Games 656-657: New Year's Eve doubleheader

657 - Maryland-Eastern Shore women at UMBC
December 31 at UMBC Event Center in Baltimore, MD
ESPN +

Play-by-play man Troy Green with a "dribble drive" with 2:57 left in the second quarter, as well as a phrase of the year nominee:

"Te'yJah Oliver trying to make lemonade out of a lemon possession".

!

656 - Pennsylvania women at Stetson
December 31 at Edmunds Center in DeLand, FL
ESPN +

Really impressed with the Penn defense, which came into the game third nationally in scoring defense and fourth in field goal percentage defense, then held the hosts to 34% shooting in a 75-53 win.

Penn has won four straight (and allowed an average of just over 42 points) since losing a one-point game to defending America East champion Maine, November 25.

Eleah Parker is probably the best pro prospect for Penn, and the junior showcased a nice all-around game, finishing with 11 points, nine rebounds and remained third in the country in blocked shots by swatting five Monday afternoon. I was even more impressed with Ashley Russell, a senior guard who just missed a triple-double with a game-high 23 points and nine rebounds and eight assists.

Penn built a 19-point halftime lead thanks to a huge first half - 7-of-13 from three-point range and 55% shooting overall - and weren't threatened in the second half. Russell and Phoebe Sterba combined for 23 points on 9-of-16 shooting to help the visitors build that halftime cushion.

Games 654-655: Afternoon/evening doubleheader

655 - Delaware State at Ball State
December 29 at Worthen Arena in Muncie, IN
ESPN +














654 - Gardner-Webb at Wake Forest
December 29 at Lawrence Joel Coliseum in Winston-Salem, NC
ACC Network

In my pre-game notes I wrote down the following in regards to color commentator Stan Lewter:

I'm expecting great things from you saying the word "basketball", Stan Lewter, DON'T LET ME DOWN.

And he did not.

I was anticipating at least a "basketball" per game minute and Lewter provided that and more, saying the word 45 times - 21 in the first half, 24 in the second (1.1/game minute) - during Gardner-Webb's 73-69 victory.

Notable

"value the basketball"
"if you're asking me, that's a basketball play" (said three times in 14 seconds during a first half replay)
"he's played phenomenal basketball"
"a guy who can score the basketball if needed"
"this has been a ragged basketball game" (2)
"that was vintage Gardner-Webb basketball"

Other nonsense

During a time out at the 13:30 mark of a 6-6 game: "don't let this game get out of hand"

"that's an energy play"
"he's been an explosion player"
"when you think of Wake Forest, you think of Arnold Palmer" (you do?)
"make Wake Forest make a passing decision"
"a mental fatigue foul"
"the Bulldogs are barking, they're up one!"

Game 653 - Middle Georgia State at Georgia State

December 29 at GSU Sports Arena in Atlanta, GA
ESPN +

It was an NAIA opponent, yes, but good heavens what a way to close the non-league portion of the schedule.

GSU scored the fourth-most points in program history and had its second-largest margin of victory ever in a 117-69 victory.

After a sluggish start and an early struggle from behind the arc, Middle Georgia actually led 20-15 nine minutes in. But Nelson Phillips' tremendous offensive rebound and eventual put back at the 7:42 mark capped an 11-0 run and GSU led 26-20 and for the remainder of the day. The freshman Phillips had his finest game as a collegiate, scoring a career-high 20 points on 7-of-8 shooting, while Devin Mitchell knocked down seven 3-pointers on his way to a game-high 21 points (18 in the second half).

The Panthers hit 16 three-pointers and four others reached double figures, including Malik Benlevi and Damon Wilson, who chipped in with 16 apiece.

Middle Georgia shot 41% from the field in the first half, but just 27% (10-of-36) in the second and turned the ball over 21 times. GSU led 48-37 at the break, then its second-half point total equaled the visiting Knights' scoring output for the game.

The three highest-scoring single games in school history also came against in-state teams from lower divisions. The Panthers defeated Fort Valley State 122-106 in November, 1989; Piedmont 119-76 in November, 1991; and Morris Brown 118-81 in December, 1988 (thanks to GSU SID Mike Holmes for those numbers). The largest margin of victory in program history was the highest recent point total before Saturday - a 115-55 victory over Tennessee Temple in November, 2014.

After a great non-conference slate that included wins over 2018 NCAA team St. Bonaventure, Alabama and Georgia, the Panthers (9-4) open Sun Belt play with a road trio to UT-Arlington, who it beat in last year's Sun Belt championship game, January 3, and Texas State, January 5.

