THOMASVILLE, Ga. – The Thomas University Men's basketball team will look to build off its winning momentum, as the Night Hawks will respectively host two SUN Conference opponents in Ave Maria and Southeastern.
TU (5-2, 1-0 SUN) has now won four of its last five contests, all of which were done by five points or fewer. Most recently, the Night Hawks edged out Middle Georgia State 67-62 on Monday, providing Thomas' first sweep over the Knights since the 2014-15 season. While Senior Guard
Tim Williamson posted 19 points in the contest, the Green & White shot just under 42% from the floor while posting its second-lowest 3-pt. percentage of the season (.227).
The Night Hawks enter the weekend averaging just under 66 points scored while limiting its opponents to under 69 a game. While TU's field percentage is closing in on 42%,
TU vs. AMU (11/18)
Ave Maria (4-1, 1-1 SUN) began the season with four straight wins before falling to RV Southeastern 101-86. Despite the loss to the Fire, the Gyrenes shot just under 51% in the contest en route to its second-highest point total of the season. AMU additionally recorded its fewest turnover count (11) in the barnburner at the Furnace.
The Holy Queen's team heads into the weekend with four players averaging double-digits in scoring. Matt Gillis and Eric Klekas both lead the team with 15.2 points apiece, while Fifth-year transfer Daryl Lewis averages 14.1 points and Chayse Culpepper 12.6 points.
AMU has been proficient from long range, converting from over 38% outside the perimeter. Of the 38 Made 3-Ptrs. on the season, Gillis and Klekas combine for 21. Mason Osborne is another sniper for the Gyrenes, knocking down seven of 17 total shots from downtown (.412).
Down in the paint, Klajd Kiri has a 64% conversion rate from the field and leads Ave Maria in boards a game (6.4) and blocks (1.6).
Thomas is still in search of its first win over the Gyrenes since 2017-18, as Ave Maria leads the overall series 10-6.
Tipoff at TU Gymnasium is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
TU vs. (RV) SEU (11/20)
After a tough 2020-21 season, the RV Fire (4-0, 1-0 SUN) are off to a hot start once again, most recently winning its SUN Conference opener against Ave Maria 101-86. In the team's win over the Gyrenes, the Red, Black & White boasted three players scoring 21 or more points. Southeastern will hit the road for the first time this season, travelling to Brunswick, Ga. to face Coastal Georgia Thursday before riding across US-84 to face the Night Hawks on Saturday.
SEU's offense has been ablaze in the first four contests, averaging 100.5 points scored while shooting nearly 54% from the field and just over 39% from long range as a whole. The Fire currently have amassed a scoring margin average of 34.7 points this season.
After suffering a season-ending injury last year, reigning SUN Player of the Week Riley Minix has bounced back to nearly average a double-double on the season, leading the team in points (20.8) and rebounds (9.8) as well as steals (1.75) and blocks (1.0) a game.
Defensively, Southeastern has been as equally impressive, allowing under 33% of shots from the floor and 24% from the 3-pt. line. Additionally, the Fire enter this weekend's contest averaging 37 defensive boards a game (50.8 overall).
The overall series between the Night Hawks and the Fire has been fairly balanced, as Thomas holds a slim 15-14 lead after winning the previous two contests to win last year's season series.
Tipoff at TU Gymnasium is slated for 4 p.m.
Live Coverage
Fans can follow the live action by accessing the links below.
Angelo Pontello and
Nickolas Pope will have the call for both weekend games
vs. Gyrenes (11/18)
Live Stats
Live Video
vs. (RV) Fire (11/20)
Live Stats
Live Video
For up-to-date information on games and other TU Athletics, visit
http://www.TUNightHawks.com. Stay up-to-date with news, scores, photos, game summaries, play-by-play, and feature stories of your TU men's basketball team by following them via Twitter at
@NightHawksMBKB.
