Game Preview- Men's Basketball Competes In Defiance Purple And Gold Tournament

2nd - 00:00	1	2	T
Adrian (Mich.) (10-0)	32	41	73
Mount Union (4-7)	24	39	63
Defiance, OH

Adrian (Mich.)	Mount Union
Pts: Sean Gallant - 27	Pts: Jarrett Ruffin - 15
Reb: Sean Gallant - 11	Reb: Jarrett Ruffin - 6
Ast: Darryl Flemister - 5	Ast: Justen Little - 5

Team Statistics	Adrian (Mich.)	Mount Union
Field Goal %	41.2% (28-68 )	41.8% (23-55 )
Rebounds	41	36
Assists	11	13
Turnovers	5	12
Pts off Turnovers	12	6
2nd Chance Pts	21	14
Pts in the Paint	34	18
Fastbreak Pts	8	2
Bench Pts	1	39

full stats

2nd - 00:00	1	2	T
Finlandia (Mich.) (1-11)	37	45	82
Mount Union (5-7)	56	49	105
Defiance, OH

Finlandia (Mich.)	Mount Union
Pts: Dominic Morrow - 16	Pts: Nate Jacubec - 21
Reb: Dominic Morrow - 8	Reb: Nate Jacubec - 6
Ast: Anthony Grandberry - 7	Ast: T.J. Gillespie - 8

Team Statistics	Finlandia (Mich.)	Mount Union
Field Goal %	41.8% (28-67 )	51.6% (32-62 )
Rebounds	35	40
Assists	15	22
Turnovers	13	18
Pts off Turnovers	21	19
2nd Chance Pts	11	14
Pts in the Paint	38	28
Fastbreak Pts	12	14
Bench Pts	27	57

full stats

Mount Union's men's basketball team (4-6, 3-2 OAC) travels to Defiance, Ohio, Saturday (Dec. 29) to compete in the two-day Defiance Purple and Gold Tournament.  The first game the Raiders will face #12 Adrian, Michigan (9-0) with tipoff scheduled for 5:00 pm. 

There will be LIVE STATS for the game.  

In the second game, Mount Union will face either Findlandia (Mich) or Defiance Sunday at 5:00 or 7:00 pm. 

THE SERIES

Mount Union and Adrian faced each other earlier this season on Nov. 28, with the Bulldogs getting the victory 63-48. Freshman Taylor Moore (North Canton/Hoover) led the Raiders with 11 points and 6 rebounds, while Eric Lewis scored a game-high 17 points and six steals. 

The Raiders lead the all-time series between the two schools with a record of 8-2. 

MOUNT UNION

The Raiders are coming off a loss in their last game against Ohio Athletic Conference opponent Baldwin-Wallace 80-71. Sophomore Stevie Griffin (Canton/Massillon Jackson) had a season-high 19 points, while sophomore Nate Jacubec (Struthers/Struthers) had a double-double scoring 15 points and tied a career-high with 10 rebounds. 

Stat Leaders

Points- Nate Jacubec- 14.3

Rebounds- Nate Jacubec- 5.5

Assists- Justen Little- 2.8

Steals- Nate Jacubec- 1.8 

Projected Starters

Justen Little, Sr., G, Galion/Galion - 2.5 ppg, 2.8 apg

Cody Dillon, Fr., G, Newton Falls/Newton Falls – 10.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg

Nate Jacubec, So., G, Struthers/Struthers - 14.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg

Jarrett Ruffin, Fr., F, Northfield/Nordonia – 7.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg

Matt Kiger, Sr., F, Williamstown, W. Va./Williamstown – 8.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg

Mike Fuline (Kent State '98) is 15-21 is in his second season as head coach at Mount Union after a successful career at the high school level that included winning the 2010 OHSAA Division I State Championship at Massillon Jackson.  Prior to coach at Massillon, he was the head coach at Rootstown high school (2003-2005). At Rootstown, his 2003-04 team posted a 16-6 record and won a sectional championship while his 2004-05 team went 20-4, shared the league title and won a district championship. Fuline was named 2004 Ohio's Division III Co-Coach of the Year.

