What to watch for: QU tries for .500

What to watch For: QU tries for .500

By Matthias Gausz, QBSN Co-Director

The Bobcats men’s basketball team (9-7, 2-3 NEC) heads to Loretto, Pa. to face the St. Francis University Red Flash (3-13, 2-3 NEC) at the DeGol Arena on Saturday, Jan. 14 at 4:00 p.m.

Quinnipiac came away with a key victory Thursday night at Robert Morris, led by the trio of James Johnson (Queens, N.Y.), Dave Johnson (Jackson, N.J.), and Ike Azotam (Boston, Mass.) who combined for 57 points. As a team, QU shot 58.5 percent from the field and was seven for ten from three point range. With their shot making, they only grabbed 26 rebounds.  They are second in the nation averaging over 44 a game, but still managed to outrebound RMU by one.

The Bobcats didn’t get much from freshman forward Ousmane Drame (Boston, Mass.) as he fouled out in 23minutes of action and finished with three points and two rebounds. Making smart shots and playing stingy defense down the stretch allowed QU to grab the huge victory on the road.

St. Francis (PA) is coming off of a three point loss to Sacred Heart on Thursday night. Scott Eatherton leads the way for a young team that lost key contributors to graduation and transfers. The Red Flash has lost six straight and has struggled to score since the loss of junior standout Umar Shannon, who tore his ACL and his out for the season. Shannon was a second team All-NEC last season and dropped 26 in the season opener versus VCU. Eatherton has taken on the load inside and leads the NEC in shooting at 68 percent from the floor. Outside of Eatherton, the Red Flash lacks height and is a poor rebounding team and only averages 60 points per game.

Key for the Bobcats:

The Bobcats need to have a repeat of Thursday night’s performance – sharing the ball. Dave and James Johnson have taken the reigns as of late, and it’s had a positive outcome. Azotam has consistently played well, and if he can get help from Drame up front they will start to really click. With Jamee Jackson (Newark, N.J.) still out, the young bench will have to continue to give important minutes. If Quinnipiac duplicates its blueprint from Thursday’s second half, they should be able to handle the Red Flash.

Key for the Red Flash:

Saint Francis needs to slow down the Bobcats and force them into foul trouble in order to have a chance. The lack of scoring has been very noticeable as once they are down they can’t get back in games. If Eatherton can have a career game, they might be able to stay in it.  They will also need some young role players to step up. If the Red Flash can really slow down the tempo and play great defense against QU, they could grab the upset.  

Last Meeting: January 29, 2011 in Hamden. Quinnipiac won 77-57 after opening the game on a 22-0 run. Four players were in double figures, and QU shot over 50 percent from the floor. Eatherton had eleven off the bench for the Red Strom. They will meet again on Feb. 26 in Hamden.