The Basics
The Omaha men's basketball team continues road play this Tuesday, Dec. 3, visiting Arkansas State. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at First National Bank Arena in Jonesboro, Ark.
The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+, 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.
Quick Hits
• Omaha saw its three-game win streak snapped Sunday night at Saint Mary's.
• The Mavericks are in the midst of a season-long, four-game road swing. This week's jaunt to Saint Mary's and Arkansas State is a grand total of 5,165 miles.
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Matt Pile enters the week ranked seventh nationally for total rebounds (89) and 28th for rebounds per game (9.9).
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JT Gibson has played the 26th-most minutes of any player in the country.
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Ayo Akinwole's 2.79 assist-to-turnover ratio is 34th nationally.
• The Mavericks are 9-3 in the last three years when
Matt Pile has a double-double.
• 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 1,186-1,190.
• The Mavericks have shot 50.0% as a team twice this year and have 15 straight wins when shooting 50.0% or better.
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JT Gibson,
KJ Robinson,
Ayo Akinwole and
Matt Pile will serve as first-time team captains this season.
Scouting the Arkansas State Red Wolves
Arkansas State is 5-2 (0-0 Sun Belt) on the season after a 76-57 loss to Stephen F. Austin Saturday night, which snapped the Red Wolves' four-game win streak. Caleb Fields scored a team-high 18 points with six assists and seven rebounds, and Canberk Kus added 16 points and eight boards. Jerry Johnson chipped in another 10 points.
Kus (13.9 ppg), Fields (13.5) and Marquis Eaton (10.3 ppg) all average in double figures, while Malik Brevard has a team-best 7.4 rebounds per game. Arkansas State was picked 10th in the Sun Belt Preseason Poll.
Head coach Mike Balado has a career record of 29-42 his third season at A-State.
All-Time Against Arkansas State
Tuesday marks the second meeting between Omaha and Arkansas State. The two teams previously met Dec. 13, 2017 at Baxter Arena, where the Mavericks won 77-74.
Against the Sun Belt
Tuesday's meeting with Arkansas State marks the second matchup in program history against a Sun Belt opponent.
Last Time Out: Saint Mary's Pushes Past Mavericks, 75-66
Omaha battled but came up short Sunday night at Saint Mary's, falling 75-66 at McKeon Pavilion.
JT Gibson led the Mavericks with 16 points on four 3-pointers.
Zach Thornhill hit 5-of-6 from the field for 13 points, and
KJ Robinson tallied his fifth straight double-figure effort with 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting.
Omaha shot 44.3% (27-of-61) to Saint Mary's 50.8% (30-of-59). The Gaels had a 35-29 rebounding advantage and outscored Omaha 36-24 in the paint. The Mavericks committed a season-low eight turnovers.
Up Next
Omaha visits Northern Arizona on Sunday, Dec. 8, with tipoff set for 4 p.m. CT in Prescott, Ariz. Gary Sharp will have the radio call on 1180 Zone 2, and links to live video, audio and stats will be available on OMavs.com.
