Mavs Ready for Midweek Game With Simpson
Dec 15, 2015 | Men's Basketball
This Week
After three straight games on the road, the Omaha men's basketball team returns home this week to host Simpson on Wednesday, Dec. 16. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at Baxter Arena, Gary Sharp and Grant Nieland will have the radio call on 1180 Zone 2. Fans can stream the audio on their smartphones by downloading NRG Media's app “1620 The Zone,” and links to live stats, audio and video will be available on OMavs.com.
Quick Hits
•Omaha hit the century mark for the fourth time this season with its 108-104 overtime win at Grand Canyon on Sunday. Over the 11-year Derrin Hansen era, the Mavericks are a perfect 17-0 when scoring 100 points or more in a game.
•The Mavericks' 108 points at GCU were the most since scoring 113 vs. Missouri Southern on Feb. 25, 2010.
•UNO returns nine letterwinners from its 2014-15 team, including three starters in senior guards Marcus Tyus and Devin Patterson and sophomore forward Tre'Shawn Thurman. Tyus, who suffered a season-ending knee injury last February, will redshirt this season.
•Patterson leads the team in scoring (17.3 ppg), while Thurman is first for rebounding (7.3 rpg). Four Mavericks average double-figure scoring: Patterson, Thurman (14.9 ppg), senior forward Jake White (15.7 ppg) and junior guard Tra-Deon Hollins (10.4 ppg).
•Hollins is the nation's leader in both steals (42) and steals per game (4.2).
•Eleven different Mavericks have had at least one double-figure scoring performance this season.
•UNO's top scorer off the bench is senior guard/forward Randy Reed II, who averages 6.3 points per game.
•According to kenpom.com, UNO is second nationally in adjusted tempo, which estimates of the possessions per 40 minutes a team would have against a team that wants to play at an average Division I tempo. Omaha's adjusted tempo is listed at 79.6 behind The Citadel (80.9).
•Omaha was picked seventh in the Summit League's preseason poll.
Scouting the Simpson Storm
Division III Simpson brings a record of 4-3 (0-0 IIAC) into Wednesday's matchup at Omaha. The Storm last played Dec. 2 at Waldorf, falling 75-67 despite 16 points apiece from Sam Amsbaugh and Dillon Gretzky. Head coach Brad Bjorkgren is in his first season at Simpson with a career record of 4-3.
Wednesday marks the 17th meeting between Omaha and Simpson and the first in over 50 years. UNO leads the all-time series 12-4, having won the last meeting 78-59 in the Mavericks' 1963-64 season opener.
Last Time Out: Mavs Rally For 108-104 OT Triumph at Grand Canyon
Omaha overcame a 19-point deficit Sunday night, defeating Grand Canyon 108-104 in overtime at GCU Arena. Senior guard Devin Patterson paced the Mavericks with 26 points and six rebounds, shooting 6-of-12 from the field with three 3-pointers and an 11-of-12 showing at the line. Senior forward Jake White added 23 points with five boards, hitting 7-of-10 from the floor and 9-of-10 at the stripe.
Junior guard Tra-Deon Hollins finished with a season-high 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting, adding seven assists, five steals, three rebounds and a team-high two blocks. Senior guards Kyler Erickson and Tim Smallwood totaled 11 points and three boards apiece, with Erickson shooting 4-of-7 with two threes and Smallwood coming in at 3-of-6, all behind the arc.
As a team, Omaha shot 56 percent (34-of-61) from the field, 41 percent (9-of-22) from long range and 78 percent (31of-40) at the free throw line. Grand Canyon finished at a 48 percent clip (37-of-77) from the floor, 33 percent (7-of-21) from three and 70 percent (23-of-33) at the charity stripe.
Two for 20
Omaha has had two scorers with 20 or more points on the same night twice this season: Dec. 6 at Montana State and Dec. 13 at Grand Canyon. At MSU, senior guard Devin Patterson tallied a career-high 38 and sophomore forward Tre'Shawn Thurman notched 20. At GCU, Patterson accounted for 26, while senior forward Jake White had another 23.
Last season, the Mavericks had two 20-point scorers in the same game just once -- Nov. 22, 2014 in their road upset of Marquette, when Patterson had 26 points and CJ Carter had 25.
Man of Steal
Ten games into the season, junior guard Tra-Deon Hollins leads the nation in both total steals (42) and steals per game (4.2). Driven by his efforts on defense, Omaha as a team is fifth in the country for total steals (103) and seventh for steals per game (10.3).
