Jan. 13, 2010

• Game Notes | Watch | | Twitter

GAMEDAY INFO:
Date: January 14, 2010
Location: Annapolis, Md.
Arena: Alumni Hall (5,710)
Tip Time: 7:05 pm (ET)
Television: CBS College Sports
TV Talent: Bob Socci and John Feinstein
Radio: WNAV (1430 AM), SIRIUS (Channel 90)
Radio Talent: Pete Medhurst and Michael Heary
All-Access Video: NavySports.com
Gametracker: NavySports.com
Twitter Updates: Twitter.com/NavyAthletics

THURSDAY'S PROMOTIONS:
• Maxx Factor from the hit NBC show "Sing-off" will perform the National Anthem.
• All Annapolis area medical personnel can purchase a ticket for just $3 when showing their medical ID.
• All State of Maryland employees can purchase a ticket for just $3 when showing their state employee ID.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Two of the Patriot League's hottest teams square off on Thursday night when Lehigh and Navy face each other in a nationally-televised Patriot League contest at Annapolis' Alumni Hall.

The Midshipmen and Mountain Hawks will tip off on Thursday, January 14, at 7:00 pm at Alumni Hall in Annapolis. The game will be broadcast by the CBS College Sports Network with Bob Socci and John Feinstein on the mic. On the radio dial, the matchup will be aired by WNAV (1430 AM) as well as SIRIUS Satellite Radio (Channel 90). Pete Medhurst and Michael Heary will provide the call, beginning with the Navy Basketball pregame show at 6:45 pm. The game can be heard around the world online at WNAV.com and All-Access audio and video streaming can be found at NavySports.com. Gametracker at NavySports.com will also be provided for this contest.

After becoming the lone road team to win during the opening weekend of Patriot League play, Navy returns home to Alumni Hall, where Navy is 5-2 overall and has won four straight games in the facility. Since the start of the 2007-08 season, Navy is 9-5 during Patriot League play in Alumni Hall, and have won three straight games in Patriot League play. The last loss in the Patriot League regular season came Feb. 11, 2009, against Lehigh, 70-59.

The Midshipmen are 11-7 in their Patriot League home openers, including last year's 71-67 victory over Bucknell. Navy is 2-3 in league home openers under Billy Lange, but has won two league home openers in a row.

Navy got a much-needed road win last Saturday night with a 69-67 victory over Bucknell in Lewisburg's Soja Pavilion. The victory was Navy's second win in 10 tries at Sojka Pavilion and marks the second straight year that Navy has started Patriot League play 1-0. A win over Lehigh would give Navy a 2-0 start in two straight years for the first time since joining the Patriot League before the 1991-92 season.

Navy has won three of its last four games entering Thursday's game with Lehigh and a major reason for the turnaround has been the efficiency and resurgence of the Navy offense. Over the last four games, the Midshipmen are shooting 45.1 percent from the field and 41.8 percent from three-point range, while averaging 72.8 ppg. Six players average at least 6.3 ppg during that span, and two, Chris Harris and Jordan Sugars, average 18.8 ppg and 17.3 ppg, respectively. Navy's bench players during that span average 16.0 ppg and are shooting a combined 19-of-40 from the field (.475) and 10-of-18 (.556) from three-point range. In addition, Romeo Garcia leads the Patriot League in three-point percentage (.486) and Harris and Sugars rank third and fifth in the Patriot League in steals.

As a team, Navy leads the league in three-point field goals per game (7.8). The Mids are in the top three in six additional statistical categories.

The Midshipmen's Chris Harris continues to lead the Patriot League in scoring (19.6 ppg), while Jordan Sugars (8.3 rpg) and O.J. Avworo (4.9 apg) rank second in rebounds and assists per game, respectively.

NOTEWORTHY
• Navy is 5-2 at home this season and is 17-5 at home since the start of last season. The Midshipmen went 12-3 at home a year ago. However, one of the losses was to Lehigh on Feb. 11, 70-59.

• Navy is averaging 7.8 three-pointers per game. The school record is 9.6 set in the 2007-08 season (288 in 30 games). This year's team is on pace for 234 three-pointers, which would rank third all-time, behind the 288 in 2007-08 and 260 in 2006-07.

