RSC Men's Basketball Weekly Report -- Week 5 -- Jan. 4, 2017 #RSCMBB #RSC
FLORENCE, Ky. -- The River States Conference Men's Basketball Weekly Report took a week off after Christmas with not much game action on the schedule. But this week's edition checks in for Week 5 getting you updated on the resumption of conference play. Look for this weekly feature at RiverStatesConference.com
OFF AND RUNNING
The calendar has turned to 2017, and with that came the resumption of conference play last night on Tuesday, Jan. 3. There were four RSC games last night to tipoff seven weeks of mostly nothing but conference games for RSC teams. There are plenty more conference matchups coming up this weekend with nine games on tap Friday and Saturday as we get going with a busy week to start the second semester.
JAN. 3 RECAP
No. 10 IU East 93, Asbury 81 -- Guard Jaylen McKay scored 25 points to lead four starters in double figures as No. 10 IU East took over first place in the RSC East Division at 4-1 conference. Trenton Thompson had 20 to lead Asbury, which is 2-3 RSC and tied for fourth in the RSC West.
IU Kokomo 104, Carlow 90 -- IU Kokomo upped its conference record to 4-1 led by Trent Elliott's 24 points in the win over Carlow. The Cougars kept control of second place in the RSC West. Carlow fell to 1-3 RSC despite five starters in double digits.
CCU 112, Point Park 83 -- Jadon White scored 29 points and made 7 of 10 treys to power CCU past Point Park. CCU had three starters with 20+ points. Point Park was dealt its first conference loss and is tied for second in the RSC East at 3-1 while CCU took control of third place in the RSC West at 3-2 RSC.
Ohio Christian 91, Alice Lloyd 63 -- Marquis Jackson put up 20 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists as OCU routed at Alice Lloyd. The Trailblazers built a 48-28 lead at the half. Alice Lloyd was held to 27 percent field goals. OCU got its first RSC win at 1-3 RSC, and ALC is now 2-3 conference.
Lindsey Wilson 90, Brescia 87 (non-conference) -- Brescia took Lindsey Wilson to the wire but fell just short. Dillon Geralds had 21 points, and Kayode Daboiku posted 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Bearcats, who came back from a 45-31 halftime deficit.
Davis & Elkins 84, WVU Tech 72 (non-conference) -- WVU Tech fell at NCAA Division II D&E despite being down just one at the half, 37-36. Ryan Atkins led the Bears with 16 points. WVU Tech is 3-1 RSC after picking a win over No. 10 IU East in its last conference game Dec. 17.
NAIA DII TOP 25 POLL
The NAIA Division II Top 25 Poll took a break for the end of the semester and will return with next Tuesday, Jan. 10. In the last poll released Dec. 13, the River States Conference was represented with two teams in the Top 20 -- No. 10 IU East and No. 18 IU Southeast.
Since that last poll, IU East has increased its overall record to 13-5, which includes a win over No. 2 St. Francis (Ind.), 89-85, on Dec. 22 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, home of the Indiana Pacers. The Red Wolves had a tough road game at No. 17 Washington Adventist (13-2) but lost by four, 73-69, on Dec. 29.
IU Southeast is 10-3 overall with all three losses coming to NAIA Division I teams including No. 2 Georgetown (Ky.) and No. 20 Cumberlands. The Grenadiers' defense leads the country in field-goal percentage allowed and blocks.
ON TAP THIS WEEKEND
There are three games Friday and six more on Saturday on the first weekend of the New Year. Just like Tuesday's matchups, this weekend's games all feature an RSC West team versus an RSC East team. No. 18 IU Southeast at WVU Tech is a top matchup on Friday night at 8 p.m. The day gets started with Brescia at Rio Grande and Midway at Point Park.
Saturday has six RSC games with 12 of the 13 conference teams in action. IU Kokomo at Point Park tips things off at 2 p.m. Two more games tip at 3 p.m. and three more at 4 p.m. CCU has the weekend off. Check RiverStatesConference.com.com for the full schedule.
RSC LEADERS
The RSC has four players averaging 20+ points per game. OCU's Marquis Jackson leads with 23.6 ppg followed by Ryan Atkins (WVUT) 22.1 ppg; Trent Elliott (IUK) 21.4 ppg and Trenton Thompson (AU) 20.5 ppg. Jackson also leads the conference in assists at 5.6 apg. IU East's Aaron Thomas is the RSC rebounding leader at 9.6 rpg.
Asbury continues to lead the nation in scoring offense per game at 109.6 ppg. The Eagles lead the nation in six categories, including 3-pointers made per game, steals and offensive rebounds per game. IU Southeast leads the nation in field-goal defense at .368. WVU Tech is second nationally in rebounding with 45.2 rpg.
FOLLOW THE RSC
Follow River States Conference Men's Basketball online at RiverStatesConference.com for updates on results, standings and news throughout the year. Follow the conference on Twitter @RiverStatesConf hashtags #RSCMBB and #RSC. Like the conference on Facebook.com/RiverStatesConference.