QU Men's Basketball Takes on Boston University Sunday Afternoon at 1 PM
12/11/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Quinnipiac University (3-4, 0-2 MAAC) at
Boston University (2-6, 0-0 Patriot League)
Sunday, December 14, 2014 • 1:00 PM
Case Gymnasium • Boston, Mass.
All-Time Series vs. BU (DI): 2-3 (2-3)
Last Meeting: December 2, 2013 • L, 69-66
QU Last Five: 2-3
BU Last Five: 1-4
- Quinnipiac Game Notes as a PDF
- Boston U Game Preview
- Live Stream: Patriot League Network
- Live Audio: AM 1220 WQUN
(PxP: Bill Schweizer • Color: Bill Mecca) - Live Stats: GoTerriers.com
- Tickets: QuinnipiacBobcats.com
THE OPENING TIP
Quinnipiac looks to snap a two-game skid Sunday afternoon when the Bobcats play their final non-conference road game at Boston University. Following the 1 p.m. tilt with the Terriers, Quinnipiac plays its next four games at the TD Bank Sports Center in Hamden.
ALL-TIME AGAINST BOSTON U
Quinnipiac and Boston University meet for the sixth time Sunday, with the Terriers clinging to a 3-2 lead in the all-time series. Very evenly matched in each of the five encounters, BU has edged Quinnipiac in back-to-back games over the last two seasons. Most recently, the Terriers escaped with a 69-66 win in Hamden last year when DJ Irving hit the game-winning three with 2.5 seconds remaining in regulation. In the previous meeting, BU used a late three to force overtime and then defeated the Bobcats in the extra frame. Quinnipiac picked up its two wins in the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons.
QUINNIPIAC STUNNED BY FAIRFIELD
Quinnipiac was stunned in overtime last Sunday, falling short to in-state rival Fairfield, 56-52, at the TD Bank Sports Center. Fairfield junior Marcus Gilbert knocked down a three with 1.4 seconds left to force overtime, and the Stags claimed a 10-6 advantage in the extra period to defeat the Bobcats. The Bobcats were led by Hearst and Drame in the losing effort. Hearst netted 20 points going 6-for-12 from the field. Drame registered his 29th career double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds. He also added three blocked shots. Quinnipiac held Fairfield below its season average field goal percentage and out-rebounded the Stags, 51-31, but only shot 30.0 percent from the floor themselves.
SCOUTING THE TERRIERS
BU enters Sunday's bout with a 2-6 overall record, having lost five of its last six and two straight. Not a favorable non-conference schedule for the Terriers, Boston U has losses to nationally-ranked #1 Kentucky and a 7-1 Harvard team. Most recently in the loss to the Crimson, the defending Ivy League champion went on a 14-4 run over the following six minutes to defeat Boston, 70-56, on Monday night. Sophomore Blaise Mbargorba led BU off the bench with a career-high 13 points and two blocks, while junior John Papale contributed 10 points and four assists. Classmate Nathan Dieudonne was one point shy of double figures to go along with a team-high six rebounds. Leading scorer and sophomore Cedric Hankerson was limited to three points. Hankerson averages 17.8 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. Papale is also in double figures for the year averaging 10.0 points per game. Boston opponents are shooting 47.2 percent from the floor and averaging 71.5 points per game.
BROTHERLY LOVE
Brothers, Quinnipiac Director of Basketball Operations Mike Papale and BU junior guard Jon Papale; square off for the third time Sunday. Jon Papale factored in BU's win two years ago when his three-pointer tickled the twine with five seconds left to force overtime. He finished with 16 points for the game. Last year, Jon Papale was held to just two points going 1-for-6 from the floor.
REBOUNDING DOMINANCE
Quinnipiac leads the nation in total rebounding (47.1) and rebounding margin (15.0), and ranks third in offensive rebounding (17.1). Last year, the Bobcats led the nation in rebounding margin (11.8), offensive rebounds per game (16.7), and rebounds per game (45.4). Quinnipiac is the only team in the nation to finish first in all three categories in one season (2013-14) since QU joined the Division I ranks (1998-99).