• The Midshipmen are allowing foes to score 73.6 points per game this season. Its the most since allowing 74.4 ppg in the 2004-05 season and would rank as the sixth most.

• Navy ranks third in the Patriot League in free throw percentage and 78th nationally. As of right now, it is the lowest Navy has ranked nationally in that department since ranking 265th in 2004-05. Navy has been in the top 67 nationally in each of the last four years.

• Over the last four games, Navy is shooting 45.1 percent from the field (97-of-215) and 41.8 percent from three-point range (38-of-91). In the season's first 12 games, Navy shot just 37.9 percent from the field (268-of-707) and 31.9 percent from three-point range (87-of-273). In the recent stretch, Navy has averaged 9.5 three-pointers per game, compared to 7.3 in the first 12 games.

• Navy is looking for its second straight 2-0 start in Patriot League play. The Midshipmen have started 2-0 in league play just five times before (2009, 2001, 1998, 1996 and 1993) and never two years in a row.

• Navy won its first game of the year against Bucknell when attempting less than 20 free throws. Prior to the Bucknell game (Navy was 9-of-14), the Mids were 0-7 in games where they attempted less than 20 free throws.

• Navy also won for just the second time this year when the duo of Chris Harris and Jordan Sugars did not reach their pregame scoring average. The Mids entered the Bucknell game just 1-7 when the pair did not reach their average. They entered the Bucknell game averaging 35.7 ppg, but went for just 21. Navy's other win came against Longwood.

• With the win over Bucknell, Navy improved to 7-2 when leading or tied at halftime. The Mids are 5-0 at Alumni Hall when owning a halftime lead.

• The Mids are 4-1 this year when shooting over 42 percent from the field. Since Billy Lange took over, Navy is 40-17 all-time when shooting 42.0 percent or better.

• Navy is 47-10 under Lange when shooting a higher percentage from the field than its opponents.

• Navy is 5-1 this year and 48-9 under Lange when attempting more free throws than its opponent.

• Navy has fared extremely well in tight games, posting a 15-9 record under Lange in games decided by three points or less, including 4-0 this season.

• When Navy scores at least 70 points in a game, the Mids are 60-23 under Lange.

• Romeo Garcia leads the league in three-point percentage (.486), after entering the season shooting just 26.8 percent (11-of-41) from three-point range. Garcia, considered a glue guy, ranks fourth on the team in scoring, second in rebounding, second in assists, third in steals and second in blocked shots.

• Sophomore guard Jordan Sugars ranks third in the league in scoring (15.2 ppg) and second in rebounding (8.3). Sugars is the only player to rank in the top five of each category. He is in the top 11 in 10-of-13 statistical categories, and leads the league in offensive rebounds per game (3.2).

SATURDAY'S BUCKNELL RECAP
• Navy's O.J. Avworo's lay-up with just over a minute left gave the Mids a 68-67 lead and the Navy defense held tight down the stretch to top Bucknell, 69-67, in the Patriot League opener for both teams. The win was just Navy's second this year away from Annapolis' Alumni Hall.

• Navy shot 48.1 percent from the field (26-of-54), including 44.4 percent (8-of-18) from three-point range. It marked the fourth straight game that Navy shot over 40.0 percent. In the first 12 games of the year, Navy shot over 40.0 percent just five times.

• In addition, Navy had four players score in double figures for just the second time this season (Longwood the other). The Navy reserves scored a season-high 24 points off the bench, shooting 8-of-14 from the field.

• Chris Harris led Navy with 15 points, the 12th time this year he has led Navy in scoring. Jeremy Wilson, Romeo Garcia and Greg Brown each contributed 10 points. Jordan Sugars had six points, six rebounds and five assists.

• Navy won for just the second time ever (in 10 games) at Bucknell's Sojka Pavilion, but has won in back-to-back years, by a total of four points. The last four meetings between the two schools have been determined by four points or less.

• The Mids also won their league opener for the second straight year after enduring a seven-year slump from 2002-08.

• Bucknell, which shot 43.8 percent from the field and won the rebounding battle, 34-23, was led by a pair of freshmen in Bryson Johnson (18 pts.) and Mike Muscala (16 pts., 8 rebs., and 7 blocks).

