After playing the past four games on the road, the Mount Union men's basketball team returns to the McPherson Academic and Athletic Complex in Alliance for the first time in over three weeks when it hosts Heidelberg Saturday afternoon at 3 pm. The Purple Raiders went 3-1 during their recent four-game road trip that included a pair of Ohio Athletic Conference contests at Ohio Northern and Baldwin-Wallace.
The game will feature two teams who have played much better since the New Year. Mount Union (6-8, 2-5) has won three of four games in 2012, with a 49-47 win at Baldwin-Wallace in their most recent game. The 'Berg (5-9, 3-4) has won two of three games in 2012, with a 76-60 win at Otterbein in their most recent game.
After an 0-5 start in OAC play, Mount Union is on a two-game conference winning streak. While they are one game out of eight place in the conference, they are just two games out of fourth place. The Raiders are scoring 68.4 points per game, thanks in part to the long ball. They rank second in the conference in three-pointers per game (8.62) and three-point field goal percentage (.361). On defense the Raiders are allowing opponents to score 67.1 points per game and rank second in the conference in field goal percentage defense (.422).
Senior forward Jimmy Wood (Wintersville/Indian Creek) leads the OAC in scoring (19.9) and three-pointers (38) and is fourth in three-point field goal percentage (.432). Wood, who has a pair of double-doubles on the season, also leads the Raiders with 6.1 rebounds per game.
The freshmen duo of Nate Jacubec (Struthers/Struthers) and Stevie Griffin (Canton/Massillon Jackson) has combined to score 26.0 points per game since the New Year. Jacubec is the team's second-leading scorer at 10.9 points per game and is shooting 82.2-percent from the free throw line to rank second in the conference. Griffin is third on the team in scoring (8.8) and is shooting a conference-best 46.8-percent on three-pointers. He has become the go-to player for the Raiders down the stretch, scoring the go-ahead points in each of the past two games.
Junior point guard Justen Little (Galion/Galion) is second in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio (5.0) and second in the conference with 3.6 assists per game. Against Ohio Northern, Little posted career marks in points (7), rebounds (7), and steals (3) while dishing out five assists.
Guards Keith Williams (Louisville, Ky./Brown), T.J. Gillespie (Toledo/St. John's) and Clayton Patton (Bolivar/Tuscarawas Valley) and forwards Matt Kiger (Williamstown, W. Va./Williamstown), Matt Wier (New Castle, Pa./Mohawk), and Jimmy Darnley (Canton/GlenOak) have also been in the rotation for the Raiders.
Heidelberg is fourth in the OAC in scoring at 72.8 points per game, but allows opponents to score a league-worst 76.5 points per game. They are also last in the conference in field goal percentage defense (.467), three-point field goal percentage defense (.398), three-point field goal percentage (.268), turnovers (16.8)
The Student Princes have lengthened their rotation in recent games, with 17 players seeing action against Otterbein. The 'Berg is among the tallest teams in the conference with a roster that features eight players 6-5 or taller.
Guard Dane Givner leads the way for Heidelberg with team-best averages of 12.8 points and 3.3 assists. The frontcourt duo of Victor Fortkamp (6-8) and Nate Davis (6-5) will present a challenge inside. Fortkamp is averaging 11.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per game while shooting 57.8-percent from the field. Davis ranks 21st in the nation in blocked shots (2.2) and third in the conference in rebounding (8.4). He also scores 10.6 points per game on 57.6-percent shooting,
Re-writing the Record Books
Senior Jimmy Wood became the 26th player in school history to score 1,000 career points, reaching the milestone against Wilmington on December 17th. Wood currently ranks 19th on the school's career scoring list with 1,100 career points and needs 15 points to surpass Ken Rector for 18th place. He scored 13 points in the Purple Raiders' 49-47 win over Baldwin-Wallace on Wednesday. At his current pace, Wood will end his career as one of the top ten scorers in school history.
While the scoring record is out of reach for Wood, there are a few records that he has a chance to break. The records for most consecutive games played and three-point field goals in a season could fall by season's end.
