After playing their conference opener last weekend, the Wheeling University Men's Basketball team (1-3, 0-1) has officially started the run back to the 2023 Mountain East Conference (MEC) tournament. They bring conference play to the Alma Grace McDonough Center for the first time on Tuesday when they host Alderson Broaddus at 7:30 PM. The Cardinals offense has spread the ball around the court effectively this season but is looking to put it all together on the court as they look for their first conference win of the season.
Last time out, the Cardinals would drop their conference opener to Notre Dame College 91-71 to fall to 0-1 in MEC play. Notre Dame College came out strong in the first half and the Cardinals were unable to keep up with the Falcon offensive attack. The Cardinals were outscored 46-26 over those first 20 minutes of play and went into the locker room looking to get the offense going. In the game's second half, the Cardinals would get their offense going, putting up 45 points as they tried to inch closer to the Falcons. They would get as close as 74-63 with 4:20 to play but were unable to complete the comeback as the Falcons went on an 8-1 run to pull away for good and hand Wheeling the 91-71 loss. The Cardinals moved to 0-1 in MEC play to start the year, but now return home as they try to bounce back on their home court.
Leading the way for the Cardinals for the third time in four games was Marcus Johnson, who finished with 16 points in the night. Since transferring in from Parkland College, Johnson has found a home in the Cardinal's starting five, scoring double digits in three of the four games he has played. Johnson's season high was 28, which he scored in the opener against CAL-U, and he has continued that success into conference play. Johnson is averaging 16.3 points per game this season, while sitting second on the team among eligible players with a 46.8 shooting percentage from the floor.
The Cardinals have spread the ball around effectively this season, and that is reflected in the number of double-digit points per game players this season. Joining Johnson in double figures this season are seniors Brent Price and John Korte, averaging 14.5 and 13.5 points per game. Price has scored 13 or more points in three of his four games this season, with his season-high coming against D'Youville when he put up 22 points. Korte was right behind him with 13.5 points per game and is the only Cardinal to stay in double-digits in all four games this season. He also holds the Cardinal's lone double-double of the season when he scored 14 points and picked up 10 rebounds in the conference opener against Notre Dame College.
The Cardinals sit 1-3 on the season but are looking to turn things around as they hit the heat of Conference play. Both the Cardinals and Battlers enter this game with identical 0-1 records as they look to climb into the middle of the pack in the conference. Each of their next three opponents are off to similar starts to the Cardinals in conference play and Wheeling will look to take advantage as they climb towards a playoff spot. After being ranked #10 in the annual preseason poll, the Cardinals are out to prove that they are capable of making a run with their young team as they lay the foundation of success for years to come.
The Matchup
The Cardinals and Battlers are meeting for the 27th time in program history, with Alderson Broaddus leading the series with a record of 14-12. Last season, the two teams split the regular season series, with the home team winning each game. The Cardinals are 5-7 all-time against Alderson Broaddus at home and are averaging 77.04 points per game in the series. In their final meeting of the 2021-22 season, the Cardinals would pull off the 85-82 win that earned them the #9 seed in the MEC Championship Tournament.
In that game, former Cardinal Jordan Reid went off with a big game that saw him put up 34 points on the night and shoot 65% from the floor. Former Cardinal Jarett Haines and Brent Price also finished in double digits with 18 and 17 points, respectively. Andrew Taylor led the defensive game with four rebounds in the game as the Cardinals pulled off the big win.
The Details
Tip-off for Tuesday's doubleheader is scheduled for 7:30 PM inside the Alma Grace McDonough Center.
You can watch the game live by clicking HERE or follow along with Live Stats by clicking HERE.
Original source can be found here.
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