Terriers End Non-Conference Schedule with Wentworth Monday Night
December 28, 2014 | Men's Basketball
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BOSTON - Before beginning defense of its Patriot League regular season title, the Boston University men's basketball team will conclude the non-conference schedule against Wentworth in Case Gym on Monday night at 7 p.m.
A week after dropping a hard-fought 78-62 decision at Dayton, the Terriers (3-7) will face the Leopards (4-4) for the first time in program history. Wentworth is currently riding a four-game win streak.
TEN TERRIER TIDBITS
• Terriers are currently 2-2 at home following the thrilling Dec. 14 win against Quinnipiac (71-68) ... Junior John Papale broke the deadlock with a 3-pointer with 3.4 seconds remaining in regulation.
• On Dec. 20 at Dayton, sophomore Cedric Hankerson reached 20 or more points for the sixth time this season with a game-high 25 points, one shy of his career high ... He ranks second in the Patriot League in scoring at 19.0 ppg, two points behind Army's PL Preseason Player of the Year Kyle Wilson (21.0 ppg).
• Junior Nathan Dieudonne ranks second in the Patriot League in rebounding at 7.5 rpg after recording his second double-double of the season at Dayton behind 16 points and a season-high 11 boards.
• Papale dished out a career-high seven assists at Dayton ... He ranks fifth in the Patriot League in assists at 4.0 apg while also averaging 9.5 ppg.
• According to Kenpom.com, the Terriers have played the 34th toughest defensive schedule in the nation out of 351 schools ... BU is currently averaging 65.3 ppg and 42.5 FG% after posting 71.2 ppg and 45.2 FG% in 2013-14.
• The loss to Dayton marked the first time this season BU fell when shooting at least 50 percent in a contest ... The Terriers went 9-1 last season when hitting the mark.
• BU is 0-6 when the bench finishes with equal or fewer points than the opponent's bench ... Sophomore Eric Fanning is the leading scorer off the bench and fourth overall at 8.3 ppg ... He also leads the team in free throw shooting at 77.5 percent.
• Freshman Cheddi Mosely earned his seventh start of the season at Dayton ... He is averaging 6.8 ppg and has reached double figures three times this season.
• The Terriers have out-rebounded three of 10 opponents this season ... Hankerson is second on the team in rebounding at 4.9 rpg with junior Justin Alston next at 3.2 rpg.
• BU is seeking its first win of the season against an in-state opponent after losses to Northeastern, Harvard and UMass Lowell.
SCOUTING WENTWORTH
• The Leopards are riding a four-game win streak but haven't played a game since a 72-53 win at Curry on Dec. 9.
• Wentworth is playing its first Division I program since a 65-48 loss to Texas-Pan American on Dec. 15, 2011.
• School was one of six charter members of the Commonwealth Coast Conference in 1984 ... Has won three conference titles with the last one coming in 2007.
• As of Dec. 23, Wentworth ranked ninth out of 408 D-III schools, allowing just 56.9 ppg ... Squad also ranked 54th in 3-point field goal shooting defense (.287) and 55th in field goal shooting defense (.390).
• Leopards are averaging 58.5 ppg ... 6-foot-7 forward John Michael Fragnoli is the lone double-figure scorer at 11.5 ppg while averaging a team-high 5.3 rpg.
SERIES HISTORY
• The Terriers and Leopards are meeting for the first time ever ... Wentworth also marks the first-ever Commonwealth Coast Conference opponent for BU.
UP NEXT
• The defending Patriot League regular season champion Terriers will open defense of the title on Wednesday at Holy Cross ... BU won its first regular season title since 2004 at HC to end the 2013-14 regular season.
• BU was selected sixth in the preseason Patriot League poll, while Holy Cross was picked third behind a pair of first-place votes.