Adrian

Adrian comes into the game with an undefeated record of 9-0 and are currently ranked #12 in the most recent polls (d3hoops.com). In their last game, the Bulldogs defeated Lawrence Tech (Mich) 72-52. 

Projected Starters

Eric Lewis, So., G, Detroit, Mich. / Communications and Media Arts- 17.3 ppg, 3.1 spg

Cody Barnes, Sr., G, Romulus, Mich. / Romulus- 12.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg

Darryl Flemister, Fr., G, Detroit, Mich. / Southeastern- 4.7 ppg, 2.9 rpg

Sean Gallant, Sr., F, Jackson, Mich. / Lumen Christi- 4.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg

Adam Meier, So., F, Kalamazoo, Mich. / Plainwell- 10.9 ppg, 7.1 rpg

COACH

Mark White (Adrian' 88) is in his fourth season as head coach of the Bulldogs. Last season, he led the Bulldogs to a 17-9 overall record and went 9-5, and finished second in the MIAA, which was the best finish since the 1978-79 season. The Bulldogs lost to Hope in the MIAA final, narrowly missing out on the school's first trip to the NCAA tournament.

TEAM STATS COMPARISON

DEFIANCE

Defiance is part of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference, and comes into the Purple and Gold Tournament with a record of 5-4 overall and 2-2 in the HCAC. The Yellow Jackets are currently on a three game win streak with victories over Hanover (75-58), Kalamazoo (72-64), and Franklin (64-60).

STAT LEADERS

Points- Logan Wolrum- 19.9

Rebounds- Ryan Hicks- 6.4

Assists- Logan Wolfrum- 3.0

Steals- Ryan Hicks- 1.2

PROJECTED STARTERS

Logan Wolfrum, Sr., G, Defiance/Ayersville- 19.9 ppg, 6.0 rpg

Ryan Hicks, Jr., G, Port Clinton/Port Clinton- 13.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg

Mason Roth, So., G, McComb/McComb- 6.9 ppg, 1.8 rpg

Travis Shoemaker, So., G, Ottawa/ Ottawa-Glandorf- 7.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg,

Wade Wooley, Fr., F, Wauseon/ Wauseon- 3.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg

COACH

Kyle Brumett (Hanover) is 67-40 in his fifth season as head coach of the Yellow Jackets. His .626 winning percentage is third all-time in school history among coaches with at least 50 victories. His teams are 39-11 Karl H. Weaner Community Center.  

TEAM STATS COMPARISON

FINDLANDIA

Findlandia enters the Purple and Gold Tournament with a 1-9 record and has lost its two games against Calvin (103-62) and College of St. Scholastica (79-68).

STAT LEADERS

Points- Jon Moore- 14.1

Rebounds- Dominic Morrow- 8.5

Assists- Keith Arnold- 5.1

Steals- Jon Moore 1.2

PROJECTED STARTERS

Keith Arnold, Jr., G, Detroit- 14.1 ppg, 5.1 apg

Dylan Schroeder, Fr., G, Brimley- 3.7 ppg, 0.6 rpg

Ben Coleman, Jr., F, Detroit- 6.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg,

Jon Moore, Sr., F, Ecorse- 14.1 ppg- 5.8 rpg

Dominic Morrow, Jr., Fr, Taylor- 8.9 ppg, 8.5 rpg

COACH

Tim Smith (Michigan State '84) is in his second season as head coach of the Yellow Jackets. Smith has been a coach for the last 27 years at every level of basketball in the state of Michigan. Most recently, Smith spent the last three seasons as head coach of Alma. 

TEAM STATS COMPARISON

MOUNT UNION PLAYER NOTES

Jimmy Darnley - Jr., 6-5, F, Canton/GlenOak

• Has played in all 10 games with three starts
• Season-high/ Career-High 6 points vs Heidelberg (12/8/12)
• Season-high/Career-high 8 rebounds vs Westminster (11/17/12)

Cody Dillon - Fr., 6-4, G, Newton Falls/Newton Falls

• Has started all 10 games this season
• Second on the team in scoring (10.1 ppg)
• First on the team in free throw attempts (4.0 attempts/game)
• Season-high/Career-high 21 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists vs Thiel (11/17/12)

