The Basics
The Omaha men's basketball team welcomes Denver this Sunday, Feb. 16, with tipoff set for 4:30 p.m. at Baxter Arena. Gary Sharp and Kyler Erickson will have the radio call on 1180 Zone 2, and links to live video, audio and stats will be available on OMavs.com.
Fans are encouraged to arrive early, as the senior duo of
JT Gibson and
KJ Robinson will be honored with pregame Senior Day festivities.
Quick Hits
• Omaha had won five straight games in overtime dating back to the 2017-18 season before Wednesday night's OT loss at Oral Roberts.
• The Mavericks have the second-best home attendance in the Summit League season with an average of 2,418 fans per game -- their best of the Division I era.
• Omaha started 3-0 in Summit League play and was the last undefeated team in the conference until falling at South Dakota on Jan. 11, which ended its season-long four-game win streak.
• According to ESPN's Basketball Power Index, Omaha is 121st for strength of schedule -- the highest of any league team.
• Omaha was picked fourth in the Summit League's preseason poll, and
Matt Pile and
JT Gibson were both second-team Preseason All-Summit picks.
• The Mavericks had a 3.14 semester GPA as a team in the fall semester. It marked their third straight semester with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• 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 1,193-1,200.
•
JT Gibson,
KJ Robinson,
Ayo Akinwole and
Matt Pile will serve as first-time team captains this season.
Scouting the Denver Pioneers
Denver has a record of 5-21 (1-11 Summit League) after a 90-78 defeat at South Dakota State Friday night for its sixth straight loss. Ade Murkey had a career night with 42 points and 11 rebounds, setting DU's Division I single-game scoring record. Jase Townsend also finished in double figures with 14 points.
Townsend has averaged a team-leading 17.8 points per game this season, which ranks fifth in the league. DU was picked ninth in the Summit League's preseason poll.
Head coach Rodney Billups is in his fourth season in Denver with a career record of 44-72.
All-Time Against Denver
Sunday marks the 17th meeting between Omaha and Denver, with the Pioneers leading the all-time series, 9-7. Omaha looks to avenge an earlier 91-76 loss at DU, 91-76, on Jan. 18 at Hamilton Gymnasium.
The Pioneers lead the series 8-7 in the Mavericks' Division I era, but Omaha has a 4-2 advantage at home -- including 3-1 at Baxter Arena -- since 2013-14. The Mavericks have won three straight against DU at Baxter.
Last Time Out: Mavericks Drop Heartbreaker in OT, 81-78
Ayo Akinwole's hustle play in the closing seconds of regulation sent Omaha to overtime with Oral Roberts Wednesday night, but the effort came up short as the Mavericks fell 81-78 at the Mabee Center.
Matt Pile collected his second straight double-double and his 10th of the season with team highs of 16 points and 10 rebounds. The junior shot 8-of-10 and had three assists and three blocks.
KJ Robinson and
Marlon Ruffin followed with 14 points apiece. Robinson added a career-high-tying eight assists, and Ruffin hit four 3-pointers and brought down a season-high-tying eight rebounds with three helpers.
JT Gibson added 12 points and four rebounds, and
Wanjang Tut rounded it out with 11 points, eight boards, three blocks and two assists.
Zach Thornhill also grabbed a career-high-tying nine rebounds and had six points.
Omaha outshot Oral Roberts 42.1% (32-of-76) to 41.1% (30-of-73) and outrebounded the Golden Eagles 45-36. ORU finished 83.3% (15-of-18) at the line to Omaha's 77.8% (7-of-9).
Up Next
Omaha visits Purdue Fort Wayne on Thursday, Feb. 20, with tipoff set for 6 p.m. CT at Gates Sports Center in Fort Wayne, Ind. 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.
