting from the floor, third best in the NE-10. Janson, out of nearby Scotia, leads the team with 13.9 points and 6.4 rebounds per-game. Meanwhile, his 1.7 block average ties him for fifth among the NE-10 leaders. Zapisek is also averaging double-figures with an 11.7 scoring average.
Sports Bingo: Sports Bingo returns tonight. The first 150 to sign up are eligible. Sports Bingo combines the simplicity of bingo along with the sophistication that no two cards are alike. Thus, competitors are not only able to enjoy the experience, but will learn more about the game of basketball itself. There are 24 basketball events on each playing card; the center spot is free, that each competitor must mark off as they occur throughout the game. The first competitor to get bingo wins and is thus eligible for prizes.
Upstate Challenge: The second annual “Upstate Challenge” resumes tonight between Saint Rose and Le Moyne. The “Upstate Challenge” is a rivalry series that utilizes a system that awards one point to the sports program that wins the season series. If a sports team competes only once during the regular season, the winner of the single game is awarded one point. In the case where teams compete multiple times during the regular season, a point is awarded to the team winning the overall series. When a series is split, one half-point is awarded. When teams only meet during the NE-10 Championship, the team with the highest finish is awarded one point. Collectively, the two institutions that have numerous commonalities will square off in 14 sports in which they compete head-to-head in the regular season or during the NE-10 Championship. The winner of the series will be awarded the “Upstate Challenge” trophy for the 2012-13 academic year. Saint Rose, which won last year's inaugural challenge, currently owns a 5.5 points - 3.5 points lead in this year's competition.
Athletics Recognition Night: Several Saint Rose student-athletes will be recognized at halftime of tonight's game in recognition of our their outstanding athletic performances throughout the previous year.
Up Next: Both teams have 3:30 pm conference dates on tap for Saturday. The Golden Knights will meet Southern Connecticut State in New Haven, while the Dolphins will entertain Assumption in Syracuse.
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