HCU vs. ROCKFORD (IL)
Houston Christian University returns to the friendly confines of Sharp Gymnasium for the first time in 12 days when it faces Rockford University (IL) on Saturday afternoon. The matinee tip begins a four-game homestand over the next two weeks for the Huskies.
The Huskies won their season opener over Avila to give new head coach
Craig Doty a win in his HCU debut, but are coming off consecutive losses to nationally ranked opponents. Doty became the ninth head coach as the program enters its 59
th season when he was hired in March. He enters his 13
th season as a head coach with experience on the NJCAA, NAIA and NCAA Division 2 levels, including three national championships.
The Huskies lost at then No. 19 University of Texas last Friday night in Austin, then fell 78-43 to 14th-ranked Creighton University on Wednesday night in Omaha, Nebraska. HCU fell victim to cold-shooting against the Bluejays as after grabbing a 7-3 lead at the 17:37 mark, the Huskies went on an extended drought, scoring just five points the rest of the half as the hosts found their stride and took control. A late run for the Huskies proved a bright spot, as HCU outscored Creighton 14-4 over the final 5:25 of the contest.
D'Aundre Samuels had eight points while the Bazil brothers, Pierce (seven) and Porter (6) combined for 13 as they each got the starting nod in the first return to their home state as collegians.
Trent Johnson scored eight points and led the Huskies with career-highs of seven rebounds and two steals. He also paced the team with three assists, while
Porter Bazil matched a career-best with six rebounds on the evening.
Julian Mackey and
Bryson Dawkins are averaging right at 11 points each for the Huskies on the offensive end, with
Pierce Bazil and
D'Aundre Samuels scoring at 6.3 ppg.
Porter Bazil averages 5.7 rebounds and is second on the club with 4.3 rebounds, followed by
Trent Johnson at 5.3 points and a team-best 4.7 rebounds.
The Huskies after three games, two with ranked opponents, are averaging 37.3 rebounds per game at just a -0.7 deficit thus far, and also average eight steals per contest. HCU has taken 30+ three-pointers in all three games this season, after taking that many just 11 times in the previous 10 seasons.
HCU and Rockford have never met. The Regents hail from Rockford, Illinois, just about 90 minutes northwest of Chicago and are a member of the NCAA Division III ranks and the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference. RU is 1-0 on the season with a season opening win on the road over Martin Luther and the Regents are led by 5'10 sophomore guard Tre Miller and 6'8 freshman Cooper Jackson, who both scored 19 points in the season opener.
The game with HCU will be the back end of a Texas two-step for the Regents, who fell 98-89 in an exhibition to St. Edward's University in Austin on Thursday evening. Jackson finished with 13 points and four rebounds while Miller had 12 points to lead six in double-digits against the Hilltoppers.
The Huskies have played just 22 games against schools from Illinois it their history, and the game with Rockford will be the first since a 72-63 loss at Northwestern in 2016. HCU is 2-4 in games played on November 16. The last time the Huskies played on this date was 2015, when Anthony Odunsi scored 17 points and dished out 10 assists to pace a 102-62 home rout of Crowley's Ridge College.
Saturday is the first of four straight on Fondren Road. The Huskies will return to action next Friday when they welcome cross-town rival Rice University to Sharp Gym.
#DawgsUp
