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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Ohio Dominican men's basketball team concludes its six-game homestand against non-conference foe Salem, before returning to Great Midwest action at Lake Erie this week.

The Panthers are set to welcome Salem to Alumni Hall at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 9. ODU will then square off with the Storm in Painesville, Ohio at 1 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 12.

OPENING TIP-OFF

• Ohio Dominican is 2-3 during its homestand, including a 65-62 home win over Trevecca Nazarene last Friday. 
• Four of the five games in the stretch have been decided by seven points or less, including three games by three points or fewer.
• Salem becomes just the second non-conference opponent in ODU's Division II era that will face the Panthers twice in the same season (Urbana, 2010-11). 
• ODU dropped the first meeting with the Tigers, 80-70, on the road, back on Nov. 18.
• The Panthers' second opponent of the week is Lake Erie, who ODU defeated at home on Jan.  24, by  a  final  score of  62-61. 
• Alek West (Sylvania, Ohio) at least co-led ODU in scoring in both of the first meetings with Salem and LEC. 
• West paces the Panthers at 14.6 points, 5..8 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game, with the last ranking top 15 nationally. 
• Zach Szul (Waterville, Ohio) has scored in double figures in six straight and 10-of-11 games,  since the calendar turned to 2022, including a season-high 20 points last week vs. Trevecca.
• Szul has raised his season scoring average to 12.5, and has made at least one triple in 11 consecutive outings. 
• Mitch Wilkinson (Grand Rapids, Mich.) averaged 10.5 points and 6.0 rebounds last week and is tied with West for the team high in three pointers this season, 35. 

ABOUT SALEM

• Salem is enjoying a successful winter, compiling a 16-5 overall record entering play Wednesday. 
• The Tigers have won four straight outings and dating back to Dec. 7, have been victorious in 12-of-13 games played.
• Despite the success, Salem has found difficulties on the road with a 5-4 mark. 
• Three of its road losses have come to G-MAC foes; Lake Erie, Ky. Wesleyan and Tiffin.
• Salem lives behind the arc, making the fourth most three-pointers per game across Division II, 12.0.
• The Tigers are also second in the country in 3FG percentage at .431, which aides their season scoring average and top 10 national mark of 88.4 points per game. 
• Fonz Hale  is a  top 20  scorer  across Division II at 21.8 points per  game. Hale  scored 20 points on 7-of-14 shooting in the first meeting with ODU. 
• Tobias Howard Jr. is providing over 19 points and three assists per game, while leading the team in steals as well (1.7). 

ABOUT LAKE ERIE

• The Storm enter this week in good form, having won two straight after dropping one- and three-point games to ODU and Ashland, respectively.
• Lake Erie is coming off an 86-83 road win at Cedarville and will host the Yellow Jackets Wednesday before welcoming ODU this weekend. 
• LEC is 7-4 at home this winter but has dropped its two most recent outings to G-MAC opponents. 
• The Storm have a top five scoring defense in the G-MAC, 69.1, and are scoring 71.7 points per game. 
• Jordan Burton is the only Storm player to start all 19 games this season, leading LEC with 14.3 points and 4.4 assists per game. 
• Jonny Manning paces LEC in rebounds, 6.1 per game, and is providing 10.5 points per contest. 
• Leon Hughes led the Storm in scoring in the first meeting, tallying 17 points on 7-of-14 shooting off the bench.

Contact: Tyler Jester

jestert@ohiodominican.edu