Jan. 4, 2013
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BOSTON - Coming off a three-game road trip, the Boston University men's basketball team will open a three-game homestand on Saturday against America East rival Hartford with tip-off slated for 1 p.m.
Owning a 45-20 record in the all-time series dating back to 1965, the Terriers (6-8, 0-1 AE) welcome the Hawks (8-6, 1-0 AE) to Case Gym for the final time as conference foes. BU has claimed the last 10 contests at home against UH following last year's 64-55 win at The Roof and is looking to avenge the 53-49 2012 America East quarterfinal defeat to Hartford.
Defense continues to be a key component for both teams this season, as the Terriers have held 10 straight opponents under 70 points. The Hawks' opponents are only averaging 62.1 ppg with five teams finishing with no more than 51 points. In the postseason meeting last year, UH held BU to 24 percent shooting in the second half to pull out the win.
BU lost the services of five men who faced the Hawks last year due to graduation, including AE Player of the Year Darryl Partin, but have replaced them with four impactful freshmen. Coming off Wednesday's 13-point and seven-assist performance at Maine, Maurice Watson Jr. is averaging 10.4 ppg and is on pace to become the sixth-ever rookie to lead the league in assists at 4.9 apg. Hitting 11 of his last 14 shots, he is currently the top shooting guard in the league, sixth overall amongst players, at 48.2 percent.
A 6-foot-7 forward with 13 starts, Nathan Dieudonne has led BU in rebounding in four contests and tallied a season-high 11 points in a six-point victory at Coastal Carolina. On pace for 62 made 3-pointers, shooting guard John Papale tallied a team-high 16 points in an overtime win vs. Quinnipiac and is shooting 40 percent from behind the arc. Standing 6-foot-8, Justin Alston is seeing his minutes increase off the bench and was key on the defensive end against Howard last Saturday with a game-high three blocks.
They will need to show patience against a Hawks squad that is forcing 16.4 turnovers per game. Having already won four of six meetings against UH and head coach John Gallagher, juniors D.J. Irving, Dom Morris and Travis Robinson will look to be a steadying presence on the court. Irving is averaging a team-high 14.7 ppg, and Morris is second at 10.9 ppg while leading BU in rebounding at 6.6 rpg. Robinson has been key from behind the arc shooting 45.8 percent on the season.
Coming off a 71-68 win vs. Binghamton, UH is also a young team with four sophomores projected to be in the starting lineup on Saturday. A 6-foot-6 forward, Mark Nwakamma is averaging a team-high 13.1 ppg and 5.4 rpg, while 6-foot-2 guard Yolonzo Moore II is averaging 9.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg and 2.5 apg. The Hawks are only averaging 60.9 ppg so far this season but claimed an 80-77 win vs. Central Connecticut State and battled Arizona State on the road to the last second in a 71-63 defeat.
Following the game, the Terriers will remain at home and host Vermont on Tuesday (Jan. 8) for a 7 p.m. tip-off.
