Complete Notes (PDF) (print version)
Complete Notes (PDF) (web version)
No. 6 Metro State will open the new year at New Mexico Highlands on Friday and Western New Mexico on Saturday.
Notes:
RECENT NOTES
• Metro State has won five straight games, outscoring opponents by 15.8 points per game during that streak.
• Metro State suffered its first regular-season, non-conference loss since 2010 (Central Washington), 72-69 at No. 7 Western Washington on Nov. 30.
• The Roadrunners rebounded from the loss with a 71-55 win on the road at Regis on Dec. 7.
• Metro State lost the turnover battle 11-to-10 at WWU, just the second time since 2011-12 the Roadrunners have lost the turnover battle in a game.
• The game at Western Washington was Metro State's fourth game in six days and eighth in 16 days (including exhibitions).
• Metro State played its first home game of the season on Dec. 13 vs. UC-Colorado Springs after five regular season and four exhibition games on the road.
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Brandon Jefferson (Flower Mound, Texas/Lewisville H.S.) earned RMAC defensive player of the week on Dec. 9 after tying a career high with six steals at Regis.
• Jefferson averaged 23.0 points, 3.0 assists and 2.5 steals Dec. 13-14 against UCCS and CSU-Pueblo.
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Mitch McCarron (Brisbane, Australia/Genesis Christian College) averaged 21.5 points and 7.0 rebounds, while shooting 57.7 percent (4-5 3pt) from the floor and 9-of-9 at the line Dec. 20-21 at Black Hills State and Chadron State.
• McCarron is averaging 22.5 points and 8.8 rebounds over the past four games.
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Nicholas Kay (Tamworth, Australia/Newington College) was named RMAC defensive player of the week on Dec. 23 after seven steals and two blocks at BHSU and CSC.
• Kay also won the award on Dec. 2.
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Jourdon Hunter (Denver, Colo./Kennedy H.S.) broke into the rotation on Dec. 14 and has averaged 5.7 points and shot 5-of-7 (.714) from the outside during the past three games.
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Brandon Jefferson (Flower Mound, Texas/Lewisville H.S.) made 23 consecutive free throws from Dec. 7 to Dec. 21.
METRO STATE PLAYS IN NIT SEASON TIP-OFF
• Metro State was one of two NCAA Division II teams (Stillman the other) selected for the NIT Season Tip-Off.
• Last season, Alabama-Huntsville was the first-ever Division II team to play in the NIT Season Tip-Off.
• UAH upset North Texas 78-75 in the first round, but lost 87-26 to Kansas State, 71-69 to Cleveland State and 68-54 to Bowling Green.
• Metro State's four games this season were all exhibitions.
• Metro State went 3-1 against the Division I teams in the NIT Season Tip-Off.
• The Roadrunners became the first Division II team ever to win two games at the NIT Season Tip-Off, edging host Elon 75-74 on Nov. 25.
• Metro State also earned an 83-69 win over Canisius on Nov. 26 to finish the tournament with three straight wins vs. Division I teams.
• Through the end of the tournament on Nov. 26, non-Division I teams had a 6-205 (.028) record vs. Division I teams this season (Metro State had three of those wins).
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Mitch McCarron (Brisbane, Australia/Genesis Christian College) was the tournament's leader in scoring (27.5), rebounding (9.3), field goal percentage (.727) and field goals (40) in the NIT Season Tip-Off (Metro State NIT statistics on Page 40).
• Had Metro State knocked off Rhode Island (66-63 loss) in the first round, it would have faced Arizona in the quarterfinals.
JEFFERSON AND KAY NAMED ALL-TOURNAMENT
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Brandon Jefferson (Flower Mound, Texas/Lewisville H.S.) was named Al Kaly Classic most valuable player after averaging 19.0 points in the season's two opening games in Pueblo, Colo.
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Nicholas Kay (Tamworth, Australia/Newington College) was also named all-tournament and averaged 19.0 points as well.
HIGH EXPECTATIONS IN 2013-14
• Metro State was ranked No. 1 in the NABC and Division II Bulletin preseason top-25 polls, and No. 2 in the Sporting News preseason poll.
• MSU was also the preseason favorite to win the RMAC in the coaches poll and has three preseason all-RMAC players.
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Brandon Jefferson (Flower Mound, Texas/Lewisville H.S.) is the RMAC preseason player of the year.
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Jefferson and
Mitch McCarron (Brisbane, Australia/Genesis Christian College) were both named preseason All-America by Sporting News.
