Full Game Notes

THE GAME - Westminster

• The first-ever meeting between Westminster and Black Hills State will pit the 7-2 Griffins against the 4-5 Yellow Jackets. Westminster College is 3-2 in the RMAC including wins over Colorado Mesa and MSU Denver, two of the teams tabbed to finish in the top-four of the RMAC.
• Casey Evans is the top scorer for the Griffins at 13.1 points per game, but one of four scoring threats for WC. Kenny Woodard averages 12.8 points, Zerrion Payton is at 11.4 points and Jordan Pryor averages 10.2 points per game. Quincy Bair also averages 10.0 ppg, but has been limited to just two games.
• Westminster boasts the top field goal percentage defense in the RMAC, allowing just 40.6 percent of opponent shots to fall through the basket. The Griffins rank second in free throw percentage at 75.8 percent, trailing the Yellow Jackets at 75.6 percent.

THE GAME - Colorado Mesa

• Colorado Mesa enters the weekend 6-5 overall and 2-3 in the RMAC after being tabbed to finish fourth in the league in the preseason coaches' poll.  
• The Mavericks are led by Preseason RMAC Offensive Player of the Year Ryan Stephan at 25.5 points and 10.1 rebounds per game, the RMAC's leader in both categories. Stephan is the reigning RMAC Offensive Player of the Week, an award he has taken home three times this year.
• Eimer Lopez and CJ Davis also average double-digit points at 12.4 points and 11.6 points per game, respectively. 
• The Yellow Jackets fell 80-58 in last year's first meeting with CMU, then dropped an 83-75 decision in the second game.

THE COACHES

• Jeff Trumbauer is in his second season with the Yellow Jackets and owns an 13-23 record at BHSU. Overall, he owns a 108-106 record in his eighth season as a head coach.
• Norm Parrish is in his first season at Westminster, having spent the past four seasons at Utah. He also spent 20 years at Salt Lake CC amassing a 453-197 record. 
• Andy Shantz is in his second season as head coach but 17th overall at CMU. He is a graduate and former player for the Mavericks, ranking eighth all-time in made 3-point field goals.

Last Meeting to First Meeting

• After playing Western New Mexico for the final time as an RMAC opponent to end 2015, the Yellow Jackets are set to face Westminster for the first time to start 2016. The Yellow Jackets have a basketball history dating back to 1906-07. Westminster's program was reinstated for the 1999-2000 season. Since that time, the Griffins have played in 10 NAIA National Tournaments and claimed seven conference titles.

Jump it up

• Sam Mayer has made a habit out of getting the Yellow Jackets an extra possession. The sophomore has yet to lose a jump ball this year, including a perfect 3-for-3 night in the double-overtime contest against New Mexico Highlands.

Highly Ranked

• The Yellow Jackets are represented highly in the national rankings by Nick Ongarato and Wyatt Krogman. Krogman, the RMAC's leader in assists, ranks 31st in the nation at 5.3 per game. Ongarato leads the RMAC in field goal percentage and 48th in the nation at his 58.6 percent clip. Complete national rankings can be found on page 4.

Shoot and Score

• After waiting most of the season in 2014-15 to have a player average double-digit scoring, Nick Ongarato is doing his best to make sure that doesn't repeat itself again this year. The senior ranks fourth in the RMAC and 42nd in the nation with his 21.3 point per game average. Since joining NCAA Division II, the highest point per-game average for a Yellow Jacket is Tanner Adler and his 17.1 points in the 2012-13 season, which ranked third in the RMAC.