NOON CT | Cumberlands (KY) @ Johnson (TN)
We have a lot of basketball to still be played, but it’s not too early to talk about big games for seeding and “bubble” talk! We currently have Cumberlands on the “in” line! They are talented team who went thru a bit of a rut midway thru 1st semester. They could really use this tough road win today though! Johnson comes into this game on a two game losing streak after dropping a pair of games in Florida before the Holidays. This is their last non-conf game of the season. As a current “bubble” team that is on the “out” line, a big non-conference win can help boost their resume! This should be a game with plenty of pace and points. Cumberlands is currently sitting at 3rd in the NAIA and Johnson 30th in ppg! For Johnson, it’s Torris Woods (16.5) and Mason Lockhart (14.8) who pace 5 Lions who average double figures on the season! For Cumberlands, it’s Anthony Johnson (22.5) and Matthew Comer (16.5) who lead the way for this high powered Patriot offense!
4:00pm CT | No. 25 Graceland (IA) @ No. 12 Baker (KS)
A Top 25 showdown inside the Heart of America as the Top 2 teams in the league go head to head in Baldwin, KS! While these are the top two scoring offenses in the Heart, they both are averaging less than 84ppg! We really love both of these teams! Graceland, after losing the Heart of Americas leading scorer, Siddiq Canty, has really leaned on the big fella, Cole Bowen! Cole has turned himself into one of the better bigs in the country as he averages 16.1pog/10.1rpg. Cole leads the Heart in RPG and FG%! For Baker, it’s Quentin Harvey (15.5) and Noah Rigatuso (14.1) that lead the way for the Wildcats. Ty Henry and Kaimen Lennox, though have both super efficient ad they are currently 2nd and 3rd in the league, behind Cole Bowen, in FG%! Baker has been so good, all season, especially at home. This game is big for both teams, as they fight towards a Heart Title!
7:45pm CT | Concordia (NE) @ Dakota Wesleyan (SD)
We currently have both of these teams “IN”, but this is a big game inside the Corn Palace this evening! Not only to try and keep pace with the top of the league, but also because wins like this, if it comes down to it, can be big if either slides to the “bubble” line. Concordia started the season off as a Top 10 team. They had some tricky scheduling early, that in our opinion, for them off to a slow start. They have now finally played 13 games which is on par for the rest of the league. Tristan Smith (19.1ppg/7.1rpg/3.7apg) and Noah Schutte (17.5ppg/7.4rpg/2.7apg) are terrific! Both will go down as two of the best players to wear Bulldog uniforms! Tristan, since entering GPAC play, has even better numbers! For Dakota Wesleyan, Samuel Aslesen is their leading scorer on the season, however in GPAC play it’s really been a balanced attack as they have 4 guys averaging between 10 and 12ppg! Just a half game separates these two teams, so again, BIG game for both!
7:45pm CT | Texas Wesleyan @ Oklahoma City
The RPI wasn’t too kind to the Sooner Athletic Teams, despite the league having some really good non-conference wins. Some of that, is that the league is beating one another up after a crazy league schedule, that had several teams playing 4-5 league games in a 9-10 day span. With just a 28 game allowance, some of the bigger leagues get affected more by the RPI, in the current format of how it is set up! That’s for another day though, right now, teams have to win and Oklahoma City needs to protect home court, especially against a tough Texas Wesleyan team! They are led by Avery Jackson, who can fill up a stat sheet quick! Same with Yorgio Golesis! Clayton Jewell has been a double-double machine! For Texas Wesleyan, Trey Sinegal, the Central Methodist transfer, leads the way over four Rams players averaging double figures! Winner tonight stays within striking distance in the SAC!
