WILMINGTON, Ohio - The Wilmington College men's basketball team begins the 2021-22 campaign on Wednesday when Mount St. Joseph University comes to Fred Riazk Arena for a 7 p.m. contest on Wednesday evening.
The Teams: Wilmington and Mount St. Joseph (MSJ). The Fightin' Quakers finished the COVID-19-altered 2020-21 season with a 4-10 overall record. WC upset No. 2 Heidelberg University in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Tournament before bowing out to eventual champion Marietta College. The Lions finished last year 2-10 and opened this season with a narrow 61-52 defeat at nationally-ranked Trine University on Saturday.
The Coaches: K.C. Hunt is in his 15th season as head coach of Wilmington's men's basketball program. Hunt, who has coached two All-Americans and seven of the school's 1,000-point scorers, led the Quakers to OAC Tournament titles in 2010 and 2014. He garnered Great Lakes Region Coach of the Year honors for guiding Wilmington to OAC Tournament title and a win in the NCAA Division III Tournament in 2010. Toby Carrigan is in his 11th season as MSJ's head coach. The two-time Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) Coach of the Year has won four conference titles in his decade-plus tenure.
The Players: Jeffery Mansfield, a two-time First Team All-OAC selection, returns for his senior season having led the team in scoring (17.7 points per game), rebounds per game (5.0) and assists per game (5.4). Bilal Sow, who averaged 10.8 points and 3.9 rebounds per game playing about 20 minutes per game, looks to build on that performance in this is sophomore season. The Lion duo of David Luers and Brady Thomas both scored 11 points in MSJ's season-opening defeat at Trine University.
Tale of the Tape (2020-21): Points per game – Wilmington 70.1, MSJ 54.3, opponents' points per game – Wilmington 70.9, MSJ 68.2 field goal percentage – Wilmington 43.6, MSJ 40.0; three-point percentage – Wilmington 33.1, MSJ 34.4; free throw percentage – Wilmington 70.8, MSJ 64.9; rebounds per game – Wilmington 31.5, MSJ 24.3; assist-to-turnover ratio – Wilmington 1.05, MSJ, 0.90.
Recent History: Wilmington is 7-10-0 against MSJ since the 1999 season. The Quakers have, however won the previous two meetings including an 86-65 triumph the last time the teams met at Hermann Court - Nov. 12, 2018. More information on the series history can be viewed by visiting the link above.
COVID-19 Precautions: Facial coverings and social distancing are required for spectators. Additionally, signage will be throughout Hermann Court for designated seating areas.
Coverage: Live statistics and live video of both games will be available – visit the links above.
Social Media: Wilmington athletics is represented on Facebook (Wilmington College Athletics), Twitter (@DubCQuakers) and Instagram (@DubCQuakers). Follow all the happenings of Wilmington College on social media by using the hashtag "#WeAreDubC".
Up Next: Wilmington hosts Olivet College for a 7 p.m. tip-off on Monday.
