Complete Game Notes as a PDF

THE WEEK AHEAD
Following a week in which the Southern Connecticut State University men's basketball team faced two of the top ranked teams in the Northeast-10 Conference, the Owls will return to action this week to face two of the lowest ranked teams in the NE-10; Saint Michael's and Franklin Pierce. Southern will get its first look at the Purple Knights (5-8, 1-8 NE-10) at Moore Field House tomorrow evening following the women's game. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. The Owls conclude the week on Saturday as they head to Rindge, New Hampshire to square off against the Ravens of Franklin Pierce (6-7, 2-7 NE-10) at 3:30 p.m.

SCOUTING SAINT MICHAEL'S
The Purple Knights are coming off three straight loses; all to Northeast-10 opponents. They are currently 5-8 overall and 1-8 in the conference with their only NE-10 win against Franklin Pierce. They have yet to win a game on the road this season which should bode well for the Owls whose two wins have both happened at Moore Field House. Three players average double-digit points for the Purple Knights who are led by freshman Travis Warech's 17 points per game. As a team, Saint Michael's shoots 43% from the floor and averages 67.5 points per game; allowing 72.7 points on defense. Southern will look to shoot the three-ball in this game as their 38% three-point percentage (third in NE-10) matches up well against the Purple Knights league-worst 37% defensive three-point percentage.

SCOUTING FRANKLIN PIERCE
The Ravens are 6-7 overall and 2-7 in Northeast-10 play. They had won two of their last three contests as of January 11 and scored 80 or more points in those two wins against Southern New Hampshire and Pace. The Owls must key on junior guard Kinard Dosier, the team's most versatile player. He ranks first on the team in steals (30), second in points per game (15.5), rebounds (6.9) and total assists (36) and is tied for most made three-pointers on the team (19). Despite just two wins in conference play, the Ravens can score, as evident by the team's 76.3 points per game (third in NE-10). They also allow their opponents to score frequently and rank second from last in points allowed (78.2). Before the two teams meet on Saturday, Franklin Pierce will head on the road for two games against New Haven and Post.

OUT-OF-CONFERENCE SHOWDOWN
The Owls claimed a 58-56 win over Dowling in the team's last game of 2009. With six seconds remaining and the game tied at 56-56, Chris Harris drove to the lane and found a streaking Clyde Chapman who hit the game-winning lay-up as time expired. Chapman finished the game with 11 points and six rebounds. Tobin Carberry had a game-high 23 points, including 20 in the first half. Dowling, as a team, scored just 24 points in the first half.

NORTHEAST-10 FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Tobin Carberry has been selected Northeast-10 Conference Freshman of the Week on two occasions this season. On December 14, he was rewarded for his performance against Assumption in which he scored 31 points on 10-for-17 shooting. He was honored once again on January 4, as he averaged 21 points in two games, including 23 points in the win over Dowling.

WHAT A RUN
On December 2, the Owls knocked off undefeated Adelphi, 60-57, in one of the program's most impressive victories in recent memory. Southern trailed by as much as 15 points with over seven minutes to play in regulation but remained composed. Freshman Ante Cosic hit a lay-up at the 6:37 mark to begin an incredible 20-0 run by the Owls. A desperation three by the Panthers with one second remaining was no good, as Southern handed Adelphi its first loss of the season.

INCREASED PRODUCTION
In his first three games this season, sophomore Kieran Ramsey saw just 17 minutes per game and averaged 2.7 points and 4 rebounds. However, over the next three games Ramsey saw his minutes go up and as a result, so did his production on the court. In that span he averaged 33.7 minutes, 13 points and 6 rebounds per game. He ranked second on the team in points and also recorded his first double-double of the season against AIC with 11 points and 11 boards.

DISHIN' THE ROCK
As of December 30, sophomore guard Chris Harris ranked third in the Northeast-10 Conference in assists with an average of 5.5 per game. He also recorded a new career-high against Le Moyne earlier in the season, as he dished out 11 assists.

DEADLY FROM DEEP
The Owls were hitting 41% of their shots from behind-the-arc during their first 10 games of the season. The team's .410 three-point percentage was tied for first in the Northeast-10 alongside Merrimack.

OFFENSIVE THREAT
The Owls have found a scoring threat for the 2009-10 season. Freshman guard Tobin Carberry leads the squad with 18.8 points per game and ranks seventh in the NE-10 in that department.

LIGHTS OUT
In the team's loss to Le Moyne, junior guard Andrew Zito and freshman guard Tobin Carberry combined for 8-for-15 shooting from behind-the-arc. Zito had a stretch of four consecutive three's as he matched a career-high with 18 points.

IMPRESSIVE DEBUT
In his first game as an Owl, freshman Tobin Carberry shot 8-for-10 from the floor and 10-for-15 from the charity stripe as he dropped 28 points against Felician. Carberry also led the team defensively with three steals and was named to the Northeast-10 Conference weekly honor roll for his performance.

KEY RETURNERS
The Owls have just five returning players from last year's squad but they will be looked upon to lead the team this season. Senior John Mazzarella was a force down low in 2008-09 and his leadership will play a pivotal role for the Owls in 2009-10. Juniors Lance Long and Andrew Zito return with veteran experience and sophomores Chris Harris and Kieran Ramsey look to improve on impressive freshman seasons.

WELCOME ABOARD
The Owls welcome seven newcomers to this year's squad including veterans Johnnie Bird, Clyde Chapman and Dexton Williamson and freshmen Tobin Carberry, Brandon Ennis, Ante Cosic and Jonathan Schofield.

IN THE NORTHEAST-10 PRESEASON POLL
The Owls have been ranked No. 16 in this year's Northeast-10 Preseason Coaches Poll.

BLOCK PARTY
John Mazzarella finished the 2008-09 season ranked third in the Northeast-10 Conference in blocks per game with 2.42. Earlier in the season, Mazzarella had a career-high seven blocks against Pace (1/10). He also had two games last season in which he blocked six shots.

OWLS ON THE HONOR ROLL
Chris Harris and Tobin Carberry were named to the Northeast-10 Conference weekly honor roll on December 7 and November 16 respectively.

ON DECK
Following the games this week, the Owls will return to action on January 20 for a NE-10 road contest against Saint Anselm's. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.