Hollins has long been regarded for his defensive prowess and is no stranger to pacing the nation in steals, as he led the all players in the NJCAA with 4.1 swipes per game while playing at Central CC in 2013-14.
#euromavs: A Maverick Adventure to Italy
Omaha embarked on its first overseas training trip August 12-22 of this year with a tour of Italy, spending 11 days in three cities with four games against foreign competition. The Mavericks won all four contests, defeating All Star Varese 85-43, Stellazzurra 75-39, Isernia 107-31 and Luiss University 81-41. Sophomore forward Daniel Meyer (11.5 points per game), senior forward Jake White (10.0 ppg) and senior guard/forward Randy Reed II (10.0 ppg) all averaged double-figure scoring for the trip.
The team stayed in Milan, Florence and Rome, and sightseeing activities included a private boat tour at Lake Como, visits to the Duomo, the Accademia Museum, Ponte Vecchio, Santa Maria Novella, the Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain and tours of the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Vatican.
League Leaders
Omaha leads the Summit League this season in nine statistical categories: points scored (894), points per game (89.4), field goals made per game (30.9), field goals attempted per game (66.3), free throws made per game (21.3), free throws attempted per game (28.3), offensive rebounds per game (11.7), total rebounds per game (39.9), steals per game (10.3).
Individually, junior guard Tra-Deon Hollins is first among all league players for assists (61) and steals (42).
The Terrific Trio
Senior guard Devin Patterson, senior forward Jake White and sophomore forward Tre'Shawn Thurman are the highest-scoring trio in the Summit League this season. Their combined average of 47.9 points per game is ahead of Oral Roberts' Obi Emegano, Jalen Bradley and Albert Owens (44.2).
Patterson is fourth in the conference with 17.3 ppg, while White is 10th (15.7 ppg) and Thurman is 11th (15.9 ppg).
Pitter Patterson
Senior guard Devin Patterson is known for his quickness, and the Portsmouth, Va., native led the Summit League in steals each of the last two seasons. Now nine games into his senior season, he is 10th on the Omaha career steals list with 131 in two and a half seasons. Patterson's next hurdle is Thor Palamore (1987-91), who had 136 steals for ninth.
Patterson also joined the top 20 in school history for career assists in the opening weekend, and his total has risen to 235 in 15th place. His next target is Denny Johnston (2004-08), who owned 241 helpers.
After Sunday's game at Grand Canyon, Patterson pushed his career scoring total to 813 points, which is the most of any active Maverick. Patterson needs 187 points to become Omaha's 36th 1,000-point scorer.
Tracking Tre'Shawn
After 30 blocked shots to his credit as a freshman and eight more this season, sophomore forward Tre'Shawn Thurman entered the top 20 in school history for career blocks on Nov. 25. The Omaha Central product now has nine this season, which has pushed him to 19th on the list.
Thurman started all but three games in his freshman season, becoming the first UNO freshman to earn a start since CJ Carter in 2011-12. Thurman finished with 18 points and a career-best five blocks against Nevada last year, the most blocks by any Maverick since Gabe Zweiner tallied five against Nebraska-Kearney on Dec. 3, 2005.
Thurman followed his five blocks against the Wolf Pack with three at Kansas State, along with a career-high 19 points. He became the first player to have three or more blocks in back-to-back games since Jerry Bennett did so in 2007-08 with three apiece against North Dakota and Fort Lewis.
Thurman averaged 9.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game in his debut season, tallying 14 double-digit scoring efforts.
Picking Up the Pace
Omaha ranks fifth nationally in scoring with 89.4 points per game, up from 80.1 ppg through the first 10 games last year. In its five wins this season over Saint Mary's, UMKC, Northern Colorado, Montana State and Grand Canyon, UNO has averaged 102.4 points per contest, never scoring less than 95 points.
In those wins, the Mavs have also shot 51 percent (171-of-336) from the field, 36 percent (39-of-109) from long range and 81 percent (131-of-162) at the line, compared to 42 percent (138-of-327), 25 percent (24-of-98) and 68 percent (82-of-121), respectively, across their five losses.