T.J. Gillespie - Jr., 5-11, G, Toledo/Toledo St. John's

• Has come off the bench in seven games this season
• Career-high 20 points vs. Ohio Northern (1/8/11)
• Career-high 5 assists vs. Otterbein (1/22/11)

Stevie Griffin - So., F, Canton/Massillon Jackson

• Has played in two games this season
• Scored season-high 19 points against Baldwin Wallace (12/20/12)
• Career-high 22 points and 6 three-pointers off the bench at Geneva (11/19/11)
• Season-high/career-high 8 rebounds vs. Westminster (11/22/11) and at Muskingum (2/1/12)
• Season-high/career-high 4 assists vs. Westminster (11/22/11)
• Played for Coach Fuline and won 2010 OHSAA Division I state title at Massillon Jackson High School

Nate Jacubec - So., 5-11, G, Struthers/Struthers

• Has started all 10 games this season
• Leads team in scoring (14.3 points), rebounds (5.5 rebounds), and steals (1.8 steals)
• Season-high 23 points at John Carroll (12/5/12)
• Season-high/Career-high 10 rebounds at Westminster (11/16/12)
• 2012 OAC Freshman of the Year
• 2012 Buzz Ridl All-Tournament Team
• Career-high 24 points vs Baldwin Wallace (2/24/12)
• Career-high 5 three-pointers at John Carroll (1/25/12) and at Hiram (11/24/12)
• Career-high 7 assists at Hiram (11/24/12)
• Career-high 10 rebounds at Westminster (11/16/12) and at Baldwin Wallace (12/20/12)

Evan Keeslar - Fr., 6-3, G, Uniontown/Green

• Has come off the bench in all 10 games this season
• Season-high/Career-high 10 points at Adrian (11/28/12)
• Season-high/Career-high 5 rebounds, and 2 assists at Hiram (11/24/12)

Matt Kiger - Sr., 6-5, F, Williamstown, W.Va./Williamstown

• Has played in all 10 games with seven starts 
• Season-high 19 points and 7 rebounds vs. Thiel (11/16/12)
• Career-high 20 points at Otterbein (12/4/10) and vs. Waynesburg (12/30/10)
• Career-high 9 rebounds vs. Waynesburg (12/30/10)

Jerrod Lane - Jr., 6-6, F, North Canton/Hoover

• Has come off the bench in eight games this season
• Season-high 5 points vs Heidelberg (12/8/12)
• Season-high 3 rebounds at Westminster (11/16/12)

Justen Little - Sr., 5-10, G, Galion/Galion

• Has started all 10 games this season
• Season-high 11 points at Otterbein (12/15/12)
• First on the team in assists (2.8 apg)
• Tied for second on the team in steals (1.0 spg)
• Season-high 7 assists vs Pitt-Greensburg (11/20/12)
• Career-high 15 points at Heidelberg (2/18/12)
• Career-high 7 rebounds at Ohio Northern (1/7/12)
• Career-high 7 assists three times last vs Pitt-Greensburg (11/20/12)

Taylor Moore - Fr., 6-6, F, North Canton/Hoover

• Has played in all 10 games with one start (vs. Thiel)
• Season-high/career-high 12 points two times, vs Pitt Greensburg (12/20/12 and at John Carroll (12/5/12)
• Second on the team in rebounding (4.3 rpg)
• Had first double-double with season/career-high 12 points and 10 rebounds vs Pitt-Greensburg (11/20/12)

Jarrett Ruffin - Fr., 6-6, F, Northfield/Nordonia

• Has started in nine games this season
• First on the team in blocks (1.6 bpg)
• Season-high/Career-high 20 points and 8 rebounds at Hiram (11/24/12)

Kyle Scelza - Fr., 6-1, G, Stow/Stow

• Has come off the bench in all 10 games
• Second on the team in three pointers made (18)
• Season-high/Career-high 16 points at Hiram (11/24/12)
• Season-high/Career-high 6 rebounds and 4 assists vs Pitt- Greensburg (11/20/12)
• Season-high/Career-high 4 three-pointers vs Pitt-Greensburg (11/20/12) and at Hiram (11/24/12)