REBOUNDING MARGIN
With Tom Moore at the helm, Quinnipiac has out-rebounded its opponent in 197 of his 228 games (.863) – including 69 of its last 71 games without losing the battle on the glass. In 84 of the 228 games, QU has posted a plus-10 or better rebounding margin, including 26 with plus-20 or better and a rebounding-margin high of 31 against Maine on Nov. 25, 2013. The Bobcats hold a remarkable 70-14 (.833) mark when holding a plus-10 edge and a 20-6 (.769) record with plus-20.
ANOTHER REBOUNDING STAT…
Quinnipiac posted 50-plus rebounds against Fairfield (12/7), marking the 27th time during the Division I era. In nine years prior to Tom Moore's arrival, QU had just five 50-rebound games, with only two coming against teams classified at Division I at the time of competition. The Bobcats have eclipsed 60 rebounds twice.
CALM, COOL AND COLLECTED
Quinnipiac leads the MAAC and ranks sixth in the nation in free-throw shooting percentage (.771). The Bobcats sank 28-of-32 (.875) against Vermont (11/30), the most since making 31 against Canisius (2/20/14) last season. Quinnipiac is 17-0 in the last three seasons when making 25 or more free-throws.
FREE-THROWS MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Quinnipiac went 19-for-21 (90.5 %) from the free-throw line against Albany (11/22), the best team percentage since making 92.5 percent (25-27) at Vermont (12/15/13) last year. Over the last six seasons, Quinnipiac is 61-15 (.803) when making more free-throws than its opponent, which included an 18-4 mark last year.
TOUGH TO LOSE IF YOU DON'T MISS
Quinnipiac made a season-high 54.9 percent of its field goal attempts against Vermont (11/30). The Bobcats have made at least 50 percent of their shots in 33 games over the last six seasons, posting a 28-5 (.849) mark when accomplishing that feat. Quinnipiac was 10-0 last year when making 45.0 percent of its field goal attempts.
STACKING UP IN NEW ENGLAND
Head Coach Tom Moore's .575 overall winning percentage ranks fifth-best among active Division I Coaches in New England, only trailing UConn's Kevin Ollie (.724), Harvard's Tommy Amaker (.670), Vermont's John Becker (.645), and Providence's Ed Cooley (.577). (Winning percentage among coaches with at least one season at respective institution)
HOME SUCCESS FOR MOORE
Since head coach Tom Moore took over in 2007, the Bobcats are 68-37 (.648) overall and 47-19 (.712) in conference games in Hamden. Quinnipiac is 20-6 in its last 26 home games at the TD Bank Sports Center. In the last six seasons, Quinnipiac is 55-22 (.714) overall and 36-11 (.766) against conference opponents at the Bank - which serve as the second best winning percentages among MAAC teams during that stretch. Furthermore, Quinnipiac has won 15 of its last 18 games at home against conference opposition (dating back to 2012-13).
CRASHING THE BOARDS
Quinnipiac has three of the league's top 10 rebounders in Ousmane Drame (10.9), Justin Harris (7.6) and Zaid Hearst (6.6). Drame leads the MAAC in total rebounding and defensive rebounding (7.9) and is tied for second with Harris in offensive rebounding (3.0). Drame ranks ninth in the nation in rebounds per game and seventh in defensive rebounds per game.
BLOCK PARTY
Quinnipiac had 11 blocks against Yale (11/14), marking the most in a single game since joining Division I. The Bobcats blocked 10 shots twice last year and once in 2012-13. Quinnipiac leads the MAAC and ranks 16th nationally in blocks per game (6.3).
LENDING A HELPING HAND
Quinnipiac is averaging 12.7 assists per game which ranks fourth among teams in the MAAC. Individually, Kasim Chandler (4.7) ranks third in the MAAC in assists per game with Evan Conti (3.4) ranking fifth in the category.
THAT'S 1,000 FOR DRAME
Ousmane Drame scored his 1,000th career point against Vermont (11/30) to become Quinnipiac's 38th player to reach the milestone. He was also just the 11th player to do it since Quinnipiac joined the Division I ranks. He has 1,020 career points and 849 career rebounds, which is on pace for 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. Drame would be the third Bobcat to record 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in the last five years.