Zach Jack Attack
Freshman guard Zach Jackson made his first career start vs. UC Santa Barbara and scored the first basket at Baxter Arena with a jumper 52 seconds into the game. The Wichita, Kan., native finished with four points, two assists, two steals and a rebound in his debut, playing 25 minutes. Jackson then scored the first basket in the Mavericks' second game as well, posting 10 points, four boards, four assists, three steals and a block vs. Saint Mary's.
Jackson was the first freshman to start a season opener since CJ Carter at Fort Wayne on Nov. 12, 2011. Over his eight starts this season, he has averaged 6.0 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. Jackson turned in a season-best 14 points and seven rebounds at Montana State on Dec. 6.
Gibson Provides a Spark
Freshman guard JT Gibson sparked Omaha in its second-half rally vs. UC Santa Barbara on Nov. 13, nailing back-to-back 3-pointers nine minutes in to start a 25-4 run over the next seven minutes of play. Gibson, the 2015 Gatorade Minnesota State Player of the Year, registered eight points, a rebound and assist in his Maverick debut. He became the first freshman to hit at least two triples in a season opener since CJ Carter did so at Fort Wayne on Nov. 12, 2011.
Gibson followed up with another sound performance off the bench vs. Saint Mary's on Nov. 15, finishing with 13 points and six rebounds while shooting 4-of-7 from the field with a trio of threes. Playing in his home state last Friday at Minnesota, he put up 11 points and five boards against the Gophers.
For the season, Gibson has averaged 6.0 points per game and is second on the team with eight 3-pointers made.
White Out
In 2015-16, senior forward Jake White has taken a starting role and is one of three Mavericks averaging in double figures, credited for 15.7 points per game. He has scored in double figures in eight consecutive games, including a career-high 25 at Northern Colorado on Nov. 25. White achieved his first double-double as a Maverick Dec. 1 vs. Eastern Michigan with 14 points and a career-high 12 caroms. He added his second double-double on Dec. 9 at Missouri with 18 points and 10 boards.
Rallying for the Win
Omaha overcame a 19-point deficit in its win at Grand Canyon on Dec. 13, the largest since rallying from down 22 for an 85-78 triumph at IUPUI on Feb. 9, 2013.
The Mavericks also rallied from a 10-point second-half deficit vs. UMKC on Nov. 17, winning 95-89 in overtime.
Wiping Down the Offensive Glass
Omaha finished the 2014-15 season ranked second in the Summit League with 11.1 offensive boards per game, its highest average since head coach Derrin Hansen's first UNO team had 13.0 per game in 2005-06. Last year, the Mavericks tallied double-digit offensive rebounds in 62 percent (18 of 29) of their games, including a season-high 26 vs. Central Arkansas in the season opener.
This year, Omaha is up to 11.7 offensive boards per game, grabbing 10 or more in the seven out of the first 10 contests. The Mavericks have also averaged 12.8 second-chance points in that span.
Stacking Up Nationally
Through their first 10 games this season, UNO ranks second nationally for free throws made (213), third for total steals (103), fifth for scoring (89.4 ppg) and free throw attempts (283), seventh for steals per game (10.3) and 24th for free throw percentage (.753).
Individually, junior guard Tra-Deon Hollins leads the nation in total steals (42) and steals per game (4.2) and is 19th for total assists (61) and 25th for assists per game (6.1).
Compared to the Opposition
One of the nation's top teams in steals per game, Omaha has equaled or tallied more steals than its opponent in all 10 contests this year. Over seven games UNO has:
•More or equal steals compared to its opponent 10 times
•Fewer or equal turnovers compared to its opponent eight times
•More or equal FT attempts compared to its opponent five times
•More rebounds compared to its opponent five times
•More or equal blocks compared to its opponent three times
•More or equal 3-point field goals made compared to its opponent four times
Home Sweet Home Advantage
During head coach Derrin Hansen's career, Omaha has won 70 percent of its home contests, going 99-42. The Mavericks secured their first win at brand-new Baxter Arena on Nov. 15, 104-58 vs. Saint Mary's (Minn.).
The 2014-15 season marked UNO's third and final season playing at Ralston Arena, which served as the home of Maverick men's basketball since 2012-13. Over three years at Ralston, Omaha posted a home record of 25-16.
Last season on its home court, UNO's average margin of victory was 17.3, and it scored an average of 79.8 points per game. Over the 10 previous years of the Hansen era, the Mavericks averaged 81.6 points per game at home at Sapp Fieldhouse and Ralston Arena, including 80.5 during the four Division I years.
