Posted: Feb 16, 2013
�Game NotesFAYETTE, Mo. - Central Methodist returns to Puckett Fieldhouse on Saturday to welcome Benedictine (Kan.) in Heart of America Athletic Conference men's basketball action. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. CT.
The game can be seen and heard live online at cmueagles.com.
Central Methodist (16-11, 9-6 HAAC) vs. Benedictine (17-9, 9-6 HAAC)
Saturday, February 16 - 4 p.m. CT
Fayette, Mo.�- Puckett Fieldhouse�(1,700)
Promotion:�Community Appreciation Day
Live Video and Radio:�cmueagles.com
Radio Talent:�Dr. Collin Brink (pxp), Nicole Trawick�(color)
Live Stats:�cmueagles.com
Live Chat:�cmueagles.com
Twitter Updates:�@cmueagles
Series Information:
Last Meeting:�Benedictine�defeated Central Methodist, 51-50, on Jan. 12, 2013.
Streak:�Central Methodist is 3-3 in the last six meetings between the two teams.
About Central Methodist:
Central Methodist, winners of two straight, enters Saturday's game with a 16-11 overall record and 9-6 mark in Heart of America Athletic Conference play. The Eagles are 5-5 in their last 10 games.
Elliott Black�leads the team and ranks sixth in the HAAC in scoring average at 15.3 points per game. Black is second in�the conference shooting 50.8 percent from the field.�Melvin Tillman�ranks seventh in the HAAC in scoring average at 15.2 points per contest, while�Eric Franklin�ranks third in the league in assists per game (4.8).
The Eagles are 7-3 in Puckett Fieldhouse this season.
About Benedictine:
Benedictine�enters Saturday's matchup with a 17-9 overall record and 9-6 mark in Heart of America Athletic Conference play but has lost three of its last five games. The Ravens lead the HAAC in blocks, scoring defense and field goal percentage defense.
In NAIA Division I, Benedictine:
Ranks Number 3 in Division I in Total Blocks (111)
Ranks Number 4 in Division I in Blocks per Game (4.269)
Ranks Number 5 in Division I in Scoring Defense per Game (60.885)
Ranks Number 9 in Division I in Total Rebound Defense (31.577)
Ranks Number 10 in Division I in 3-Pt Fg Pct Defense (0.300)
Ranks Number 10 in Division I in Field Goal Pct Defense (0.389)
Ranks Number 29 in Division I in 3-Pt Fg Pct (0.355)
Ranks Number 33 in Division I in Total Rebound Margin (3.115)
Ranks Number 37 in Division I in Field Goal Pct (0.452)
Ranks Number 42 in Division I in Scoring Margin (4.192)
Ranks Number 43 in Division I in Defensive Rebounds per Game (25.615)
Jallen Messersmith leads the conference and ranks third in Division I in blocks per game (1.917) and fourth in blocks (46).
Charlie Wallrapp is 12th in the country in rebounds per game (5.846) and 20th in rebounds (202). Brett Fisher is 21st in 3-point field goal percentage (0.426).
Charlie Wallrapp is 12th in the country in rebounds per game (5.846) and 20th in rebounds (202). Brett Fisher is 21st in 3-point field goal percentage (0.426).
Benedictine is 9-5 in away games this season, second best in the HAAC.
Professors from Humanities Division to Serve as Honorary Coaches
Professors from Central Methodist's Humanities Division will serve as honorary coaches and be recognized before Saturday's tip-off. The honorary coaches include John Porter, Associate Professor of English; Kevin Carnahan, Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Religion; Maryann Rustemeyer, Assistant Professor of English and Mathematics and Director of the Center for Learning and Teaching; Annette Van, Assistant Professor of English; Kavita Hatwalkar,�Assistant Professor of English; and Travis Johnson, Assistant Professor of English.
