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GAME INFORMATION
Match Up: Lafayette vs. Drexel
Tip: 7:37 p.m. E.S.T.
Site: Easton, Pa.
Arena: Kirby Sports Center (3,500)
Series: Drexel leads 18-15
Radio: WEST-AM 1400, www.lafayette.edu
Commentators: Dick Hammer, Carl Schumacher
TV: Lafayette Sports Network (RCN-4, WBPH-60)
Commentators: Gary Laubach, John Leone, Dan Mowdy
THE STORY LINE: Lafayette returns from a long trip to Tempe, Ariz. where the Leopards ran into a strong Arizona State squad on Saturday. The Leopards are 0-3, their first such start since 1993-94. Tonight, Lafayette opens its 2002-03 home slate against Drexel which is coming off a 73-68 win over Monmouth on Saturday. The game is the first of four home games for Lafayette, the longest homestand of the season.
HOME OPENERS: Tonight's game versus Drexel is the home opener for Lafayette. The Leopards are 70-22 (.761) all-time in home openers, including a record of 23-6 (.793) in Kirby Sports Center. Lafayette has never played Drexel to open the home season. Lafayette has won its last five home openers, beating Cornell in 1997-98, Princeton in 1998-99, Cornell in 1999-00, Albright in 2000-01 and St. Peter's in 2001-2002. Fran O'Hanlon's only loss in a home opener was to Harvard in 1996-97, and he has won six out of seven in his career.
DAVIS EMERGING AS A SCORER: In his junior season, Winston Davis has emerged as one of the Leopards' top scorers. He is averaging 16.0 points per game, contributing 16 at Binghamton, 18 at La Salle and 14 at Arizona State.
A TALE OF TWO HALVES AT ASU: Lafayette's non-conference matchup at Arizona State was definitely a tale of two halves. The Leopards came out slow, shooting just 22 percent in the opening half, while being outrebounded 27-12. The Leopards were outscored 48-17. The second half was a definite contrast as the Leopards outscored Arizona State 45-37 on 40 percent shooting and also held a 22-19 rebounding margin.
COMING UP: After traveling across two time zones and having played three straight road games to open the season, Lafayette is finally getting a chance to play a game on the Kirby Sports Center hardwood. The Leopards host Drexel tonight to begin the Leopards' longest homestand of the season, a four-game stretch that also includes Centenary, and Princeton and concludes with Ursinus on Dec. 17.
ABOUT DREXEL: The Drexel Dragons enter with a 2-1 record, fresh off a 73-68 win at Monmouth on Saturday. Drexel has been playing solid basketball of late, knocking off Penn, 71-62 on Nov. 25. The Dragons' only loss came in their season-opener at Villanova, 73-68, on Nov. 22. Drexel has yet to play a home game and won't until Dec. 23. The program is coming off a tie for third in CAA play and has been picked to finish fourth this season. Senior center Robert Battle is a dominant presence inside the paint for Drexel. He is averaging 13.0 points and 8.7 rebounds per game thus far in 2002-03. Joining Battle in the frontcourt is forward Danny Hinds. Hinds, who has started two games and is averaging 5.3 points and 3.0 rebounds per game, is one of two Lehigh Valley products on the Drexel squad. The Bethlehem native joins sophomore center Steve Showers (New Tripoli, Pa.) on the roster. The Dragons use a four-guard rotation for a three-guard lineup. Senior Eric Schmieder (11.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg) and sophomores Tim Whitworth (7.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg) and Phil Goss (8.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg) have started all three games with relief coming off the bench from sophomore Jeremiah King (10.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg). Drexel is coached by Bruiser Flint who is in his second season as the Dragons' head coach. Flint, a 1987 St. Joseph's graduate, holds a 102-87 career record that includes a five-year stint as the head coach at Massachusetts.
INJURY REPORT (presented by Asst. Athletic Trainer Stephanie Conley): Freshman forward Miran Omanovic injured his ankle in practice on Sunday in Arizona. X-rays revealed a severe sprain and Omanovic is not expected to be available to play on Tuesday night. Winston Davis suffered a bruised thigh at Arizona State but is expected to be available on Tuesday. Sophomore guard Eric Mugavero, who was expected to see increased playing time this season, has been hobbled by severe lower back pain. He has been unable to practice and is out indefinitely.
ON THE SIDELINE: Head coach Fran O'Hanlon (Villanova, 1970) is in his eighth season as the Leopards' mentor. He has twice been named Patriot League Coach of the Year of the Lafayette non-scholarship program and lists two NCAA Tournament appearances and three Patriot League regular-season titles among his credentials. O'Hanlon's career record stands at 110-94, a mark that includes two 20-win seasons.
IN THE HOUSE THAT THE KIRBYS BUILT: Lafayette has enjoyed plenty of success in Kirby Sports Center. Since the building's inaugural season in 1973-74, the Leopards have posted a 254-108 record in 29 seasons. Twenty-three of those seasons have been winning campaigns. In 2001-02, Lafayette went 9-4 with wins over St. Peter's, Cornell, Scranton, Howard, Holy Cross, Bucknell, American, Navy and Lehigh and losses to Marist, Rider, Colgate, Army.
EARLY LEAGUE STATISITCS: Lafayette has several players ranked among the Patriot League leaders at this point in the season. Winston Davis (16.0 ppg) and Justin DeBerry (12.7 ppg) are ranked fifth and ninth, respectively, in scoring. Andrew Pleick is third in assists per game (5.0 apg). Fellow co-captain Mike Farrell is currently the third-best rebounder in the Patriot league with 7.7 rpg. Winston Davis sits fourth in the conference in free throw shooting (91.7%).
ON THE BOARDS: Lafayette has done a solid job on the boards thus far. The Leopards outrebounded their opponents in the first two games, but were outrebounded by a formidable Arizona State frontcourt. Power forward Mike Farrell is leading the way with 7.7 rebounds per game. The Leopards are also getting some rebounding from the backcourt in the persons of Winston Davis (7.3 rpg) and (5.0).
ASCENDING THE CHARTS: With two seasons of collegiate basketball left, Justin DeBerry ranks ninth in career three-point field goals. DeBerry has hit 88 career trifectas. Entering the season, DeBerry ranked sixth in career three-point percentage (.398). If he keeps on pace, DeBerry could move as high as second all-time, and would trail Tyson Whitfield '01 who had 271 career three-pointers.
ON THE RADIO: Today's game can be heard live on WEST-AM 1400, the 66th year of broadcasting Lafayette Athletics. Dick Hammer is in his 35th year of calling the play-by-play for Lafayette men's basketball. Hammer is joined by Carl Schumacher at home games and select road contest and by either Scott Morse (Lafayette Director of Athletic Communications) or Phil LaBella (Lafayette Sports Information Coordinator) on the road.