Hansen Guides Mavericks in 11th Season
Head coach Derrin Hansen is in his 11th season at the helm of the Omaha men's basketball program in 2015-16, boasting a career record of 166-143 over his head coaching career. He took the job after serving as an assistant coach for seven years with former Maverick head coaches Kevin McKenna and Kevin Lehman. Hansen has the second-most victories of any coach in program history, behind only Bob Hanson.
Hansen has coached or assisted teams that have earned five trips to the NCAA Division II Tournament, while also garnering two regular-season league titles and three tournament crowns. In 2007-08, his squad recorded a school-record 25 wins in its final season of North Central Conference play, and the Mavs won their final NCC Tournament to advance to the NCAA Division II Tournament for the first time since 2004-05. In 2009-10, UNO earned an NCAA Tournament berth by capturing the MIAA Tournament crown in just its second year as a member of the league.
As a player at Nebraska Wesleyan, Hansen's 1988 squad advanced to the NCAA Division III semifinals, and while serving as a student coach, the 1990 Plainsmen advanced to the final 16.
Hansen is assisted by assistant coaches Tyler Erwin, Pat Eberhart and James Miller.
2015-16 Slate Takes Mavericks Around the Nation
Omaha's 2015-16 schedule includes 30 games, and the team will play in 13 states against schools from 10 other Division I conferences. The schedule has two opponents from both the WAC and the Big Sky and one each from the Big West, Pac-12, Big Ten, MAC, SEC, Mountain West, OVC and SWAC or MEAC. Two opponents – Wyoming and defending Summit League champion North Dakota State – played in the 2015 NCAA Tournament.
The Mavericks have never faced seven of their opponents: UC Santa Barbara, Saint Mary's (Minn.), Colorado, Eastern Michigan, Montana State, Southern and North Carolina Central. They hold a combined all-time record of 163-191-2 over all teams on the regular-season slate.
Next Up
Omaha returns to action on Saturday, Dec. 19, visiting Wyoming. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. (CT) at Arena-Auditorium in Laramie, Wyo., and Gary Sharp will have the radio call on 1180 Zone 2. Fans can stream the audio on their smartphones by downloading NRG Media' app “1620 The Zone,” and links to stats, audio and video will be available on OMavs.com.
After three straight games on the road, the Omaha men's basketball team returns home this week to host Simpson on Wednesday, Dec. 16. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at Baxter Arena, Gary Sharp and Grant Nieland will have the radio call on 1180 Zone 2. Fans can stream the audio on their smartphones by downloading NRG Media's app “1620 The Zone,” and links to live stats, audio and video will be available on OMavs.com.
Quick Hits
•Omaha hit the century mark for the fourth time this season with its 108-104 overtime win at Grand Canyon on Sunday. Over the 11-year Derrin Hansen era, the Mavericks are a perfect 17-0 when scoring 100 points or more in a game.
•The Mavericks' 108 points at GCU were the most since scoring 113 vs. Missouri Southern on Feb. 25, 2010.
•UNO returns nine letterwinners from its 2014-15 team, including three starters in senior guards Marcus Tyus and Devin Patterson and sophomore forward Tre'Shawn Thurman. Tyus, who suffered a season-ending knee injury last February, will redshirt this season.
•Patterson leads the team in scoring (17.3 ppg), while Thurman is first for rebounding (7.3 rpg). Four Mavericks average double-figure scoring: Patterson, Thurman (14.9 ppg), senior forward Jake White (15.7 ppg) and junior guard Tra-Deon Hollins (10.4 ppg).
•Hollins is the nation's leader in both steals (42) and steals per game (4.2).
•Eleven different Mavericks have had at least one double-figure scoring performance this season.
•UNO's top scorer off the bench is senior guard/forward Randy Reed II, who averages 6.3 points per game.
•According to kenpom.com, UNO is second nationally in adjusted tempo, which estimates of the possessions per 40 minutes a team would have against a team that wants to play at an average Division I tempo. Omaha's adjusted tempo is listed at 79.6 behind The Citadel (80.9).
•Omaha was picked seventh in the Summit League's preseason poll.
Scouting the Simpson Storm
Division III Simpson brings a record of 4-3 (0-0 IIAC) into Wednesday's matchup at Omaha. The Storm last played Dec. 2 at Waldorf, falling 75-67 despite 16 points apiece from Sam Amsbaugh and Dillon Gretzky. Head coach Brad Bjorkgren is in his first season at Simpson with a career record of 4-3.
