Omaha Athletics Rewind
Nov. 30 - Dec. 6, 2020
12/7/2020
HOCKEY
The Omaha hockey team began play in the first week of the NCHC Pod at Baxter Arena last week. The Mavericks went 2-2-0 during a stretch of four games in six days. They began with a 5-3 loss to No. 3 Minnesota Duluth. Nolan Sullivan, Martin Sundberg and Jack Randl all scored for the Mavericks, and Isaiah Saville made 22 saves.
In the following game, junior defenseman Jason Smallidge (above) had a goal and four assists to pace the Mavericks to a 10-2 victory over Western Michigan. Fourteen players scored at least a point for the Mavericks and eight had multiple point games. Smallidge tied the school record for assists and points (5) in a game.
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— Omaha Video (@OmahaVID) December 6, 2020
Two nights after the blow out, the Mavericks found themselves in a defensive affair until senior Martin Sundberg scored for the third time in as many games, notching the overtime winner in a 2-1 victory over Miami. Chayse Primeau had the other goal for UNO, and Isaiah Saville turned aside 26 shots.
The Mavericks concluded the busy week with a 5-3 loss to St. Cloud State on Sunday. Brock Bremer scored his first collegiate goal, and Matt Miller and Taylor Ward also added tallies. Saville, playing his fourth consecutive game, stopped a game-high 30 shots.
For their efforts, the Mavericks cracked the top-20 rankings for the first time, coming in 18th in the USCHO.com poll.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
The Omaha men's basketball team opened the week Tuesday at No. 9 Creighton, falling 94-67. Marlon Ruffin scored a game-high 18 points off the bench for his fourth straight game in double figures.
On Thursday, the Mavericks dropped an 87-66 decision at Drake. Omaha was led by Matt Pile's season-high 17 points and nine rebounds. Ayo Akinwole (14) and Wanjang Tut (11) also had season-best scoring outputs.
Pile lifted Omaha to a 65-63 win at SIUE on Saturday, as his game-winning dunk punctuated the day with 1.4 seconds left. Akinwole led all scorers with 16 points, and Pile collected his first double-double of the year with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
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— Omaha Basketball (@OmahaMBB) December 6, 2020
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
The Omaha women's basketball team lost in a close battle on the road at Illinois on Sunday, 53-50. Claire Killian led the Mavericks team a team-high 13 points and seven rebounds. Josie Filer totaled 10 points and six boards while Ella Ogier added 10 points and a pair of rebounds.
