Complete Notes (PDF) (print version)
Complete Notes (PDF) (web version)
No. 4 Metro State will hit the road this weekend on a nine-game winning streak. The Roadrunners will play at Adams State at 7 p.m. on Friday and at Fort Lewis at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Notes:
•   Metro State has won nine straight games, outscoring opponents by 21.6 points per game during that streak.
•   The team's 86-75 win over No. 11 Colorado Mines on Jan. 11 was its first over a ranked team since defeating No. 1 West Liberty (W.Va.) in the Final Four last season.
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Brandon Jefferson (Flower Mound, Texas/Lewisville H.S.) was named RMAC offensive player of the week on Jan. 13 after averaging 33.0 points and 4.5 assists, while shooting 55.6 percent from the floor, 9-of-16 (.563) from 3-point range and 27-of-28 (.964) at the free throw line in wins over Colorado Christian and No. 11 Colorado Mines.
•   Jefferson came within six points of the MSU single-game scoring record, totaling 34 points vs. CCU on Jan. 10.
•   Jefferson had 32 points and broke the school record for free throws in a game (19) on Jan. 11 vs. No. 11 CSM.
•   Jefferson earned RMAC defensive player of the week on Dec. 9 after tying a career high with six steals at Regis.
•   Jefferson made 23 consecutive free throws from Dec. 7 to Dec. 21 and has currently made 19 in a row.
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Mitch McCarron (Brisbane, Australia/Genesis Christian College) shot 65 percent (including 3-of-5 from the outside) and led the team in scoring with 17.0 points per game in two games Jan. 3-4 in New Mexico.
•   McCarron is averaging 19.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists, while shooting 51.5 percent over the past eight games.
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Nicholas Kay (Tamworth, Australia/Newington College) hit 3-of-5 from the outside and shot 50 percent overall, averaging 13.5 points in two games Jan. 3-4.
•   Kay 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 6.4 points and shot 11-of-20 (.550) from the outside during the past seven games.
•   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.
GETTING IT DONE IN THE CLASSROOM
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Mitch McCarron (Brisbane, Australia/Genesis Christian College) became the second men's basketball player in RMAC history to repeat as the RMAC academic player of the year.
•   Former Roadrunner Jesse Wagstaff (2008 and 2009) was the only previous player to win the award two times.
•   Current assistant coach and former player
Jonathan Morse (Boulder, Colo./Fairview H.S.) won the award in 2012, giving Metro State three straight RMAC academic players of the year and five in the eight-year history of the award.
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Nicholas Kay (Tamworth, Australia/Newington College) joined McCarron as first team academic all-RMAC and
Eric Rayer (Colorado Springs/Coronado H.S.) was named to the honor roll.
•   McCarron has a 3.87 GPA; Kay has a 3.91 GPA; Rayer is a 3.52 GPA.
METRO STATE MAKES HISTORY 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.
•   Jefferson and
Mitch McCarron (Brisbane, Australia/Genesis Christian College) were both named preseason All-America by Sporting News.