ALL-TIME BLOCKS LEADER
With his three blocks against Vermont (11/30), Ousmane Drame (154) surpassed Glenn Phillip '92 (146) for the most blocks in program history. Earlier this year, he matched his QU Division I program record of seven blocks against Yale (11/14), which he had also done twice before. He leads the MAAC and ranks seventh in the nation in blocked shots per game (3.6).
DRAME GOES FOR 30
Ousmane Drame posted a career-high 33 points to go along with 13 rebounds and three blocked shots against Vermont (11/30). Drame ranks seventh in the MAAC in scoring (15.0) and has double-digits in six of the seven games this year. Drame has seven career 20 point games and one career 30 point game.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE MACHINE
Ousmane Drame collected his 29th career double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds against Fairfield (12/7). He is chasing Ike Azotam's '14 record of 44 career double-doubles. Drame is averaging 15.0 points and 10.9 rebounds per game – the only MAAC player averaging a double-double. He leads the league and is tied for ninth in the nation in double-doubles (5).
CLIMBING THE LADDER
Zaid Hearst (1,193) climbed higher among Quinnipiac's scoring leaders, surpassing Jim Freund '81 and Rashaun Banjo '04 for 21st place on the all-time list. In the Division I era, Hearst ranks eighth, staring down James Feldeine '10 (1,320) for the seventh position. He trails Troy Adams '89 (1,214) for 20th place on the all-time list.
30 POINT PERFORMANCE
Zaid Hearst scored 30 points for the second time in his career against Yale (11/14). This time, he had a career-high 34 points going 12-for-20 from the field and 4-for-9 from long range. It was the most points scored by a Quinnipiac player since Hearst scored 33 against Canisius (1/30) last season. Hearst has two career 30-point games and 14-career 20 points games.
SCORING THE BASKETBALL
Zaid Hearst is averaging 18.9 points per game and shooting at a 45.1 percent clip. He ranks second in the MAAC and 35th nationally in scoring.
BEAST MODE
Zaid Hearst is averaging 39.3 minutes per game which leads the MAAC and ranks second nationally. Hearst also played his 102nd career game at Quinnipiac, and could challenge the most games ever played within the program (James Johnson, 127).
HOT HAND FOR CONTI
Evan Conti totaled a career-high 22 points to go along with seven rebounds and four assists against Vermont (11/30). In 36 career starts, he is averaging 9.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game.
CAREER HIGHS FOR JUSTIN
Justin Harris netted a career-high 12 points against Yale (11/14) and then snagged a career best 12 rebounds against La Salle (11/18). He is averaging 7.7 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game, ranking among the league leaders in rebounding and blocked shots.
CHIGHA CHIPS IN
Alain Chigha finished with a career-high seven points to go along with three rebounds and one steal against Vermont (11/30). Chigha is averaging 2.3 points and 2.3 rebounds in 11.4 minutes per game this year.
LESS FOULS, MORE WINS
The Bobcats are 14-6 (.700) over the last three seasons when their opponent makes fewer than 12 free-throws in a game. On the contrary, when the opposition has recorded 25 or more free throws made over the last three seasons, Quinnipiac is 0-7.
DEFENSE WINS
Head coach Tom Moore has repeatedly stressed the importance of keeping opposition to below 40 percent from the floor, and with good reason. Over the past six years, Quinnipiac is 59-19 (.756) when keeping its opponent to 40 percent or below from the field. Quinnipiac has held five of its seven opponents to 40 percent or below this season.
DOWN BUT NOT OUT
Quinnipiac overcame a double-digit deficit to defeat Albany (11/22), doing so feat for the second time this year. Quinnipiac led the country in most come-from-behind wins when trailing by 10 or more points last season. Quinnipiac accomplished the feat 10 times last year.
CARDIAC KIDS
Since the 2007-08 season, Quinnipiac is 13-6 in overtime games – which includes a 10-3 mark in its last 13 that needed extra time and 3-1 in games that go to double overtime. The Bobcats are 2-1 in overtime games this year.