Wednesday marks the 17th meeting between Omaha and Simpson and the first in over 50 years. UNO leads the all-time series 12-4, having won the last meeting 78-59 in the Mavericks' 1963-64 season opener.
Last Time Out: Mavs Rally For 108-104 OT Triumph at Grand Canyon
Omaha overcame a 19-point deficit Sunday night, defeating Grand Canyon 108-104 in overtime at GCU Arena. Senior guard Devin Patterson paced the Mavericks with 26 points and six rebounds, shooting 6-of-12 from the field with three 3-pointers and an 11-of-12 showing at the line. Senior forward Jake White added 23 points with five boards, hitting 7-of-10 from the floor and 9-of-10 at the stripe.
Junior guard Tra-Deon Hollins finished with a season-high 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting, adding seven assists, five steals, three rebounds and a team-high two blocks. Senior guards Kyler Erickson and Tim Smallwood totaled 11 points and three boards apiece, with Erickson shooting 4-of-7 with two threes and Smallwood coming in at 3-of-6, all behind the arc.
As a team, Omaha shot 56 percent (34-of-61) from the field, 41 percent (9-of-22) from long range and 78 percent (31of-40) at the free throw line. Grand Canyon finished at a 48 percent clip (37-of-77) from the floor, 33 percent (7-of-21) from three and 70 percent (23-of-33) at the charity stripe.
Two for 20
Omaha has had two scorers with 20 or more points on the same night twice this season: Dec. 6 at Montana State and Dec. 13 at Grand Canyon. At MSU, senior guard Devin Patterson tallied a career-high 38 and sophomore forward Tre'Shawn Thurman notched 20. At GCU, Patterson accounted for 26, while senior forward Jake White had another 23.
Last season, the Mavericks had two 20-point scorers in the same game just once -- Nov. 22, 2014 in their road upset of Marquette, when Patterson had 26 points and CJ Carter had 25.
Man of Steal
Ten games into the season, junior guard Tra-Deon Hollins leads the nation in both total steals (42) and steals per game (4.2). Driven by his efforts on defense, Omaha as a team is fifth in the country for total steals (103) and seventh for steals per game (10.3).
Hollins has long been regarded for his defensive prowess and is no stranger to pacing the nation in steals, as he led the all players in the NJCAA with 4.1 swipes per game while playing at Central CC in 2013-14.
#euromavs: A Maverick Adventure to Italy
Omaha embarked on its first overseas training trip August 12-22 of this year with a tour of Italy, spending 11 days in three cities with four games against foreign competition. The Mavericks won all four contests, defeating All Star Varese 85-43, Stellazzurra 75-39, Isernia 107-31 and Luiss University 81-41. Sophomore forward Daniel Meyer (11.5 points per game), senior forward Jake White (10.0 ppg) and senior guard/forward Randy Reed II (10.0 ppg) all averaged double-figure scoring for the trip.
The team stayed in Milan, Florence and Rome, and sightseeing activities included a private boat tour at Lake Como, visits to the Duomo, the Accademia Museum, Ponte Vecchio, Santa Maria Novella, the Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain and tours of the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Vatican.
League Leaders
Omaha leads the Summit League this season in nine statistical categories: points scored (894), points per game (89.4), field goals made per game (30.9), field goals attempted per game (66.3), free throws made per game (21.3), free throws attempted per game (28.3), offensive rebounds per game (11.7), total rebounds per game (39.9), steals per game (10.3).
Individually, junior guard Tra-Deon Hollins is first among all league players for assists (61) and steals (42).
The Terrific Trio
Senior guard Devin Patterson, senior forward Jake White and sophomore forward Tre'Shawn Thurman are the highest-scoring trio in the Summit League this season. Their combined average of 47.9 points per game is ahead of Oral Roberts' Obi Emegano, Jalen Bradley and Albert Owens (44.2).
Patterson is fourth in the conference with 17.3 ppg, while White is 10th (15.7 ppg) and Thurman is 11th (15.9 ppg).
Pitter Patterson
Senior guard Devin Patterson is known for his quickness, and the Portsmouth, Va., native led the Summit League in steals each of the last two seasons. Now nine games into his senior season, he is 10th on the Omaha career steals list with 131 in two and a half seasons. Patterson's next hurdle is Thor Palamore (1987-91), who had 136 steals for ninth.
