KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Raven Men's Basketball team opens up their run in the 80th annual Buffalo Funds-NAIA Div. I Men's Basketball Tournament against No. 8 The Master's College Mustangs.
Tonight marks a return to the tournament for the Benedictine (21-10) for the first time since the 2014 while The Master's is making its first appearance in the tournament since 2000.
The Match Up: (RV) Benedictine (21-10) vs. (8) The Master's College Mustangs (26-4) - 7:30 p.m. - Municipal Auditorium
Video: NAIAnetwork.com - please note there is a pay per view cost associated with the video stream
Radio: KNZA 103.9 FM or http://streamdb7web.securenetsystems.net/v5/KNZA
Stats (courtesy of Dakstats): http://bit.ly/2fatJ62
Tickets: www.NAIAhoops.com
ABOUT BENEDICTINE: The Ravens are making their third appearnace in the NAIA Div. I Men's Tournament under head coach Ryan Moody. ... The Ravens earned this year's trip to the tournament through an at-large berth. ... In the Ravens last appearance in the tournament, they dropped a 80-77 meeting with Montana Western in the first round of the 2015 tournament. ... The Ravens enter the game rank 12th in NAIA Div. I in scoring defense per game, limiting their opponents to just 69.5 ppg through 31 games. ... The Ravens limited their opponent to under 65 points in 14 games this season and they went 13-1 in those games with their lone loss coming in the Heart Tournament when Graceland earned a 62-60 win over Benedictine. ... Andre Yates leads the Ravens in scoring at 18.3 ppg while Jake Schannuth is also in double figures at 10.7 ppg.
ABOUT THE MASTER'S: The Mustangs are 6-7 all-time in the tournament but have not made an appearance since 2000. They advanced all the way to the quarterfinals in 2000 where they lost to Life (Ga.), 79-68. ... This year's apparance is their eight overall having qualified for seven straight seasons from 1994 to 2000. ... The Master's earned the trip to the tournament by way of an automatic berth by winning tthe Golden State Athletic Conference Tournament. ... The Mustangs have five players who aveage in double figures, however those same five account for 76,1 percent of The Master's 87.7 points per game average.
Tweet This ... Notes on today's match up in 140 characters or less.
Benedictine is making its third appearance in the #NAIADIMBB Tournament under head coach Ryan Moody. This is their 9th overall appearance. ... The Ravens have an overall record in the #NAIADIMBB Tournament of 13-8 and are 5-4 in the opening round with their last win in 2014. ... This season marks the third 20-plus win season for the Ravens under head coach Ryan Moody. They went 24-9 in 14-15 and 23-9 in 13-14. ... Benedictine enters tournament play ranked 12th in scoring defense (69.5 ppg), 23rd in 3-pt defense (32.4 %) & 24th in FG defense (41.6 %). ... Thomas O'Connor ranks 11th in #NAIADIMBB in 3-point field goal percent. He has converted on 47.1 percent this season with 47 3-pointers. ... Jake Schannuth ranks 5th on the Ravens career 3-pointers list with 204. He needs 6 to move into a tie with former Raven Brett Fisher at 210. ... The Master's College ranks sixth in #NAIADIMBB in scoring offense per game at 87.7 and defensive rebounds per game with 30.5. ... The Mustangs rank eighth in #NAIADIMBB in free throw percentage at 74.1 percent and are ninth in field goal percentage at 48.8 percent. ... Reid Shackelford ranks 6th in #NAIADIMBB in total 3-pointers (93) & 3-pointers per game (3.1). He also ranks 9th in free throw percent (85.4). ... Based off their previous game starters, The Master's has five players averaging in double figures with two of those coming off the bench. ... Shackelford leads the Mustangs in scoring at 16.9 ppg and is one of two players for the Mustangs to log over 1,000 minutes this season. ... Lawrence Russell and Shackelford have played over 1,000 minutes this season and have averaged 35.8 and 34.3 minutes per game respectively.
UP NEXT: Tonight's winner advances to the second around on Friday at 7:30 p.m. where they will take on the winner of the Texas Wesleyan/Cumberlands (Ky.) game that is being played at 4 p.m. today.