Game 652 - Sacred Heart women at Kentucky

December 29 at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, KY
SEC Network

A big thing with basketball announcers during this portion of the college season is how the players are adjusting to having some time off for the holidays. Usually they express this concern by mentioning the "legs" of the players and how those legs are HEAVY & they need to get them going again after the break.

Play-by-play man Clay Ables and color commentator Christi Thomas took it to another level Saturday morning in Kentucky's 71-43 win. Here's a breakdown:

First quarter

"heavy legs"
"those legs just feel heavy"
"get their legs underneath them"
"just getting some legs out from under her" (This is my favorite of the day. Makes it seem like the player, Kentucky's Maci Morris, was removing a bunch of other people's legs out from under her).

Second

"their legs aren't there" (THEIR legs aren't THERE !)

Third

"legs a little heavy"
"does Sacred Heart have the legs?"
"get your legs back after the holiday break"

Game 651: Christmas special

UNLV vs. Bucknell
December 25 at Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, HI
ESPNU

A dominant performance from Bucknell in the third-place game of the Diamond Head Classic as the Bison hit 14 three-pointers (and shot 56%) and rolled to a 97-72 victory.

Six different players were in double figures for Bucknell (6-6), led by Kimbal Mackenzie's 16 points. Jimmy Sotos handed out a tournament-record 12 assists (Bucknell had 26 assists on 37 made baskets).

UNLV made its first 3-pointer of the night, then missed its next 19, and was never really in the game after halftime. Bucknell led by as many as 36 on a Sotos-assisted lay-in that turned into a three-point play from Mackenzie at the 6:16 mark.

"dribble drive"  !

Great job by LaPhonso Ellis for getting in a quick "dribble drive", just 3:58 into the game.

That's Ellis' first appearance on our list.

Games 648-650: Weekend tripleheader

650- Indiana State vs. UNLV
December 23 at Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, HI
ESPN2

Jordan Barnes didn't attempt a shot until 7 1/2 minutes remained in the first half, yet finished with 28 points on 11-of-15 shooting in Indiana State's 84-79 win in the semifinals of the Diamond Head Classic.

The Sycamores (8-3), who will play either Bucknell or TCU in the final Christmas Day, have an excellent trio in Barnes, wing Tyreke Key (16 points) and 6-9, 255-pound post player Emondre Rickman (13 points, 6-of-9 FG). ISU, which came in leading the country in three-point shooting, hit 41% of their long-range shots Sunday, but took just 12 from behind the arc and had a surprisingly-huge night in the post thanks to players like Rickman.

The Sycamores look like a definite contender in the Missouri Valley Conference.

Nice nights for sophomore Amauri Hardy - 22 points on 7-of-11 from the field - and freshman Joel Ntambwe (21 points, 15 rebounds) in a losing effort for UNLV.

649 - William & Mary at Virginia
December 22 at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, VA
ACC Network















Other games watched:

Texas State at Arkansas
Winthrop at Southern Illinois


648 - Idaho at Santa Clara
December 21 at Leavey Center in Santa Clara, CA
wccsports.com

Nonsense

"went in amongst the trees"
"it's a foul fest"
"fundamental footwork"
"rainbow three"
"ladies and gentleman, see the Vandals run"
"he's a stretch three"
"trap game"
"the cozy confines of the Leavey Center"
"a cardinal basketball sin"

Games 646-647: Wednesday doubleheader

647 - Coppin State women at Florida Gulf Coast
December 19 at Alico Arena in Fort Myers, FL
ESPN +

Chandler Ryan went 7-for-7 from three-point range and Davion Wingate went 6-for-7 and each scored 21 points off the bench in Gulf Coast's 93-61 win.

The Eagles, who had 11 different players score, hit an incredible 13 3-pointers in the first half as they went into the locker room up 51-22.

Nice night for Chance Graham in a losing effort as the junior led the visitors with 18 points and a game-high 15 rebounds.

Also, one of the keys to the game for Coppin State?













MAKE SHOTS.

646 - UNC-Wilmington at Georgia State
December 19 at GSU Sports Arena in Atlanta, GA
ESPN +

Good bounce back win for GSU, which shot 55% from the field, 52% from three and topped its old Colonial Athletic Association foe 86-71.

