Men's Basketball Hosting Xavier Saturday Night
12/22/2000 12:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
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Dec. 22, 2000
TOLEDO, OH -
Fresh off its trip to sunny California, Toledo (7-2) receives another stern test in its non-conference schedule on Saturday night when it hosts Xavier (7-2) at Savage Hall at 7:00 p.m.
The Rockets are coming off a third-place showing in the Trend Homes Classic in Fresno, CA. UT opened the tournament with an 88-72 setback to host Fresno State on Tuesday before rebounding for an 80-74 (2OT) victory over Samford on Wednesday.
The Rockets held a 39-24 haltime advantage over the Bulldogs, but Samford rallied in the second half to knot the game at 47-47 with 8:35 remaining. Toledo then managed to hang on for the win and was led by freshman guard Terry Reynolds' 24-point showing.
Senior forward Greg Stempin leads the Rockets in points (18.0 ppg) and rebounds (7.1 rpg) with Reynolds leading in assists (5.4).
Xavier has been idle for seven days since defeating Cincinnati (69-67) on Dec. 14 and Marquette (75-59) on Dec. 16 .
The Musketeers are led by sophomore center David West (14.4 ppg, 9.8 rpg), junior forward Kevin Frey (13.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg) and freshman guard Romain Sato (11.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg). Stempin Aiming for MAC Player of the Year Honors
Senior forward Greg Stempin is shooting to become the Rockets' first MAC Player of the Year since Harvey Knuckles in 1981. He also is looking to become the fourth Rocket ever to earn first-team All-MAC honors on three occasions.
The other UT players to receive All-MAC accolades three times are Tom Kozelko (1971-73), Steve Mix (1967-69) and Phil Martin (1952-54).
Stempin is tied for third in the MAC in scoring (18.0 ppg) and is ninth in rebounding (7.1 ppg).
The Stempin Watch
Senior Greg Stempin is in 17th place on UT's all-time scoring list and needs four points to pass Dick Miller (1976-80) for 16th place. With a 26-point showing Saturday against Xavier, the Rockets' captain would jump all the way to 12th place ahead of Ray Wolford (1961-64).
Here's who Stempin will be looking to pass next on the Rockets' all-time scoring list:
1. Ken Epperson (1981-85) 2,016
2. Craig Thames (1992-96) 1,964
3. Steve Mix (1966-69) 1,676
12. Ray Wolford (1961-64) 1,288
13. Larry Jones (1960-62, 64) 1,280
14. Mitch Adamek (1979-83) 1,276
15. Andy Fisher (1985-89) 1,273
16. Dick Miller (1976-80) 1,266
17. Greg Stempin (1997-pres.) 1,263
18. Phil Martin (1951-54) 1,240
Reynolds Continues to Sparkle
Terry Reynolds continues to impress in his freshman campaign.
Reynolds is averaging 16.9 points per game to rank second on the team and seventh in the MAC. He also leads the team in assists (5.4 apg) and ranks third in the MAC in that category.
In UT's 80-74 (2OT) win over Samford on Wednesday, he scored a team-high 24 points, including eight points in overtime.
He has scored in double figures in seven of nine contests this year.
In UT's 84-78 win over George Mason on Dec. 2, he scored 19 points, equalled his career high with seven assists and snatched away a career-high three steals.
In UT's season-opening weekend, the 5-9 guard earned all-tournament team honors at the Energia Systems Thanksgiving Tournament in Kansas City. Against Southeast Missouri State in UT's season opener he registered a game-high 23 points, five rebounds, five assists and a pair of steals. To top it off, he sank all eight of his free throws and did not commit a turnover.
Then he turned it up another notch with 36 points and seven assists against Auburn in the semifinals. Reynolds took the game over with the Rockets trailing 64-61 with 6:20 to play. He scored 10 straight points and then dished off to Greg Stempin for what looked like the game-winning three-pointer with 17 seconds to play. After Auburn tied it at the end of regulation, he scored 13 of the Rockets' 21 points during the two overtimes and came up with a key steal late in the second overtime with UT holding a one-point lead.
In the championship game against Creighton, he recorded 10 points and five assists and sealed the victory by scoring UT's final five points.
Connecting From Downtown
Senior forward Robierre Cullars has connected on 10 of his last 18 (55.6 percent) three-point attempts over his last five games. He also has scored in double figures in eight straight games, averaging 13.5 ppg over that stretch.
Cullars ranks second on the team in three-point field goal percentage (13 for 28, 46.4 percent) and is third in scoring with 12.5 ppg.