PREVIEWING LEHIGH
Lehigh enters Thursday's battle as the hottest team in the Patriot League, having rattled off six straight wins, including a 78-67 victory over American on Saturday night. After starting the season 4-6, the Mountain Hawks have outscored their last six opponents by an average of 8.8 points per game. Three of Lehigh's losses have come to Atlantic 10 powers Richmond (65-53), Dayton (89-71) and Saint Joseph's (77-66). The Midshipmen and Mountain Hawks have one common non-conference foe in Quinnipiac. Navy topped Quinnipiac, 65-62, while Lehigh defeated the Bobcats, 79-71.

Freshman C.J. McCollum leads the Mountain Hawks in scoring at 14.1 ppg average, including a 31-point effort in last Tuesday's win over Yale. McCoillum is shooting 37.7 percent from three-point range and 78.9 percent from the free throw line, while also averaging 3.6 rebounds per game. Marquis Hall also averages in double-figures at 10.5 ppg and leads the Patriot League in assists (5.9 apg). As a team, Lehigh is shooting 43.7 percent from the field, 37.0 percent from three-point distance and 69.9 percent from the free throw line, while averaging 72.3 ppg. Foes are shooting 42.4 percent from the field and averaging 71.7 ppg.

Lehigh is coached by Brett Reed, who is one of three coaches nationally to have earned a doctorate degree. He owns a 39-35 record in his third year at Lehigh and as a collegiate head coach.

SERIES HISTORY VS. LEHIGH
Navy owns a commanding 43-16 series lead over Lehigh and enters Thursday's game with the Mountain Hawks having won four of the last five games. The lone loss during that span was a 70-59 setback a year ago in Annapolis. Navy possesses a 24-10 record in games played in Annapolis (10-8 in Alumni Hall). The Midshipmen last swept the season series against Lehigh in 2007-08. Five of the last six games have been decided by 10 or fewer points. Billy Lange is 6-4 against the Mountain Hawks, one of two Patriot League teams (Lafayette) that he has a winning record against.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WINS AND LOSSES
• In Navy's seven wins, the Mids are averaging 75.7 ppg and shooting 44.3 percent from the field. In Navy's nine losses, the Mids are averaging just 63.3 ppg and shooting 36.4 percent from the field,

• Similarly, Navy is holding opponents to just 70.0 ppg and 43.1 percent shooting in its seven wins, but opponents are averaging 76.3 ppg in losses. Opponents are actually shooting way better from both three-point range and the free throw line in Navy wins, showing the value of work on the glass.

• On the glass, Navy is getting outrebounded by just 0.9 boards per game in victories while being outrebounded by over 10 rebounds per game in losses.

• Chris Harris averages 22.0 ppg and is shooting 38.7 percent (34.5 from three) in wins and averaging 15.2 shots per game. In losses, Harris averages 17.8 ppg while shooting 28.7 percent (26.7 from three) and averaging 19.3 shots per game.

• Jordan Sugars averages 16.9 ppg and 7.6 rpg in Navy wins while shooting 46.6 percent (44.2 from three). In losses, Sugars averages 13.9 ppg and 8.8 rpg while shooting 43.1 percent (38.6 from three). Two of his four double-doubles have come in losses.

• Lastly. O.J. Avworo has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.14 (30-to-14) in Navy wins, but just 1.48 (43-to-29) in losses.

NAVY AND LEAGUE HONORS
Navy has started the year off on the right foot, garnering four of the Patriot League's first nine weekly honors. Jordan Sugars and Chris Harris have both won the award twice this year, giving Navy 35 weekly league honors, tied for the third most in league history. Since the start of last year, Navy players have won nine of the 25 weekly honors, three more than American, who is next on the list with six.

HOME IS WHERE THE W IS
Navy has won four straight games at Alumni Hall and 17 of its last 22 since the start of last year. The Midshipmen went 12-3 in Alumni Hall last year and are 5-2 this year. Navy is 163-92 at Alumni Hall since it opened in the 1991-92 season.

NAVY AMONG THE LEAGUE'S BEST
• Over the last three years, it is hard to argue about the success that Billy Lange has brought to the Navy basketball program. Prior to Lange's arrival in 2004-05, the Mids won just 23 games (7.7 per year) overall and just 11 league games in (3.7 per year) in the three years before he arrived. In his first five years, Navy won 69 games (13.8 per year) and 30 league games (6.0 per year). The Midshipmen have become one of the most successful teams in the league, posting an overall record of 42-34 and 18-11 in the Patriot League since the start of the 2007-08 season. Just one other team, American, has better records than Navy in that span (48-33 and 23-6).