Devin Mitchell appears fully over his leg injury as the senior scored a season-high 23 points (on 6-of-10 three-point shooting). Four others were in double figures and the defense forced 22 turnovers. D'Marcus Simonds scored 14 points, which is seven below his average, but the junior grabbed nine rebounds and handed out seven assists.

The Panthers were coming off a loss at Kansas State last Saturday in which they led by three with about 10 minutes to play, but scored just six points the remainder of the night.

One more non-conference game December 29 against NAIA Middle Georgia College before Sun Belt play begins January 3.

Game 645 - Tennessee State at Akron

December 18 at James A. Rhodes Arena in Akron, OH
ESPN +

What a performance from play-by-play man Michael Reghi and color commentator Jacki Windon. The pair set a site record for saying the word "basketball" on Tuesday, passing Adrian Crawford's memorable work in the Southern Miss-Florida State game last December.

Crawford said it 70 times that day, but Reghi and Windon combined for 78 in Akron's 82-60 win.

"Basketball"

First half: said 32 times (1.6/game minute)
Second half: 46 (2.3/minute)

Total: 78 (1.9/game minute)

Notable

"high basketball IQ"
"they're finding themselves in basketball games"
"good decisions with the basketball"
"you can't go from here to there without putting the basketball on the deck"
"basketball loose on the deck"
"fun basketball game, Jacki"
"the basketball vernacular"

Games 642-643: A pair in Atlanta

643 - Kennesaw State women at Georgia State
December 13 at GSU Sports Arena in Atlanta, GA
ESPN +

Sam Crenshaw never disappoints when it comes to saying the word "basketball". Another impressive evening for the play-by-play man in GSU's 79-73, overtime win.

By-quarter:

1st - 8 times
2nd - 8
3rd - 7
4th - 8
OT - 10

Total: 41

642 - Chattanooga at Georgia State
December 12 at GSU Sports Arena in Atlanta, GA
ESPN +

Excellent job of not looking ahead to a big road game on Saturday as the Panthers shot 57% from the field in a 95-88 win.

One of the biggest things about Wednesday's win was Devin Mitchell coming off the bench to score a season-high 17 points on 5-of-10 shooting from three-point range in 32 minutes. Mitchell missed the first seven games with a knee injury, and this was his first big game. His return us huge as he's the team's best outside shooter (though they have several good ones) and the roster is so much deeper with him healthy.

D'Marcus Simonds continued his excellent junior season, scoring a game-high 24 points, and sophomore point guard Kane Williams, who is becoming a real weapon when driving to the rim and either finishing or drawing fouls, added 17 points.

Associated Press No. 25 Kansas State awaits at Bramlage Coliseum Saturday.

Game 641 - Colorado at New Mexico

December 11 at The Pit in Albuquerque, NM
ESPN2

Impressive come back by the Buffaloes, who erased a 17-point, first-half deficit to win their sixth straight, 78-75.

Really enjoyed watching McKinley Wright play. The Colorado point guard can get to the rim and finish and he made some huge baskets Tuesday, finishing an efficient 6-for-12 from the field. His leaner with 4 1/2 minutes to go in the opening half capped a 12-0 run and got the visitors to within 32-27.

New Mexico still led 43-34 at halftime & by 14 four minutes into the second half, but the Lobos' offense went cold after that and Colorado (8-1) took the lead for good at the 4:33 mark on Wright's driving lay-up.

Tyler Bey led the Buffaloes with 16 points and 12 rebounds.

New Mexico wasted a great night from Anthony Mathis, who was 7-of-10 from three-point range for a game-high 23 points before fouling out with five seconds left.

Game 640 - Towson women at Saint Joseph's

December 10 at Hagan Arena in Philadelphia, PA
ESPN +

The duo of Kionna Jeter and Danielle Durjan was very impressive in the Tigers' 73-52 victory.

Jeter, who came into the night 15th nationally in scoring, started slowly, but used a nice mid-range jumper and the ability to find her own shot whenever she needed to for a game-high 19 points on 50% shooting. Jeter also had five of Towson's 11 steals.

Durjan had one of the most efficient nights we've seen at 200 Game Season, scoring 16 points, including a perfect 4-for-4 from three-point range, in just 19 minutes off the bench.

Towson is an impressive offensive rebounding team - seventh nationally coming in - and were all over the glass Monday. Led by Nukiya Mayo, who grabbed five offensive rebounds to go along with 16 points, the visitors had 20 offensive rebounds. That helped lead to 24 second-chance points and allow Towson to turn a three-point halftime deficit into a blowout win.