Fight for Fourth
The winner of Saturday's game in Puckett Fieldhouse will sit alone in fourth place in the HAAC standings. Both teams enter the HAAC Men's Basketball Game of the Week with 9-6 conference records. Whichever team ends the regular season in fourth place will host a quarterfinal round playoff game in the HAAC Tournament.
Saturday's game between the Eagles and Ravens may also be a preview of the first round of the HAAC playoffs. If Central Methodist wants to host in the HAAC Tournament, then winning on Saturday is vital.
Fight for Fourth
The winner of Saturday's game in Puckett Fieldhouse will sit alone in fourth place in the HAAC standings. Both teams enter the HAAC Men's Basketball Game of the Week with 9-6 conference records. Whichever team ends the regular season in fourth place will host a quarterfinal round playoff game in the HAAC Tournament.
Saturday's game between the Eagles and Ravens may also be a preview of the first round of the HAAC playoffs. If Central Methodist wants to host in the HAAC Tournament, then winning on Saturday is vital.
Buzzer-Beaters
The last two matchups between the Eagles and Ravens have come down to the last shot of the game.�Melvin Tillman found the bottom of the net for a game-winning bucket with 1.3 seconds left� to lift Central�Methodist to a 53-51 victory at Benedictine last season.�A John Harris, Jr. putback of a missed baseline jumper as time expired gave the Ravens a 51-50 victory earlier this season.
Messersmith, Ravens Use to Rejection
Led by forward Jallen�Messersmith, Benedictine is the top-ranked team in the HAAC in defense and blocked shots. Messersmith had two blocks versus the Eagles on Jan. 12, and his team totaled six in the game.
Rebounding Key to Success
Central Methodist has held its own for most of the season against physical teams in the HAAC, but the Eagles must control the boards on Saturday to pull off a win. The Ravens outrebounded the Green and Black the first time around this season 33-21 overall and 13-4 on the offensive glass.
Free Throws
If the game remains close late, and judging by recent outcomes it will be, free throws may decide the winner. If that is the case, then give the edge to the Eagles, who rank second in the HAAC in free throw percentage (72.4 percent). The Ravens are in the middle of the pack, ranked tied for fifth with a 67.3 percent clip.
Central Methodist Ranks in Multiple NAIA Division I Categories
In NAIA Division I, Central Methodist:
Ranks Number 6 in Division I in 3-Pt Fg Pct Defense (0.291)
Ranks Number 11 in Division I in Free Throw Pct (0.724)
Ranks Number 12 in Division I in Total Assists (411)
Ranks Number 14 in Division I in Assists per Game (15.222)
Ranks Number 16 in Division I in Total 3-Pt FG Made (202)
Ranks Number 17 in Division I in 3-Pt Fg Pct (0.378)
Ranks Number 17 in Division I in Scoring Defense per Game (65.444)
Ranks Number 18 in Division I in Assist/Turnover Ratio (1.076)
Ranks Number 23 in Division I in 3-Pt Fg Made per Game (7.481)
Ranks Number 26 in Division I in Field Goal Pct (0.458)
Ranks Number 33 in Division I in Total Rebound Defense (34.111)
Ranks Number 37 in Division I in Scoring Margin (5.185)
Ranks Number 42 in Division I in Total Scoring Offense (1907)
Eagle Players Rank in Several NAIA Division I Categories
Eagle Players Rank in Several NAIA Division I Categories
Eric Franklin ranks 13th in assists (125), 16th in assists per game (4.808) and 28th in assist/turnover ratio (2.049).
Elliott Black is 30th in field goal percentage (0.508) and 41st in scoring (413).
Melvin Tillman ranks 37th in 3-point field goal percentage (0.410), 40th in assists (93) and 44th in scoring (411).
Elliott Black is 30th in field goal percentage (0.508) and 41st in scoring (413).
Melvin Tillman ranks 37th in 3-point field goal percentage (0.410), 40th in assists (93) and 44th in scoring (411).
