The Wilmington College men’s basketball team travels to Defiance 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, looking to extend its winning streak to three games. It will be the home opener for the Yellow Jackets.
Defiance has claimed 27 of the 37 meetings between the two schools, but the Fightin’ Quakers have won four straight and five of the last six. The last meeting was the 2007 season opener and WC was victorious, 59-57.
Defiance comes into the game looking for its first win of the season after falling to Ohio Northern, 93-51, eight days ago.
The Yellow Jackets were held to just 28.6 percent shooting (20-of-70), including just 25.8 percent (8-of-31) from three-point range in the loss to ONU. Junior Jonathan Ragland led the team with 11 points and is averaging 7.3 points per game.
Senior guard Michael Parker is the team’s leading scorer with 9.3 points per game. After opening the season with 16 points in a loss to Trine, Parker scored 12 points total in the next two games.
Senior guard Chris Holmes (4.3) and freshman guard Devon Beale (4.0) are the team’s leading rebounders.
The Yellow Jackets are allowing 86.3 points, while scoring just 58.7 points.
NATIONALLY RANKED: In the first NCAA rankings released Monday, Wilmington ranks second nationally in turnover margin (9.3) and fifth in forced turnovers (24.75). The Fightin’ Quakers are also 15th in steals (12.0) and 19th in assists (20.0).
Freshman Noah Chatman is third national in field goal percentage, converting 78.8 percent (26-of-33) of his shots. Chatman did most of his damage against Rhodes, shooting 14-of-16 for 30 points. The 14 made field goals were the most by any player in Wilmington’s NCAA-era.
DOUBLE FIGURES: Wilmington enters the game with two players averaging more than 10 points, led by sophomore Andrew Russell (15.0 ppg). The forward was the team’s leading scorer in three of the four games.
Chatman is second on the team with 13.8 points and junior Christian Jones is third with 9.3 points per game.
WE ROLL DEEP: Wilmington’s rotation features 11 players that are averaging double digit minutes per game. In addition, no player is playing more than 23 minutes. In contrast, three players averaged more than 25 minutes last year.
JUMPMAN: The two-time dunk champion Kevin Lewis is using his jumping ability to lead the team with 6.8 rebounds. He is coming off his first career double-double with 13 points and a career-high 12 boards in the win over Berea Sunday.
