The Basics
The Omaha men's basketball team welcomes Bethune-Cookman to Baxter Arena this Monday, Nov. 11 at 7:30 p.m. Gary Sharp and former Maverick
Kyler Erickson will have the radio call on 1180 Zone 2, and links to live stats, audio and video will be available on OMavs.com.
The game concludes Military Appreciation Weekend at Baxter Arena. Promo code THANKYOU at OMavs.com/tix opens up a buy-one-get-one-free ticket deal for any of the three games of Monday's tripleheader at the arena, including Noon volleyball vs. Western Illinois, 5 p.m. women's basketball vs. Peru State or the men's game vs. BCU.
Quick Hits
• The 2019-20 season is the 107th overall in program history and the ninth of the Mavericks' Division I era. All-time, the program is 1,182-1,187.
• Omaha extended its home win streak to seven games with last Thursday's 72-53 win over Midland.
• The Mavericks shot 50.0% as a team for the first time this season, marking 14 straight wins when shooting 50.0% or better.
•
JT Gibson,
KJ Robinson,
Ayo Akinwole and
Matt Pile will all serve as first-time team captains this season.
Scouting the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats
Bethune-Cookman is 1-1 (0-0 MEAC) on the season after a 79-44 loss at No. 13 Texas Tech Saturday night. Malik Maitland led the Wildcats with 13 points, and Isaiah Bailey added 11 more, but BCU was held to 29.8% shooting as a team.
BCU's roster has eight seniors, and its starting five includes five of them. Four players average double-figure scoring: Bailey (17.5 ppg), Maitland (13.0 ppg), Cletrell Pope (13.0 ppg) and freshman Joe French (12.0 ppg). Pope also has 13.5 rebounds per game to lead the MEAC.
Head coach Ryan Ridder has compiled a career record of 33-32 in three seasons at Bethune-Cookman.
All-Time Against Bethune-Cookman
Monday marks the third meeting between Omaha and Bethune-Cookman, with the series tied at 1-1. Both meetings have come during the Mavericks' Division I era, but the teams have never met previously in Omaha.
The first game in the series was Nov. 23, 2012 in Valparaiso, Ind., as part of the Joe Cipriano Classic, with BCU winning 93-81.
Their most recent tussle was Nov. 20, 2018 in Daytona Beach, where the Mavericks won 76-56 after overcoming a 15-point deficit.
JT Gibson was Omaha's leading scorer, finishing with a career-high-tying 21 points. The junior hit three 3-pointers and went 8-of-8 at the free throw line while adding two rebounds, three assists and three steals for the night.
Matt Pile narrowly missed a double-double with 14 points, nine rebounds, a block and a steal.
Meeting the MEAC
Monday's meeting vs. Bethune-Cookman marks the sixth meeting of Omaha's Division I era against MEAC competition. All-time, Omaha is 3-2 against members of the conference.
Honey, We're Home
Omaha was 10-2 at home last season, including 7-1 in Summit League play, and ended the slate on a six-game home win streak. They averaged 83.3 points per game and had an average margin of victory of 13.4 points at Baxter Arena.
Heading into Monday night's contest, Omaha has won seven straight home games dating back to last season. Over the last four years, the Mavericks have enjoyed a 36-14 (.720) advantage at home.
Last Time Out: Mavericks Run Past Midland in Home Opener, 72-53
Omaha used a strong second half to power past Midland Thursday afternoon, 72-53, in its home opener at Baxter Arena.
Ayo Akinwole toyed with triple-double territory to lead the Mavericks, finishing a rebound shy as he posted 17 points and career highs of nine boards and 10 assists. Akinwole was a perfect 8-of-8 from the field en route to his first career double-double.
Matt Pile led all scorers with a career-high 22 points on 10-of-13 shooting while grabbing nine rebounds and four blocks.
JT Gibson also scored in double figures with 11 points off a trio of 3-pointers, adding two rebounds, four assists and a steal.
Omaha shot 50.0% (32-of-64) as a team while holding Midland to 31.8% (21-of-66). The two teams were even on the glass, 39-39.
Up Next
Omaha takes to the road for Colorado State on Wednesday, Nov. 13, with tipoff set for 8 p.m. CT at Moby Arena in Fort Collins, Colo. The game will be broadcast live on Mountain West Network, and Gary Sharp will have the radio call on 1180 Zone 2. Links to live video, audio and stats will be available on OMavs.com.