The Raiders have tied a pair of school records this season. They made 13 three-pointers in back-to-back games against Immaculata (Pa.) and Lycoming (Pa.), tying the school record set against Baldwin-Wallace during the 1996-97 season. Their 33 three-point field goal attempts Tuesday against Lycoming set the school record set in the season-opener against Hiram.
At the halfway-point of the season, the Raiders are on pace to destroy the record for most three-pointers in a season. The current record, set during the 2008-09 season, is 189 and the Raiders have made 116 already this season.
Raiders Rank Among Nation's Best
Mount Union has a player among the top 100 nationally in four statistical categories this season.
Last Meeting
Mount Union led 39-34 halftime and led the entire second half in pulling out a 74-67 victory in Alliance. Heidelberg was able to cut the lead to a single point at 55-54, but the Raiders finished the game on a 19-13 run.
Jimmy Wood had a game-high 24 points and grabbed eight rebounds while Dave Pellerite added 23 points and grabbed a game-high nine rebounds to lead the way for Mount Union. Matt Wier added nine points, four rebounds, and five steals.
Dane Givner led The 'Berg with 19 points and seven rebounds. Victor Fortkamp added 14 points and Darion Capers scored 13 points off the bench.
Projected Mount Union Starters
- #32 Stevie Griffin, 6-3, Fr., G – 8.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg, .468 3FG%
- #4 Jimmy Wood, 6-6, Sr., F – 19.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg, .432 3FG %
- #45 Matt Kiger, 6-5, Jr., C – 5.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg
- #20 Nate Jacubec, 5-11, Fr., G – 10.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.1 apg
- #3 Justen Little, 5-11, Jr., G – 1.8 ppg, 3.6 apg, 2.6 rpg
Projected Heidelberg Starters
- #33 Bryan Crawford, 6-5, Fr., G – 1.7 ppg
- #40 Nate Davis, 6-5, Jr., F – 10.6 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 2.2 bpg
- #25 Victor Fortkamp, 6-8, So., C – 11.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg
- #2 Dane Givner, 6-3, Jr., G – 12.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 3.3 apg
- #10 Lee Renner, 6-0, So., G – 6.3 ppg
Coaches
Mike Fuline (Kent State '98) is in his first season 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. Fuline has the Purple Raiders off to a 6-8 start.
Anthony Gholson (Ohio Northern '88) has a 40-55 record in his fourth season at Heidelberg. Gholson came to Heidelberg after four seasons as an assistant coach at Ohio Northern, where he was a member of the school's NCAA Tournament team in 1988. He had previous head coaching experience at Columbus State Community College, where he led the Cougars to an 86-36 record over four seasons.
The Series
This will be the 64th meeting all-time between with Mount Union holding a narrow 32-31 advantage in the series. The Purple Raiders swept the season series a year ago.
Up Next
Mount Union will resume its January tour of the OAC with three straight road games at Marietta, Otterbein, and John Carroll. The Raiders will play their next home game on January 28th against Capital.
