Saturday, February 10
Omaha, Neb.
7 p.m.
Omaha
vs
Fort Wayne
Senior Daniel Meyer and the Omaha men's basketball team host Oral Roberts Thursday night at Baxter Arena.
Photo by: Mark Kuhlmann
Mavericks Open Final Homestand With Oral Roberts
Feb 21, 2018 | Men's Basketball
This Week
The Omaha men's basketball team plays its final homestand of the season, beginning with Oral Roberts on Thursday, Feb. 22. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at Baxter Arena, and the game will be televised on YurView Cox Channel 1013. Gary Sharp and John Karhoff will have the radio call on 1180 Zone 2, and links to live stats, audio and video will be available on OMavs.com.
Quick Hits
• Four Mavericks are averaging double-figure scoring: Zach Jackson (17.5 ppg), Daniel Norl (13.1 ppg), Mitch Hahn (11.5 ppg) and JT Gibson (10.6 ppg).
• Jackson has scored in double figures in all but two games this season.
• Jackson averaged 17.4 points per game in non-conference games and has 17.7 ppg in league play. He also has 1.5 assists per game in league games, compared to 0.6 apg in non-conference.
• Norl is a perfect 21-of-21 at the line since Jan. 25. His has scored in double figures in 12 of his last 13 games.
• Ayo Akinwole's 2.4 assist-to-turnover ratio is third among Summit League players.
• Five Mavericks have had at least one 20-point scoring performance this season.
• Omaha's Feb. 10 attendance of 4,106 vs. Fort Wayne marked the largest men's basketball crowd in Baxter Arena history.
• Head coach Derrin Hansen earned his 200th career victory Dec. 17 vs. Cornell College.
• By Dec. 3, Omaha had played in all four time zones in the contiguous United States.
• The Mavericks shot .500 or better as a team in four straight games from Nov. 20-29 and 11 times overall this year.
• Omaha returned seven letterwinners from its 2016-17 squad, including a Summit League All-Newcomer pick in Hahn.
Scouting the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles
Oral Roberts is 10-20 (4-9 Summit League) following a 66-65 road loss to Denver on Sunday, which put the Golden Eagles on a three-game losing skid. Javan White scored a game-high 19 points, while Albert Owens had 17 and Emmanuel Nzekwesi added 12 more points with seven rebounds.
Head coach Paul Mills is in his first season with Oral Roberts, carrying a career record of 10-20.
Thursday's game marks the 10th meeting all-time between Omaha and ORU, with the Golden Eagles leading the series, 6-5 overall and 4-3 in the Mavericks' Division I era. Omaha seeks its third straight home win over ORU this weekend.
The two teams last met on Dec. 30 in Tulsa, Okla., where ORU prevailed 93-74.
Last Time Out: Omaha Falters at South Dakota, 79-64
Omaha played its final regular-season road game of the year Saturday afternoon, falling 79-64 to South Dakota at the Sanford Coyote Sports Center. Four Mavericks scored in double figures, led by Mitch Hahn's 16 points alongside a team-high seven rebounds. Daniel Norl added 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting, followed by 13 points from KJ Robinson, who also had two rebounds, three assists and a pair of steals. Matt Pile rounded it out with 10 points and six boards.
Omaha found itself in an uphill battle offensively, shooting .353 (24-of-68) to USD's .474 (27-of-57) from the floor. The Coyotes also had the advantage at the stripe, .793 (23-of-29) to .692 (9-of-13) and outrebounded the Mavericks 44-34.
The Home Stretch
Omaha has been strong late in the season over the last three years, going a perfect 5-0 over the final week of regular-season play in 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17. That includes three straight wins in regular-season finales and a 2-0 advantage on Senior Days set at Baxter Arena.
Action Jackson
Junior Zach Jackson is in his third year as a starter, averaging team bests of 17.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. The Wichita, Kan., native has scored in double figures in all but two games, including 10 20-point scoring performances.
Jackson ranks in the top five in the Summit League in five categories: third for free throws made (107) and fifth for points per game (17.5), points (491), field goals made (172) and 3-point percentage (.435). He tallied in double figures in 21 straight games from Nov. 24 to Feb. 14, and in that span averaged 18.9 points and 6.8 rebounds while shooting .557 from the field, .457 from 3-point range and .838 from the free throw line.
Against high major opponents this season, Jackson averaged 18.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.7 blocks in six games. Combined against Oklahoma, New Mexico, Louisville, TCU, Washington and Kansas, he has shot .507 from the field and .763 at the stripe.