"Moore" Three Point News
Sophomore guard Nick Moore leads the Rockets with a 48.7 (19 of 39) three-point FG%. He also ranks first on the team in three-point field goals made with 2.1 per contest.
He is tied for third in the Mid-American Conference in three-point field goal percentage (.487) and fifth in three-pointers made per game (2.1).
Moore's best outing of the season came when he nailed all six of his three-point attempts against George Mason on Dec. 2 to equal a school record set by Fred King at Kent State on Jan. 23, 1988.
Moore's 20 points against the Patriots were a personal career high and his six three-pointers in the game equalled his career best.
Rocket Three-Point News
* As a team, UT ranks third in the MAC in three-point field goals made per game (7.7) and is tied for second in three-point FG% (47.4 percent). UT is also fourth in three-point FG% defense (30.5 percent).
*The Rockets have four primary three-point shooting threats. In addition to the previously mentioned Nick Moore and Robierre Cullars, Terry Reynolds (38.3 percent, 18-for-47) and Greg Stempin (36.6 percent, 15-for-41) are UT's other top shooting threats from three-point range.
* The Rockets are shooting 41.6 percent from beyond the three-point arc compared to 30.5 percent for their opponents.
* UT sank its first nine three-point attempts against George Mason on Saturday, Dec. 2 en route to a 10-for-12 first-half shooting performance from behind the arc.
* Since opening the season shooting 1-for-10 against SE Missouri State, UT is shooting 43.6 percent (68-for-156) from beyond the three-point arc.
Trips to the Line Becoming a Habit
With its strong inside game and the penetration of guard Terry Reynolds, the Rockets have made 15 more free throws (156) than their opponents have attempted (141) this year.
UT averages 28.0 free-throw attempts per game compared to 15.7 for its opponents. Toledo has been whistled for 16.7 personal fouls per contest, while its opponents have committed 22.8.
Protecting the Homecourt
With its three home victories this year over Detroit, George Mason and Oakland, UT has won nine straight home games. The Rockets hold a 46-12 (.793) record at Savage Hall under Stan Joplin, including a 35-8 (.814) mark since the start of the 1997-98 season.
Another Great Start
For the second time in the last three seasons, Stan Joplin guided the Rockets to a 5-0 start. In the 1998-99 campaign, UT won its first 10 games before losing at Akron (81-78). Included in that streak were home wins over Ohio State (64-63) and Xavier (74-67) and a road triumph over Dayton (56-55).
Taking on All Comers
Each of UT's seven victories has come against a team from a different conference.
UT has defeated teams from the Colonial Athletic (George Mason), Mid-Continent (Oakland), Midwestern Collegiate (Detroit), Missouri Valley (Creig-hton), Ohio Valley (SE Missouri State). SEC (Auburn) and Trans-America Athletic (Samford). The Rockets' two loss have come against teams from the Atlantic 10 (St. Bonaventure) and WAC (Fresno State).
The Rockets will face a Conference USA school with its matchup vs. Cincinnati on Dec. 30.
Joplin Ranks Fifth on UT's All-Time Win List
Head Coach Stan Joplin is in fifth place on UT's all-time coaching win list. Joplin now has 72 wins during his five-year tenure at the Rocket helm. Following is a list of the top five career coaching win totals in Rocket history:
UT's All-Time Coaches' Win List
1. Bob Nichols (1965-87) 376
2. Harold Anderson (1934-42) 142
3. Jerry Bush (1947-54) 127
4. Eddie Melvin (1954-65) 125
5. Stan Joplin (1996-pres.) 72
Rockets' Schedule Packed With NCAA Tournament Teams
The Rockets have posted a 4-2 win-loss mark this year vs. 2000 NCAA Tournament teams. UT has defeated Auburn, Creighton, Samford and Southeast Missouri State and lost to Fresno State and St. Bonaventure.
UT will face its seventh 2000 NCAA Tournament team in its non-conference schedule when it takes on Cincinnati at the Rock-N-Roll Shootout at Cleveland's Gund Arena on Dec. 30.
Up Next ... Cincinnati
The Rockets will head to Cleveland's Gund Arena on Saturday, Dec. 30 to meet No. 20 Cincinnati in the Rock-N-Roll Shootout. Tip off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
The Bearcats are 7-2 entering tonight's matchup vs. No. 18 Alabama in the Puerto Rico Holiday Classic. UC will host UNC-Wilmington on Thursday, Dec. 28 before heading to Cleveland.