Mount Union Player Notes
Tom Berlekamp - Jr., F, North Royalton/Holy Name
- Played and started in 7 games this season
- Averaging 2.6 ppg and 5.7 rpg
- Season-high/career -high in points (7), rebounds (14), and assists (4) vs. Grove City (11/18/11)
- Season-high/career -high 5 steals at Geneva (11/19/11)
- Transferred from Lakeland Community College
Jimmy Darnley - So., F, Canton/GlenOak
- Averaging 6.1 mpg in eight games off the bench
- Career-high 5 points at Ohio Northern (2/12/11)
- Career-high 4 rebounds vs. Wilmington (2/5/11)
T.J. Gillespie - So., G, Toledo/St. John's
- Averaging 6.4 ppg
- Scored 14 points at Lycoming last Tuesday (1/3/12)
- Has scored in double-figures three times this season
- Missed two games earlier in the season due to an injury
- Season-high 19 points vs. Grove City (11/18/11)
- Career-high 20 points vs. Ohio Northern (1/8/11)
- Career-high 5 assists vs. Otterbein (1/22/11)
Stevie Griffin - Fr., F, Canton/Massillon Jackson
- Third on team in scoring (8.8) and three-pointers (22)
- Has scored in double-figures five times this season
- Scored the go-ahead points in the last two games against Ohio Northern and Baldwin-Wallace
- Coaches vs. Cancer Tip-Off Tournament MVP
- Season-high/career -high 22 points and 6 three-pointers off the bench at Geneva (11/19/11)
- Season-high/career -high 8 rebounds and 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 - Fr., G, Struthers/Struthers
- Second on team in scoring (10.9), three-pointers (24) and assists (30)
- Has scored in double-figures nine times this season
- Matched season-high/career -high with 17 points at Lycoming (1/3/12)
- Season-high/career -high 4 three-pointers at Lycoming (1/3/12)
- Season-high/career -high 8 rebounds vs. Wilmington (12/17/11)
- Matched season-high/career -high with 5 assists at Lycoming (1/3/12)
Matt Kiger - Jr., F, Williamstown, W.Va./Williamstown
- Averaging 5.4 ppg and 3.1 rpg
- Leads the team in field goal percentage (.692)
- Has started the past five games after coming off the bench in the first nine
- Season-high 11 points three times, most recently vs. Muskingum (12/21/11)
- Season-high 6 rebounds at Waynesburg (11/26/11) and vs. Muskingum (12/21/11)
- Career-high 20 points at Otterbein (12/4/10) and vs. Waynesburg (12/30/10)
- Career-high 9 rebounds vs. Waynesburg (12/30/10)
Justen Little - Jr., G, Galion/Galion
- Second in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio (5.2)
- Ranks second in the conference in assists (3.6)
- Season-high/career -high 7 points at Ohio Northern (1/7/12)
- Season-high/career -high 7 rebounds at Ohio Northern (1/7/12)
- Season-high/career -high 7 assists vs. Otterbein (12/3/11) and vs. Wilmington (12/17/11)
Clayton Patton - Fr., G, Bolivar/Tuscarawas Valley
- Averaging 4.7 ppg in 10.5 mpg
- Scored 10 points at Lycoming (1/3/12), reaching double-figures for the second time this season
- Made first career start vs. Muskingum (12/21/11)
- Season-high/career -high 11 points at Capital (12/10/11)
Colton Troyer - Jr., F, Millersburg/Berlin Hiland
- Averaging 6.2 mpg in eight games off the bench
- Transferred from Hesston College (Kan.)
Matt Wier - Sr., F, New Castle, Pa./Mohawk
- Averaging 5.6 ppg and 4.1 rpg
- Season-high 19 points vs. Hiram (11/15/11)
- Career-high 28 points vs. Ohio Northern (12/12/09)
- Career-high 9 rebounds at Hiram (11/15/10), vs. Waynesburg (12/30/10), and vs. Hiram (11/15/11)
- Played one season on a baseball scholarship at West Virginia
Jimmy Wood - Sr., F, Wintersville/Indian Creek
- Leads the conference in scoring (19.9)
- Leads the team in rebounding (6.1) and 3-pointers (38)
- Has scored 20+ points seven times this season
- Ranks 19th on school's all-time scoring list with 1,100 career points
- Scored 1,000th career point on three-pointer to go ahead by 2 points with less than a minute remaining in regulation vs. Wilmington (12/17/11)
- Recorded third career double-double with 29 points and career-high 16 rebounds vs. Immaculata (1/22/12)
- Set Louis Fleming Basinger Memorial Tournament scoring record with 29 points against Immaculata (1/22/12) and was named to the all-tournament team
- Season-high/career -high 32 points vs. Wilmington (12/17/11)
- Season-high/career -high 16 rebounds vs. Immaculata (1/22/12)
- Father, Jim, played basketball at Georgia Tech
