COLUMBUS - The Ohio Dominican Panthers men's basketball team continues the homestand with conference battles against the two Michigan teams. Ohio Dominican plays host to conference newcomer and former GLIAC school, the Northwood Timberwolves on Thursday (Dec. 8) and then play the nationally ranked Hillsdale Chargers on Saturday (Dec. 10).

GAME NOTES (Games 8-9) (PDF)

OPENING TIPOFF

• Ohio Dominican is in the midst of Great Midwest play and a three-game homestand as they host Northwood and #7/6 Hillsdale on Sunbury Road this week. 
• ODU dropped the first two contests of G-MAC action, falling 65-41 at Walsh on Thursday and 72-56 to Tiffin on Saturday at home. 
• Zach Szul (Waterville, Ohio) led the Panthers with 13 points in North Canton and then added 22 more points against the Dragons. Szul has four straight games of at least ten points and is leading the Panthers with 11.1 points and 3.0 assists per game. 
• Kevin James (Massillon, Ohio) averaged 11.0 points per contest last week with two showings of 11 points each. James is tallying 8.8 points per game with three games of 11 points in his five games played, including one start against Tiffin. 
• Jarius Jones (Gahanna, Ohio) is averaging 10.1 points per game with four double-digit scoring games this season. Jones scored eight points off the bench on Saturday. 
• Marcus Johnson (Columbus, Ohio) turned in a nine-point effort at Walsh and eight points on Saturday, returning to the starting lineup for the first time since Nov. 13 against Wilberforce. 
• The Panthers have played 26 ranked opponents in the Division II era, holding a record of 2-24. ODU is 1-12 at home against ranked teams and is 0-6 against Hillsdale when ranked and teams in the top ten. 
• Meeting for the first time in nearly six years since being members of the GLIAC, Ohio Dominican has a 2-5 record against Northwood. The Timberwolves have won the last five games as ODU is 2-2 in Alumni Hall vs. Northwood. 
• In the Division II series history, ODU and Hillsdale have met 23 times with Hillsdale leading 18-5. The Chargers have taken the last five games with ODU going 4-6 in Columbus. 4

ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES

• Northwood is 1-7 overall and 1-1 through the first weekend of G-MAC play. 
• After losing the first six games of the season, Northwood defeated Trevecca Nazarene 59-38. The 'Wolves fell in OT to Kentucky Wesleyan 75-73 on Saturday. 
• Savon Wykle has scored at least 16 points in each of the last three games, leading the Timberwolves with 19.0 points per game and a .525 shooting clip. 
• Will Young Jr. (9.9 PPG, 3.3 RPG, .443 FG, nine 3's) and Anthony Sanders (9.2 PPG, 4.0 RPG) are second and third, respectively on the team.
• De'Airrus Ware averages 5.4 rebounds per game and has blocked 16 shots in eight games. He has 8.3 points per game. 
• Northwood averages 59.4 points scored, 33.6 rebounds on offense and is shooting .404 overall (.262 from deep). The opposition is scoring 71.5 points per game, grabbing 38.3 rebounds and holding a .446 clip shooting (.241 from three). 
• Northwood is behind Hillsdale in the G-MAC and sits 3rd in Division II for three-point defense. 
• They are in the bottom six in Division II for scoring offense, three point percentage, assists and assist/turnover ratio. 
• Lonnie Griffin is in his third season at Northwood  after being named head coach in April 2020. Griffin has a 12-40 record at Northwood. He spent four years at Delta College as head coach, compiling a 53-69 record. 
• The Timberwolves were selected to finish 11th in the G-MAC Preseason Coaches Poll.  

ABOUT THE CHARGERS

• Hillsdale comes to Columbus with a perfect record so far in the 2022-23 season. The Chargers are 9-0 overall and 2-0 in the G-MAC through one month. 
• Hillsdale was slotted sixth in the nation in the most recent D2SIDA poll, and seventh in the NABC national rankings. The Chargers also are currently the top-ranked team in the Midwest in the D2SIDA regional poll, receiving all five first-place votes.
• Four players sit in double digit scoring for the Chargers this season. 
• Jack Gohlke is the leading scorer with 13.8 points per game while shooting .426 from the floor and .397 from deep (team and G-MAC high 29 threes). 
• Joe Reuter (11.6 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 3.0 APG) and Peter Kalthoff (11.3 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 1 BPG) have nearly identical stat lines. Kalthoff is shooting at a .544 clip with nine blocks. 
• Kyle Goessler is fourth in scoring for the Chargers, adding 10.3 points per game.
• Hillsdale averages 73.9 points scored, 34.6 rebounds on offense and is shooting .472 overall (.379 from deep). The opposition is scoring 58.3 points per game, grabbing 31.7 rebounds and holding a .397 clip shooting (.234 from three). HC leads the G-MAC in scoring (7th in D2), field goal and three-point defense (2nd in D2). 
• The Chargers were picked third in the preseason poll for the G-MAC, behind Walsh and Findlay. 

UP NEXT

Ohio Dominican will continue G-MAC play with road games at Cedarville on Thursday (Dec. 15) and at Lake Erie on Saturday (Dec. 17). 

Contact: Tyler Stotsky
stotskyt@ohiodominican.edu