THOMASVILLE, Ga. – The Thomas University Men's basketball team will open the 2022 year Thursday night with its annual trip to Lake Wales, Fla. to face Warner University before returning to the Rose City to host Webber International Saturday afternoon for a pair of SUN Conference games.
 
After TU (7-8, 1-4 SUN) dropped both contests in Miami Gardens the first weekend of December, the Night Hawks rebounded to knock off RV Faulkner 70-61 at home before ramming Albany State 90-69 in exhibition play in the team's latest outing. 
 
At ASU's West Campus Arena, Thomas boasted five players scoring double digits, including Sophomore Deonta Jones who tallied a breakout 14 points while converting 6-for-9 from the field.  Fifth-year Forward DeSean Enzor recorded 14 points and 11 boards while Senior Guard Toriano Lewis led the Night Hawks in scoring, notching 17 points while shooting 38.5% from beyond the perimeter.  Overall, the Green & White shot 51%.
 
Heading into 2022, the Night Hawks hold one of SUN Conference's best scoring defenses, allowing 69.1 points a game despite giving up 44.6% of shots from the floor.
 
vs. WU (1/6)
Like the Night Hawks, Warner's (10-5, 4-1 SUN) last outing was on December 17th, in which the Royals fell to Missouri Baptist 92-85 in the team's Christmas Classic hosted at home.  While WU has gone 4-4 in its previous eight contests, the Navy & Gold come off a December in which the scoring offense averaged a massive 83.3 points a contest.  TU's defense will be tested Thursday, as the Royals hold the conference's third-best shooting percentage (.483).
 
Defensively, Thomas will be challenged from outside the perimeter by SUN's best 3-Pt. defense, allowing 29.4% of shots from downtown. 
 
Part of Warner's continued success on offense comes from the play of four individuals.  Senior Guards Darryl Mercer and Joseph Martz lead the attack with respective averages of 16.2 and 14.7 points a game. Against the Night Hawks last season, Mercer was a consistent scorer, averaging 17.3 over the three contests played.
 
Martz primarily handles the scoring from outside the perimeter, as the Orlando, Fla. native is currently SUN's hottest 3-Pt. shooter, shooting 54% and averaging 3.1 Made 3-Ptrs. a game.  Martz's Free-Throw performance is as equally effective, also holding the conference's best mark (.882), ranking in the Top 30 marks in NAIA.
 
Sophomores Logan West and Blaize Darling Jr. also have played significant roles in the Royals' offense, specifically in the paint.  Both Forwards hold top ten field percentages in the conference, as West boasts over 58% and Darling over 56%.
 
Thomas will have a big obstacle to overcome to start 2022, as the Green & White have lost six of its last seven contests to the Royals.
 
Tipoff at the Turner Athletic Center is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.  Fans can tune into the contest by accessing the links below:
 
Live Video
 
Live Stats
 
Live TU Audio
 
vs. WIU (1/8)
The Warriors (6-10, 1-3 SUN) opened the 2022 slate of its schedule earlier in the week with a 75-59 victory over Bob Jones University and will host Coastal Georgia before traveling to Georgia Saturday to play the Night Hawks.  Similar to Warner, WIU's 3-Pt. defense has been a force to be reckoned with, also allowing under 30% of converted shots from long-range.  Rebounds may prove to be an advantage for the Warriors, who average nearly 39 boards a contest compared to Thomas' mark (30.2). 
 
Ball control will be key for Thomas Saturday, as Webber prides themselves in creating extra chances on the season, averaging 8.9 steals a match (SUN's third-best mark).
 
Jaylon Miles leads WIU in scoring on the season, closing in on 13 points a game, as transfer Tiyon Martin averages 10.4 points.  Another transfer that has given Webber a boost this season is Chinecherem Anukaenyi.  The Nigerian will give the Forwards a challenge Saturday, averaging 7.5 points with 9.7 boards (third-best in SUN).
 
The Night Hawks have won six of its last eight games against the Warriors, including a second series sweep in three seasons.
 
Tipoff at TU Gymnasium is slated for 4 p.m.  Fans unable to come out can follow the action through the links below:
 
Live Video
 
Live Stats

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.