Men's basketball 5-2 over break; play tonight
Andy Buss
Issue date: 1/24/08 Section: Sports
Boasting a first-year coaching staff and five freshmen, the men's basketball team headed to the Upper Peninsula last weekend and split their two-game roadtrip. They remain entrenched in a tie for second place in the South Division of the GLIAC after maintaining a 5-2 record over break.
"Everyone's pleased with how we are playing and with the coaching staff and what they have been doing," said junior Evan Steward, a guard. "There are a lot of people who are surprised with where we are."
The Chargers beat Michigan Technological University 83-77 Saturday but lost to Northern Michigan University in a tight 67-66 tussle Sunday.
Center Tony Gugino, a junior, and forward Tim Homan, a senior, have been contributors to much of the team's scoring success. Both have been named GLIAC Player of the Week twice. Gugino leads the conference in scoring at 19.6 points per game, while Homan trails closely with 19.4 points per game.
As the season progresses, junior Travis Worst, a forward, has broken out as a key contributor to the team.
"Trav has really picked up his scoring over the break," said Steward.
Worst scored a career-high of 26 points in the Charger's victory at Saginaw Valley State University Dec. 29.
And while many players stand out, the team knows the importance of developing together.
"We have been playing a lot better as a team now than at the beginning of the season," said Homan. "Defensively, we're starting to read each other a little better."
Head coach John Tharp said defense was the key in defeating Michigan Tech.
"At [Michigan] Tech, for 35 minutes, it was the best defensive basketball game we've played," he said.
Following the Michigan Tech game, the Chargers went cold against Northern Michigan and came up one point short.
"They played a zone, and we don't play against a lot of zones," assistant coach Sam Hargraves said. "We thought we executed against the zone as well as we have all of this year, but the shots just didn't fall."
Gugino said a major highlight of the season up to this point came Jan. 3 at Ashland University where the Chargers avenged a home loss to Ashland "squeezing out" a 112-110 win in overtime at their home court.
Beginning with tonight's game against Mercyhurst College, the men will enter a crucial segment of their schedule. They will play host to five opponents in 10 days. The team looks to move even higher in the standings.
"We've been right on the edge of getting in there at first place," said Gugino. "We're so close to taking that next step. We just need to get hitting on all cylinders."
"Everyone's pleased with how we are playing and with the coaching staff and what they have been doing," said junior Evan Steward, a guard. "There are a lot of people who are surprised with where we are."
The Chargers beat Michigan Technological University 83-77 Saturday but lost to Northern Michigan University in a tight 67-66 tussle Sunday.
Center Tony Gugino, a junior, and forward Tim Homan, a senior, have been contributors to much of the team's scoring success. Both have been named GLIAC Player of the Week twice. Gugino leads the conference in scoring at 19.6 points per game, while Homan trails closely with 19.4 points per game.
As the season progresses, junior Travis Worst, a forward, has broken out as a key contributor to the team.
"Trav has really picked up his scoring over the break," said Steward.
Worst scored a career-high of 26 points in the Charger's victory at Saginaw Valley State University Dec. 29.
And while many players stand out, the team knows the importance of developing together.
"We have been playing a lot better as a team now than at the beginning of the season," said Homan. "Defensively, we're starting to read each other a little better."
Head coach John Tharp said defense was the key in defeating Michigan Tech.
"At [Michigan] Tech, for 35 minutes, it was the best defensive basketball game we've played," he said.
Following the Michigan Tech game, the Chargers went cold against Northern Michigan and came up one point short.
"They played a zone, and we don't play against a lot of zones," assistant coach Sam Hargraves said. "We thought we executed against the zone as well as we have all of this year, but the shots just didn't fall."
Gugino said a major highlight of the season up to this point came Jan. 3 at Ashland University where the Chargers avenged a home loss to Ashland "squeezing out" a 112-110 win in overtime at their home court.
Beginning with tonight's game against Mercyhurst College, the men will enter a crucial segment of their schedule. They will play host to five opponents in 10 days. The team looks to move even higher in the standings.
"We've been right on the edge of getting in there at first place," said Gugino. "We're so close to taking that next step. We just need to get hitting on all cylinders."
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