FULL NOTES IN PDF

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Ohio Dominican men's basketball team will face the top two teams in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference standings this week by welcoming Malone and traveling to Walsh.

The Panthers host the Pioneers at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 13. After one game at home, ODU heads back on the road to face Walsh at 3 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 15. 

OPENING TIP-OFF

• Ohio Dominican is set to return to action after 10 days off. 
• The Panthers have won three of their last four outings, including a 56-51 triumph at Trevecca last time out at Jan. 3.
• Defense has been key as ODU has held its last four opponents to 64.3 points per game. 
• A pair of guards in Zach Szul (Waterville, Ohio) and Alek West (Sylvania, Ohio) have led the way during the stretch, combining for 29.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, 10.0 assists and 3.3 steals over the last four games.
• Szul has led ODU in scoring in both January games played, 17 and 19 points, and is third on the team at 10.7 points per contest this season. 
• Szul has also paced the Panthers in rebounding the last two times out, raising his season average to 4.2.
• West is the only player averaging at least 14 points, five rebounds and five assists in the G-MAC this winter, posting marks of 14.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and a G-MAC leading 5.0 assists per game.
• Brandon Gibson (Dayton, Ohio) earned his first two starts of the season during the Southern Swing to open January, averaging 30 minutes per game.
• ODU has made double-digit three-pointers in four of the past seven games, raising its season make average to 8.6 per game.
• The Panthers are looking for their first wins vs. MU and WU in the Kelly Winter era.

SCOUTING MALONE

• Malone is building off a successful 2020-21 campaign, one which saw the Pioneers claim their first G-MAC Tournament championship and NCAA Division II National Tournament appearance. 
• Despite a loss to nationally-ranked Hillsdale last time out, MU is 10-4 this winter and in a tie for second place in the G-MAC standings at 5-2.
• The Pioneers are 9-0 at home, but are just 1-4 in true road games, with the lone win coming at Lake Erie, 82-80 in overtime, on Dec. 4.
• Four players are averaging double figures for MU, who is tallying 84.5 points per game, tops in the G-MAC.
• Bryce Butler leads three Pioneers in the top seven of the G-MAC's season scoring list at 17.9 points per game. Butler is adding 5.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. 
• Bo Myers is one of just three players for MU to start all 14 games this season, as he is producing 17.1 points per game on 51.8 percent shooting.
• Justin Miller is pitching in 15.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game.

SCOUTING WALSH

• Despite receiving its lowest G-MAC preseason ranking in program history, sixth, Walsh sits atop the conference standings midway through January at 5-1.
• The Cavaliers are 9-3 overall and have won four straight, including a 76-52 road win at nationally-ranked Hillsdale on Jan. 6. 
• Walsh has won five consecutive home games as well after dropping its home opener to Division III Carnegie Mellon on Nov. 17. 
• The Cavs are averaging 82.5 points per game at home, six points higher than their season average. 
• Walsh is third in the G-MAC in scoring defense, allowing just 66.7 points per contest.
• Garrison Keeslar paces the Cavalier attack, ranking top seven in the G-MAC in scoring (15.6) and rebounding (8.1) averages. 
• Keeslar has three 20-plus point games and a trio of 10-plus rebounds performances. 
• Darryl Straughter is fifth among active Division II players with 1,876 career points.
• Straughter is averaging 14.5 points this year.

Contact: Tyler Jester

jestert@ohiodominican.edu