Gibson at Full Strength
Sophomore JT Gibson is fourth on the team for scoring with 10.6 points per game and has 11 double-figure scoring efforts this season. Omaha's triples leader, he owns 16 performances with two or more treys, including a perfect 3-of-3 showing Feb. 14 at Denver.
Here's to You, Mr. Robinson
Sophomore KJ Robinson has assumed a starting role in 2017-18, averaging 9.6 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. He scored in double figures in three straight games against North Dakota State (Jan. 25), South Dakota State (Jan. 30) and Western Illinois (Feb. 8).
A native of Blue Springs, Mo., Robinson had a standout performance vs. No. 18 Louisville (Nov. 17) with a then-career-high 14 points, three rebounds, five assists and three steals. He followed by dishing out a career-best eight assists at TCU (Nov. 20) while adding 11 points, four rebounds and a steal. Against Tennessee Tech (Nov. 24), Robinson went off for a career-high 25 points while hitting seven 3-pointers and adding five rebounds, five assists and a block. It was the most threes in a game by any Maverick since Marcus Tyus had eight at South Dakota State (Jan, 7, 2017).
Norl's Senior Campaign
Senior Daniel Norl has been strong in his senior season, ranking second on the team for scoring with 13.1 points per game alongside 3.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists per contest. The Clarksville, Tenn., native earned his first career start at Montana State (Nov. 10), exploding for career highs of 29 points, nine rebounds and two steals while shooting 13-of-18. He posted a game-high 23 points, three boards, a career-high-tying seven assists and a career-best three steals at Oral Roberts (Dec. 30), then achieved his third 20-point game at Denver (Feb. 14) with 21 points.
With 101 career assists to his credit, he is Omaha's active career leader in the category.
The Pile Driver
Freshman Matt Pile averaged 6.3 minutes per game over the first three contests this season but has seen his court time increase to 18.5 minutes per game since then. In that stretch, Pile has boosted his averages to 7.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game. He transitioned into the starting five Jan. 30 at South Dakota State.
Pile notched his first career double-double vs. Doane (Jan. 2) with career highs of 18 points and 10 rebounds and 9-of-11 shooting. He put together a six-block performance vs. Denver (Jan. 18), which marked the most of any Maverick since Adam Wetzel's six in 2002.
Pile ranks third in the Summit League for blocks (30) this season and is tied with Daniel Meyer as Omaha's active career leader in the category.
Feelin' Hahn, Hahn, Hahn
Junior Mitch Hahn is back in the lineup after more than seven weeks out due to injury. Since Jan. 25, the 2016-17 Summit League All-Newcomer Team selection has averaged 10.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game, and last weekend's effort against Fort Wayne (Feb. 10) included a season-high 21 points with six rebounds and three helpers.
To start the season, Hahn scored in double figures in three straight games with 12 points at Montana State (Nov. 10), 13 at Oklahoma (Nov. 12) and a season-high 16 at New Mexico (Nov. 14). After missing three games from Nov. 17-25, he returned to the lineup vs. Drake (Nov. 29), posting four points, five rebounds and two assists. He followed up with a double-double on 15 points and 10 rebounds at Washington (Dec. 3) and another with 13 points and 13 rebounds at UC Santa Barbara (Dec. 5). After suffering an injury late in the game Dec. 5 at UCSB, he was out of commission until returning Jan. 25 at North Dakota State.
More on Meyer
Senior Daniel Meyer made his second collegiate appearance in his home state Nov. 10 with Omaha's season opener at Montana State. The Billings, Mont., native is Omaha's active career leader for games played (109) and blocks (30).
Meyer was on fire in the Mavericks' last homestand vs. Western Illinois (Feb. 8) and Fort Wayne (Feb. 10), averaging 8.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game in reserve while shooting .667 (8-of-12). Against the Leathernecks, he posted eight points, then followed with season highs of nine points and seven boards against the Mastodons.
Meyer has been mainstay for Omaha over the last few seasons. He appeared in every game in 2015-16 and 2016-17, making 11 starts as a junior and finishing the year with 2.8 points and 3.1 rebounds per game.
Off the court, Meyer is a fully-rated instrument and private aircraft pilot.
Home Sweet Homaha
Omaha had a record of 8-4 at home last season, and the Mavericks averaged 90.9 points per game with a 12.6 margin of victory at Baxter Arena.
The Mavericks play 12 games at home in 2017-18, and eight of their nine wins have come at Baxter. They won five straight in their own facility to start before South Dakota State snapped the streak on Jan. 6.
Up Next
Omaha hosts its home finale on Saturday, Feb. 24, welcoming North Dakota at 1 p.m. at Baxter Arena. The game marks Senior Day for Omaha's five seniors, who will be honored with pre-game festivities.