Patterson also joined the top 20 in school history for career assists in the opening weekend, and his total has risen to 235 in 15th place. His next target is Denny Johnston (2004-08), who owned 241 helpers.
After Sunday's game at Grand Canyon, Patterson pushed his career scoring total to 813 points, which is the most of any active Maverick. Patterson needs 187 points to become Omaha's 36th 1,000-point scorer.
Tracking Tre'Shawn
After 30 blocked shots to his credit as a freshman and eight more this season, sophomore forward Tre'Shawn Thurman entered the top 20 in school history for career blocks on Nov. 25. The Omaha Central product now has nine this season, which has pushed him to 19th on the list.
Thurman started all but three games in his freshman season, becoming the first UNO freshman to earn a start since CJ Carter in 2011-12. Thurman finished with 18 points and a career-best five blocks against Nevada last year, the most blocks by any Maverick since Gabe Zweiner tallied five against Nebraska-Kearney on Dec. 3, 2005.
Thurman followed his five blocks against the Wolf Pack with three at Kansas State, along with a career-high 19 points. He became the first player to have three or more blocks in back-to-back games since Jerry Bennett did so in 2007-08 with three apiece against North Dakota and Fort Lewis.
Thurman averaged 9.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game in his debut season, tallying 14 double-digit scoring efforts.
Picking Up the Pace
Omaha ranks fifth nationally in scoring with 89.4 points per game, up from 80.1 ppg through the first 10 games last year. In its five wins this season over Saint Mary's, UMKC, Northern Colorado, Montana State and Grand Canyon, UNO has averaged 102.4 points per contest, never scoring less than 95 points.
In those wins, the Mavs have also shot 51 percent (171-of-336) from the field, 36 percent (39-of-109) from long range and 81 percent (131-of-162) at the line, compared to 42 percent (138-of-327), 25 percent (24-of-98) and 68 percent (82-of-121), respectively, across their five losses.
Zach Jack Attack
Freshman guard Zach Jackson made his first career start vs. UC Santa Barbara and scored the first basket at Baxter Arena with a jumper 52 seconds into the game. The Wichita, Kan., native finished with four points, two assists, two steals and a rebound in his debut, playing 25 minutes. Jackson then scored the first basket in the Mavericks' second game as well, posting 10 points, four boards, four assists, three steals and a block vs. Saint Mary's.
Jackson was the first freshman to start a season opener since CJ Carter at Fort Wayne on Nov. 12, 2011. Over his eight starts this season, he has averaged 6.0 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. Jackson turned in a season-best 14 points and seven rebounds at Montana State on Dec. 6.
Gibson Provides a Spark
Freshman guard JT Gibson sparked Omaha in its second-half rally vs. UC Santa Barbara on Nov. 13, nailing back-to-back 3-pointers nine minutes in to start a 25-4 run over the next seven minutes of play. Gibson, the 2015 Gatorade Minnesota State Player of the Year, registered eight points, a rebound and assist in his Maverick debut. He became the first freshman to hit at least two triples in a season opener since CJ Carter did so at Fort Wayne on Nov. 12, 2011.
Gibson followed up with another sound performance off the bench vs. Saint Mary's on Nov. 15, finishing with 13 points and six rebounds while shooting 4-of-7 from the field with a trio of threes. Playing in his home state last Friday at Minnesota, he put up 11 points and five boards against the Gophers.
For the season, Gibson has averaged 6.0 points per game and is second on the team with eight 3-pointers made.
White Out
In 2015-16, senior forward Jake White has taken a starting role and is one of three Mavericks averaging in double figures, credited for 15.7 points per game. He has scored in double figures in eight consecutive games, including a career-high 25 at Northern Colorado on Nov. 25. White achieved his first double-double as a Maverick Dec. 1 vs. Eastern Michigan with 14 points and a career-high 12 caroms. He added his second double-double on Dec. 9 at Missouri with 18 points and 10 boards.
Rallying for the Win
Omaha overcame a 19-point deficit in its win at Grand Canyon on Dec. 13, the largest since rallying from down 22 for an 85-78 triumph at IUPUI on Feb. 9, 2013.
The Mavericks also rallied from a 10-point second-half deficit vs. UMKC on Nov. 17, winning 95-89 in overtime.
