THOMASVILLE, Ga. - Thomas opens its 2017-18 campaign Friday in non-conference action at Point (Ga.). Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. ET.
In addition to live stats, the match will be televised online through Stretch Internet. Updates will also be available on Thomas' official men's basketball Twitter account (@NightHawksMBKB).
Game 1/Thomas (0-0) at Point (0-0)
Friday, Oct. 27 • 6 p.m. ET
West Point, Ga. • West Point Park Gym
TV: Stretch Internet
Live Stats: Stretch Internet
Twitter Updates: @NightHawksMBKB
ABOUT THOMAS
Thomas has been picked to finish sixth in the 2017-18 Sun Conference (TSC) Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll, the league office announced Oct. 19. The Night Hawks earned 44 points.
The Night Hawks, who finished last season 14-10 overall and 8-8 in league play, return first team All-TSC selection Javoris Cooks, who led the squad averaging 18.7 points per game. Thomas also returns its second-leading scorer from a season ago, Katrell Myers, who averaged 14.3 points on 48.5 percent shooting to go along with 5.2 rebounds per contest.
Coach Brent Crews, entering his third season at the helm, returns 10 letter winners and three starters from the 2016-17 edition of the squad which advanced to The Sun Conference Tournament semifinals.
ABOUT POINT
Second-year coach Darryl Slack and the Skyhawk men's basketball team are looking to rebound after finishing the 2016-17 season in last place in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) with a 2-28 overall record and a 1-19 conference mark. The Skyhawks are picked to finish last in the conference according to the 2017-18 AAC men's basketball preseason poll.
Point returns five players from last year's squad, led by Joshua Tolbert, who appeared in all 30 contests and averaged 14.7 points per game and connected on 42 percent of his 3-point attempts.
LAST TIME OUT AGAINST THE SKYHAWKS
Thomas defeated Point, 101-67, on Oct. 28, 2016, inside TU Gymnasium in the season opener. The Green and White shot 52.6 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from beyond the 3-point line.
Cooks and Jalen Bonds each poured in a game-high 19 points. Bonds also had eight rebounds. Traevon Gresham added 14 points and four rebounds, while Katrell Myers produced 12 points.
After Cooks connected on a trey to tie the game at 16, the Night Hawks went on a 15-3 run to assume command. Thomas closed the first 20 minutes on an 8-0 run and held a 48-31 lead at the break.
A 13-3 Night Hawks' run midway through the second half opened the gap to 65-42 with under 14 minutes to play. A 12-2 run extended the lead to 77-48.
The Night Hawks outscored the Seahawks 58-12 in the paint and 19-5 in second-chance points.
COOKS NEARING 1,000
With 976-career points, Cooks is 24 shy of becoming the first 1,000-point scorer in the program's five-year history.
Cooks needs just five points to pass former teammate Adonai Rogers for the school's all-time mark.
NAIA STATISTICAL RANKINGS
In 2016-17, Thomas ranked fifth in NAIA Division II in field goal percentage (0.401), 23rd in scoring defense per game (73.1) and 24th in rebounds per game (40.1).
Cooks ranked seventh nationally in 3-pointers made per game (3.6).
TOP 25 OPPONENTS
Thomas faces three ranked opponents - No. 14 Florida Memorial, No. 20 Saint Thomas (Fla.), No. 25 Warner - and two that are receiving votes - Keiser (Fla.), Southeastern (Fla.) - in the 2017-18 NAIA Division II Men's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Top 25.
RIVERS TO REDSHIRT THIS SEASON
Thomas' Demetrius Rivers is redshirting this season and will have four seasons of eligibility remaining.