• Navy is just one of two league teams (American) to have 40 or more wins since the start of the 2007-08 season and one of three league teams (American, Lehigh) with an overall record above .500.

NAVY DUO PROVIDING BIG-TIME FIREPOWER
• The Navy duo of Chris Harris and Jordan Sugars are giving the Mids an explosive 1-2 guard punch this year. The duo is averaging a combined league-best 34.8 points per game this year (Harris - 19.6; Sugars - 15.2). The pair has tallied 557 of Navy's 1,100 points this year, scoring roughly 50.6 percent of Navy's points this year. In addition, the duo has connected on 85 three-pointers, accounting for 68.0 percent of Navy's three-point baskets this year.

• The duo is on pace for 1,044 points, which would rank as the sixth-highest scoring duo in school history. Harris and Greg Sprink rank fifth on the list with 1,087 points in the 2007-08 season.

• The pair has scored over 40 combined points in four games this year (Towson, UMES, Coppin State and Elon), including 61 points against Towson, which set a new Alumni Hall record for points scored by a duo and was the sixth most for a Navy pair in school history. The pair scored 47 points against Coppin State, 42 vs. UMES and 41 against Elon.

SUGARS IN ELITE COMPANY
• Navy sophomore guard Jordan Sugars joined some rather elite company last Monday when he was named Patriot League Player of the Week for the second time this year. He became the first Navy sophomore to win multiple Player of the Week honors and is one of just seven sophomores in league history to win two or more Player of the Week accolades. The list is a who's-who in Patriot League basketball history.

• Sugars is off to a remarkable start during his sophomore season, ranking third in the Patriot League in scoring (15.2 ppg) and second in rebounding (8.3 rpg). It should not come as a surprise as Sugars ended his high school career at Millbrook (Va.) as the school's all-time leader in points, rebounds and steals and was third in assists.

• Sugars' 15.2 points per game average is the highest for a Navy sophomore since the great David Robinson averaged 23.6 ppg in 1984-85. Currently, his average is the fifth best for a Navy sophomore in school history behind Robinson, Kevin Sinnett (16.0), John Clune (21.2) and John Tolmie (17.5). He is on pace for 456 points, which would be the third most by a Navy sophomore in school history behind Robinson (756), Clune (487) and Butler (469).

• In addition, Sugars is on pace for 248 rebounds, which would be the most for a Navy player since David Robinson's 378 rebounds as a senior in 1986-87. Just four players in school history, David Robinson (three times), Don Lange (two times), Vernon Butler (four times) and Kylor Whitaker (once) have grabbed 250 rebounds in a season. Only four sophomores in school history (Robinson, Butler, Sinnett and Richard Brown) have averaged more than 8.3 rebounds in a game.

• Lastly, Sugars' scoring improvement of 12.0 ppg from last year to this year tops the nation, not including transfers.

HARRIS MOVING UP
• Chris Harris is on the threshhold of becoming one of Navy's all-time greats. He already ranks high in several categories and is threatening to move up the charts in several more.

• Harris recently became the school's 14th 1,300-point scorer and ranks 14th on the school's career scoring list with 1,317 points. He already holds the school record for career three-pointers (244) and will become the school's leader in three-point attempts, needing 18 attempts to pass Greg Sprink's 689.

• In addition, Harris needs just 13 assists to become the eighth player in school history with 1,000 points and 250 assists in his career. He already is one of eight players to rank in the school's top 15 in career points and assists.

• He needs 72 points and 17 assists to become just the second player in school history to rank in the school's top 10 in career points, assists and steals. The other player to accomplish the feat in Kaleo Kina (7th in points, 6th in assists, 3rd in steals).

FLAIR FOR THE DRAMATIC
Three of Navy's seven wins have come on game-winning shots in the final minute. Chris Harris hit a half-court shot with no time left to beat Quinnipiac (65-62), Jordan Sugars' three-pointer with 0.7 seconds left beat Coppin State (78-75) and O.J. Avworo's lay-up with a minute left gave Navy a 68-67 lead in its win over Bucknell (69-67).

# GO NAVY #