The game will be televised live on YurView Cox Channel 1013, and Gary Sharp and John Karhoff will have the radio call on 1180 Zone 2. Links to live stats, audio and video will be available on OMavs.com.
The Omaha men's basketball team plays its final homestand of the season, beginning with Oral Roberts on Thursday, Feb. 22. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at Baxter Arena, and the game will be televised on YurView Cox Channel 1013. Gary Sharp and John Karhoff will have the radio call on 1180 Zone 2, and links to live stats, audio and video will be available on OMavs.com.
Quick Hits
• Four Mavericks are averaging double-figure scoring: Zach Jackson (17.5 ppg), Daniel Norl (13.1 ppg), Mitch Hahn (11.5 ppg) and JT Gibson (10.6 ppg).
• Jackson has scored in double figures in all but two games this season.
• Jackson averaged 17.4 points per game in non-conference games and has 17.7 ppg in league play. He also has 1.5 assists per game in league games, compared to 0.6 apg in non-conference.
• Norl is a perfect 21-of-21 at the line since Jan. 25. His has scored in double figures in 12 of his last 13 games.
• Ayo Akinwole's 2.4 assist-to-turnover ratio is third among Summit League players.
• Five Mavericks have had at least one 20-point scoring performance this season.
• Omaha's Feb. 10 attendance of 4,106 vs. Fort Wayne marked the largest men's basketball crowd in Baxter Arena history.
• Head coach Derrin Hansen earned his 200th career victory Dec. 17 vs. Cornell College.
• By Dec. 3, Omaha had played in all four time zones in the contiguous United States.
• The Mavericks shot .500 or better as a team in four straight games from Nov. 20-29 and 11 times overall this year.
• Omaha returned seven letterwinners from its 2016-17 squad, including a Summit League All-Newcomer pick in Hahn.
Scouting the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles
Oral Roberts is 10-20 (4-9 Summit League) following a 66-65 road loss to Denver on Sunday, which put the Golden Eagles on a three-game losing skid. Javan White scored a game-high 19 points, while Albert Owens had 17 and Emmanuel Nzekwesi added 12 more points with seven rebounds.
Head coach Paul Mills is in his first season with Oral Roberts, carrying a career record of 10-20.
Thursday's game marks the 10th meeting all-time between Omaha and ORU, with the Golden Eagles leading the series, 6-5 overall and 4-3 in the Mavericks' Division I era. Omaha seeks its third straight home win over ORU this weekend.
The two teams last met on Dec. 30 in Tulsa, Okla., where ORU prevailed 93-74.
Last Time Out: Omaha Falters at South Dakota, 79-64
Omaha played its final regular-season road game of the year Saturday afternoon, falling 79-64 to South Dakota at the Sanford Coyote Sports Center. Four Mavericks scored in double figures, led by Mitch Hahn's 16 points alongside a team-high seven rebounds. Daniel Norl added 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting, followed by 13 points from KJ Robinson, who also had two rebounds, three assists and a pair of steals. Matt Pile rounded it out with 10 points and six boards.
Omaha found itself in an uphill battle offensively, shooting .353 (24-of-68) to USD's .474 (27-of-57) from the floor. The Coyotes also had the advantage at the stripe, .793 (23-of-29) to .692 (9-of-13) and outrebounded the Mavericks 44-34.
The Home Stretch
Omaha has been strong late in the season over the last three years, going a perfect 5-0 over the final week of regular-season play in 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17. That includes three straight wins in regular-season finales and a 2-0 advantage on Senior Days set at Baxter Arena.
Action Jackson
Junior Zach Jackson is in his third year as a starter, averaging team bests of 17.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. The Wichita, Kan., native has scored in double figures in all but two games, including 10 20-point scoring performances.
Jackson ranks in the top five in the Summit League in five categories: third for free throws made (107) and fifth for points per game (17.5), points (491), field goals made (172) and 3-point percentage (.435). He tallied in double figures in 21 straight games from Nov. 24 to Feb. 14, and in that span averaged 18.9 points and 6.8 rebounds while shooting .557 from the field, .457 from 3-point range and .838 from the free throw line.
Against high major opponents this season, Jackson averaged 18.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.7 blocks in six games. Combined against Oklahoma, New Mexico, Louisville, TCU, Washington and Kansas, he has shot .507 from the field and .763 at the stripe.
Gibson at Full Strength
Sophomore JT Gibson is fourth on the team for scoring with 10.6 points per game and has 11 double-figure scoring efforts this season. Omaha's triples leader, he owns 16 performances with two or more treys, including a perfect 3-of-3 showing Feb. 14 at Denver.