Wiping Down the Offensive Glass
Omaha finished the 2014-15 season ranked second in the Summit League with 11.1 offensive boards per game, its highest average since head coach Derrin Hansen's first UNO team had 13.0 per game in 2005-06. Last year, the Mavericks tallied double-digit offensive rebounds in 62 percent (18 of 29) of their games, including a season-high 26 vs. Central Arkansas in the season opener.
This year, Omaha is up to 11.7 offensive boards per game, grabbing 10 or more in the seven out of the first 10 contests. The Mavericks have also averaged 12.8 second-chance points in that span.
Stacking Up Nationally
Through their first 10 games this season, UNO ranks second nationally for free throws made (213), third for total steals (103), fifth for scoring (89.4 ppg) and free throw attempts (283), seventh for steals per game (10.3) and 24th for free throw percentage (.753).
Individually, junior guard Tra-Deon Hollins leads the nation in total steals (42) and steals per game (4.2) and is 19th for total assists (61) and 25th for assists per game (6.1).
Compared to the Opposition
One of the nation's top teams in steals per game, Omaha has equaled or tallied more steals than its opponent in all 10 contests this year. Over seven games UNO has:
•More or equal steals compared to its opponent 10 times
•Fewer or equal turnovers compared to its opponent eight times
•More or equal FT attempts compared to its opponent five times
•More rebounds compared to its opponent five times
•More or equal blocks compared to its opponent three times
•More or equal 3-point field goals made compared to its opponent four times
Home Sweet Home Advantage
During head coach Derrin Hansen's career, Omaha has won 70 percent of its home contests, going 99-42. The Mavericks secured their first win at brand-new Baxter Arena on Nov. 15, 104-58 vs. Saint Mary's (Minn.).
The 2014-15 season marked UNO's third and final season playing at Ralston Arena, which served as the home of Maverick men's basketball since 2012-13. Over three years at Ralston, Omaha posted a home record of 25-16.
Last season on its home court, UNO's average margin of victory was 17.3, and it scored an average of 79.8 points per game. Over the 10 previous years of the Hansen era, the Mavericks averaged 81.6 points per game at home at Sapp Fieldhouse and Ralston Arena, including 80.5 during the four Division I years.
Hansen Guides Mavericks in 11th Season
Head coach Derrin Hansen is in his 11th season at the helm of the Omaha men's basketball program in 2015-16, boasting a career record of 166-143 over his head coaching career. He took the job after serving as an assistant coach for seven years with former Maverick head coaches Kevin McKenna and Kevin Lehman. Hansen has the second-most victories of any coach in program history, behind only Bob Hanson.
Hansen has coached or assisted teams that have earned five trips to the NCAA Division II Tournament, while also garnering two regular-season league titles and three tournament crowns. In 2007-08, his squad recorded a school-record 25 wins in its final season of North Central Conference play, and the Mavs won their final NCC Tournament to advance to the NCAA Division II Tournament for the first time since 2004-05. In 2009-10, UNO earned an NCAA Tournament berth by capturing the MIAA Tournament crown in just its second year as a member of the league.
As a player at Nebraska Wesleyan, Hansen's 1988 squad advanced to the NCAA Division III semifinals, and while serving as a student coach, the 1990 Plainsmen advanced to the final 16.
Hansen is assisted by assistant coaches Tyler Erwin, Pat Eberhart and James Miller.
2015-16 Slate Takes Mavericks Around the Nation
Omaha's 2015-16 schedule includes 30 games, and the team will play in 13 states against schools from 10 other Division I conferences. The schedule has two opponents from both the WAC and the Big Sky and one each from the Big West, Pac-12, Big Ten, MAC, SEC, Mountain West, OVC and SWAC or MEAC. Two opponents – Wyoming and defending Summit League champion North Dakota State – played in the 2015 NCAA Tournament.
The Mavericks have never faced seven of their opponents: UC Santa Barbara, Saint Mary's (Minn.), Colorado, Eastern Michigan, Montana State, Southern and North Carolina Central. They hold a combined all-time record of 163-191-2 over all teams on the regular-season slate.
Next Up
Omaha returns to action on Saturday, Dec. 19, visiting Wyoming. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. (CT) at Arena-Auditorium in Laramie, Wyo., and Gary Sharp will have the radio call on 1180 Zone 2. Fans can stream the audio on their smartphones by downloading NRG Media' app “1620 The Zone,” and links to stats, audio and video will be available on OMavs.com.
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/ Men's BasketballTuesday, September 01
Wednesday, August 26
Friday, August 21
Tuesday, April 21
