The following “Starting Five” points offer a quick look inside GLVC men’s basketball action this week:
STARTING FIVE
[1 | great start to the week]
GLVC men’s basketball has combined for a 9-2 record to start the week, which included season-opening wins for both Missouri S&T and William Jewell. Illinois Springfield earned its first win of the year with an 82-65 result over Illinois College on Monday. The GLVC then went 5-1 on Tuesday, as Drury, Missouri S&T, Missouri-St. Louis, Quincy and William Jewell scored victories. Wednesday’s action saw UIS, S&T and Rockhurst find the win column, while Truman State suffered a 94-83 setback to Lindenwood. For a complete breakdown of this week’s action,
click here.
[2 | inaugural small college basketball hall of fame headlines weekend play]
Headlining this week’s action will be the inaugural Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic held Friday and Saturday at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana. No. 3 Bellarmine and Southern Indiana will compete against a nationally-ranked field that includes second-ranked Lincoln Memorial, No. 5 Alabama-Huntsville, and Kentucky Wesleyan, which is receiving votes outside the NABC poll along with USI. The other participant is Florida Southern, which won the NCAA DII Championship at the Ford Center in 2015.
[3 | three teams join century club]
Three GLVC teams have already managed to eclipse the 100-point mark this season, including Missouri S&T and Missouri-St. Louis, which posted the league’s two highest point totals of the season on Tuesday. The Miners tallied a 104-65 victory over Principia and the Tritons scored a 102-64 win against RMU-Peoria. This past Saturday, Rockhurst became the first GLVC squad to hit 100 points this season with a 101-91 shootout win over Nebraska Wesleyan.
[4 | thirty somethin’]
Southern Indiana sophomore guard Alex Stein netted 36 points in Sunday’s 74-62 victory over Ashland, which marked the Conference’s largest scoring output of the young season. The reigning GLVC Freshman of the Year earned GLVC Player of the Week honors for his efforts. The 36 points came on 12-of-19 shooting with 11 of 12 free-throw attempts converted. The total was the most scored by a GLVC standout since McKendree’s David Franklin recorded 37 points against Illinois Springfield on Feb. 25, 2016.
[5 | flyers looking to continue doubling up]
Heading into Thursday’s regional action, GLVC standouts have posted seven double-doubles this season, including three efforts by three different Lewis Flyers, all in the same game. In Lewis’ 80-75 setback to Michigan Tech on Saturday, Delaney Blaylock went for 24 points and 11 rebounds, while teammate Anthony D’Avanzo registered 11 points and 10 boards, and Cristen Wilson netted 10 points and 13 rebounds. Quincy has staked claim to two of the remaining double-doubles with Evan McGaughey netting 16 points and 13 rebounds against Grand Valley State on Friday and Herm Senor II dishing 13 assists to go along with 15 points against Ferris State on Saturday. UMSL’s Hunter Reine also doubled up Ferris State for 17 points and 17 rebounds on Friday, while Illinois Springfield’s Zach Steinberg went for 16 points and 14 boards against Illinois College on Monday. In regards to Reine’s 17 rebounds, only five players grabbed 17 or more boards last year and his total was the most by a GLVC player since Missouri S&T’s Rokas Paulauskas snatched 18 caroms against UMSL on Feb. 18, 2016.