Here's to You, Mr. Robinson
Sophomore KJ Robinson has assumed a starting role in 2017-18, averaging 9.6 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. He scored in double figures in three straight games against North Dakota State (Jan. 25), South Dakota State (Jan. 30) and Western Illinois (Feb. 8).
A native of Blue Springs, Mo., Robinson had a standout performance vs. No. 18 Louisville (Nov. 17) with a then-career-high 14 points, three rebounds, five assists and three steals. He followed by dishing out a career-best eight assists at TCU (Nov. 20) while adding 11 points, four rebounds and a steal. Against Tennessee Tech (Nov. 24), Robinson went off for a career-high 25 points while hitting seven 3-pointers and adding five rebounds, five assists and a block. It was the most threes in a game by any Maverick since Marcus Tyus had eight at South Dakota State (Jan, 7, 2017).
Norl's Senior Campaign
Senior Daniel Norl has been strong in his senior season, ranking second on the team for scoring with 13.1 points per game alongside 3.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists per contest. The Clarksville, Tenn., native earned his first career start at Montana State (Nov. 10), exploding for career highs of 29 points, nine rebounds and two steals while shooting 13-of-18. He posted a game-high 23 points, three boards, a career-high-tying seven assists and a career-best three steals at Oral Roberts (Dec. 30), then achieved his third 20-point game at Denver (Feb. 14) with 21 points.
With 101 career assists to his credit, he is Omaha's active career leader in the category.
The Pile Driver
Freshman Matt Pile averaged 6.3 minutes per game over the first three contests this season but has seen his court time increase to 18.5 minutes per game since then. In that stretch, Pile has boosted his averages to 7.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game. He transitioned into the starting five Jan. 30 at South Dakota State.
Pile notched his first career double-double vs. Doane (Jan. 2) with career highs of 18 points and 10 rebounds and 9-of-11 shooting. He put together a six-block performance vs. Denver (Jan. 18), which marked the most of any Maverick since Adam Wetzel's six in 2002.
Pile ranks third in the Summit League for blocks (30) this season and is tied with Daniel Meyer as Omaha's active career leader in the category.
Feelin' Hahn, Hahn, Hahn
Junior Mitch Hahn is back in the lineup after more than seven weeks out due to injury. Since Jan. 25, the 2016-17 Summit League All-Newcomer Team selection has averaged 10.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game, and last weekend's effort against Fort Wayne (Feb. 10) included a season-high 21 points with six rebounds and three helpers.
To start the season, Hahn scored in double figures in three straight games with 12 points at Montana State (Nov. 10), 13 at Oklahoma (Nov. 12) and a season-high 16 at New Mexico (Nov. 14). After missing three games from Nov. 17-25, he returned to the lineup vs. Drake (Nov. 29), posting four points, five rebounds and two assists. He followed up with a double-double on 15 points and 10 rebounds at Washington (Dec. 3) and another with 13 points and 13 rebounds at UC Santa Barbara (Dec. 5). After suffering an injury late in the game Dec. 5 at UCSB, he was out of commission until returning Jan. 25 at North Dakota State.
More on Meyer
Senior Daniel Meyer made his second collegiate appearance in his home state Nov. 10 with Omaha's season opener at Montana State. The Billings, Mont., native is Omaha's active career leader for games played (109) and blocks (30).
Meyer was on fire in the Mavericks' last homestand vs. Western Illinois (Feb. 8) and Fort Wayne (Feb. 10), averaging 8.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game in reserve while shooting .667 (8-of-12). Against the Leathernecks, he posted eight points, then followed with season highs of nine points and seven boards against the Mastodons.
Meyer has been mainstay for Omaha over the last few seasons. He appeared in every game in 2015-16 and 2016-17, making 11 starts as a junior and finishing the year with 2.8 points and 3.1 rebounds per game.
Off the court, Meyer is a fully-rated instrument and private aircraft pilot.
Home Sweet Homaha
Omaha had a record of 8-4 at home last season, and the Mavericks averaged 90.9 points per game with a 12.6 margin of victory at Baxter Arena.
The Mavericks play 12 games at home in 2017-18, and eight of their nine wins have come at Baxter. They won five straight in their own facility to start before South Dakota State snapped the streak on Jan. 6.
Up Next
Omaha hosts its home finale on Saturday, Feb. 24, welcoming North Dakota at 1 p.m. at Baxter Arena. The game marks Senior Day for Omaha's five seniors, who will be honored with pre-game festivities.
The game will be televised live on YurView Cox Channel 1013, and Gary Sharp and John Karhoff will have the radio call on 1180 Zone 2. Links to live stats, audio and video will be available on OMavs.com.
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