Game 639 - Fairfield women at Dartmouth

December 9 at Leede Arena in Hanover, NH
ESPN +

Dartmouth shot 60% (23-of-38) from the field and got 18 points from senior Isalys Quinones in a 59-46 victory.

Quinones, a 6-3 forward and newest member of the Scoochie Smith All Stars, was efficient in both the lane and from three-point range, hitting 3-of-4 shots from each distance.

Sophomore Elle Louie added 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting off the bench, and senior point guard Cy Lippold did a great job running the offense for the hosts, who led by as much as 21.

Nonsense

Good collection of phrases & general silliness from the broadcast team:

"you can't win a game in the first quarter, but you sure can lose it"
"there's no 13-point basket"
"Dartmouth's just all up in your kitchen defensively"
"good, active hands"
"pick and pop"
"Dartmouth made mincemeat of the BU zone the other day"

Game 638 - Frostburg State at Longwood

December 7 at Willett Hall in Farmville, VA
ESPN +

Daniel Alexander did all he could, but the Division III Bobcats fell just short.

Alexander poured in 33 points, and Edwin Cole hit a 3-pointer with four seconds left in the second half to send the game into overtime, but Longwood hung on for a 68-65 victory.

Jashaun Smith converted a lay-up at the four-minute mark of overtime to put the hosts up for good. It was 66-61 before Alexander picked up the last of his and his team's points on a four-point play with 55 seconds left.

Smith (12 points) was one of five in double figures for Longwood.

Frostburg, a school based in Maryland, led by four late in the game. The Bobcats just didn't have enough past Alexander. The 6-2 junior was 12-of-23 from the field and 5-of-9 from three-point range (and had a team-high 12 rebounds, more than twice his average), while his teammates hit just 12-of-41 from the field and missed 14 of their 19 3-point attempts.

Analysis!

I think the color commentator's name was T.J. Winger, not entirely sure about the last name. But this is a segment we like to call Thanks, T.J.!













* 54-53 game, 1 1/2 minutes left: "this is a big defensive possession". Thanks, T.J.!

* "He averaged double figures in scoring all four years of high school". You mean he scored at least 10 points per game in high school?! Thanks, T.J.!


* Frostburg took a three-point lead on a Terry Kenner three in the corner 4 1/2 minutes into the second half: "(Frostburg has) got everything brewing in their direction".

* On Longwood's win over VMI in its previous game: "it wasn't the sexiest offensive game, more of a defensive grind".


[ALL] Thanks, T.J.!

Game 636 - Georgia State at Alabama

December 4 at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, AL
SEC Network

That may have been the greatest/most ridiculous win in program history.

Georgia State allowed 60 percent shooting in the first half & went down 21 at halftime, yet found a way to pull the stunner, 83-80.

Malik Benlevi capped a thrilling come back with a buzzer-beating, 3-pointer that gave GSU two wins against the SEC in the same season for the first time ever.

D'Marcus Simonds struggled in the first half (five points on 2-of-12 shooting), but scored 18 points over the final 20 minutes, and all nine GSU points during a 2 1/2-minute stretch just before Benlevi's three.

Simonds lay-up with 43 seconds left put GSU up 80-78; Alabama scored its final points 20 seconds later on a Dazon Ingram lay-in.

It was the 12th-largest halftime come back in NCAA history.

Ingram had only four of his 17 points after halftime.

Kira Lewis is Alabama's best player, and he showed it in the first half hitting four threes on his way to 16 points. But GSU played excellent defense in the second half - the Crimson Tide shot 29% - and Lewis added just three points after the break.

Also, the come back could not have been possible without horrendous free-throw shooting from Alabama, which made 4-of-11 over the final seven minutes & was 18-of-31 for the game.

And GSU finished 79% (15-of-19) from the line, led by Simonds, who was 6-of-6 in the second half.

Benlevi!

The senior continued the strong start to his senior season, adding 16 and 8. On the radio post game, Benlevi told 88.5's Dave Cohen that that was the first buzzer beater of his life.

!

What a shot.

What a win.

Games 633-635: Weekend trio

635 - Columbia women at Boston College
December 2 at Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, MA
ACC Network

634 - Georgia State at Liberty
December 1 at Vines Center in Lynchburg, VA
ESPN +

633 - Gonzaga at Creighton
December 1 at CHI Health Center in Omaha, NE
FOX