Senior Night Game Notes (.pdf)

THIS WEEK
The Southern Connecticut State University men's basketball team, ranked No. 4 by Bennett Rank and No. 9 by the NABC, hosts AIC in the regular season finale on Tuesday night.

SENIOR SENDOFF
Prior to the game the program will honor senior guard Greg Langston, a key contributor that has helped lead the Owls to 66 wins and four Northeast-10 Tournament berths.
• The guard has no trouble putting the ball in the hoop, ranking in the top two on the Owls in scoring in each of his four seasons. Currently he tops the team, and is among the Northeast-10 Conference and Division II leaders with 20.6 points per game.  For his SCSU career, this player ranks seventh on the all-time scoring chart with 1,751 points.
• Langston has been named All-Northeast-10 Conference twice in his career.  He has also served as team captain during his junior and senior seasons.

ALL-TIME AGAINST AIC
AIC leads the all-time series against the Owls by a 45-23 margin.

LAST WEEK
SCSU ran its winning streak to 12, matching the longest win streak in school history, with a pair of Northeast-10 Conference victories.
•Tylon Smith surpassed the 1,000 career point total in the 94-69 win versus Pace on Feb. 19.
•Smith, along with his fellow tri-captains Greg Langston and Luke Houston scored the Owls' 14 final points as SCSU beat St. Rose 86-80 on Feb. 22.

MALLORY SCORING OFF THE BENCH
Michael Mallory scored more than 20 points in four straight games (Feb. 1-Feb.15). The freshman had 20 in both the home win over Assumption on Feb. 1 and the road win at New Haven on Feb. 4, before setting new career-highs with 27 versus Le Moyne on Feb. 8 and 30 at Adelphi on Feb. 15. For the four contests, Mallory, who has netted at least a dozen points a night during the Owls' 12-game winning streak, averaged 24.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks. The Northeast-10 selected Mallory as its Spalding Rookie of the Week for two straight weeks, following the games against New Haven and Le Moyne and and the contest at Adelphi.

ON THE GLASS
SCSU averages 42.9 boards per game, tops in the Northeast-10 Conference. Greg Langston leads the team with 6.5 rebounds per game.

SMITH HITS MILESTONE
Junior Tylon Smith surpassed the 1,000 career points mark on Feb. 19 versus Pace. The guard has totaled 1,017 points in his career. 

STREAKING
The Owls are in the midst of a 12-game winning streak.  SCSU won seven in a row earlier this season (Dec. 4, 2013-Jan. 8, 2014).  The last win streak of 10 games or more was in the 1999-2000 season (12).

OWLS AMONG NCAA LEADERS
• Greg Langston ranks 24th in Division II averaging 20.9 points per game (as of Feb. 16).
• Luke Houston ranks 23rd in total steals (50).

SMITH NAMED TO CoSIDA ALL-AMERICA TEAM
Tylon Smith was named to the 2013-14 Capital One Academic All-America® Division II basketball team as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) on Feb. 19.  The recreation and leisure studies major earned a 3.68 GPA for the Fall 2013 semester.

CLUB 1700
Greg Langston eclipsed the 1,700 career points mark against Le Moyne on Feb. 8. The Owls' tri-captain broke the 1,500 career points mark versus Southern New Hampshire on Jan. 8. The senior currently ranks seventh on the Owls' all-time scoring chart.
4. 1,805 – T.J. Trimboli, 1996-2000
5. 1,783 – David Grenade, 1998-2001
6. 1,773 – Michael Prim, 1982-86
7. 1,751 – Greg Langston, 2010-present

BENNETT RANK
SCSU checks in at No. 4 in Division II in this week's Bennett Rank poll.
•BennettRank is the only unbiased, algorithm-based college basketball ranking system in the nation that covers all 2,200 Division I, Division II and Division III men's and women's basketball teams. The organization ranks based on wins, losses, point difference per game and strength of schedule.

20 WINS
This is the sixth time in program history that SCSU has won 20 games in a season. The Owls earned a spot in the postseason (NCAA four times, ECAC once) every time previous.

OWLS RANKED IN NABC POLL
SCSU is ranked No. 9 in the Feb. 18 edition of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) poll. The Owls broke into the rankings at No. 19 on Jan. 28.

DONNELLY BUILDING A FOUNDATION
Owls' coach Michael Donnelly enters his fourth season at the helm of the SCSU men's basketball program in 2013-14. Over the course of his first four years, he has guided the Owls to steady win total improvements. Donnelly inherited a team that won just two games the year prior to his arrival and has since followed up campaigns of 12, 14 and 17 with 23 victories so far this year. He has a 66-40 record as head coach at SCSU, which includes four straight trips to the Northeast-10 Conference Tournament, a program first. Prior to his hiring at SCSU in May, 2010, Donnelly spent seven years as the head coach at Post University.

SMITH NAMED PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Tylon Smith was named the Spalding Northeast-10 Conference Player of the Week on Feb. 3. The junior led the Owls in scoring in wins at Merrimack and versus Assumption.
• Deshawn Murphy was also named to the weekly honor roll.

ASSERTIVE SMITH
Heading into the final month of the regular season, Tylon Smith set a season-high in field goal attempts. The junior, who took 239 shots through Feb. 2, had a previous season-high of 193 in 2012-13.

NE-10 COMMISSIONER'S HONOR ROLL
Six members of the team were named to the Fall 2013 Northeast-10 Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll.
• Freshman forward Austin Carter and junior guard Tylon Smith finished the semester with a GPA between 3.50 and 3.99.
• Student-athletes whose semester GPA fell between 3.00 and 3.49 were freshman guard Michael Bozzuto, junior forward Luke Houston, sophomore forward Deshawn Murphy and redshirt-freshman center Lucas Van Nes.

LANGSTON EARNS NE-10 HONORS
Greg Langston has been named to the Northeast-10 Conference weekly honor roll 11 times this season (date honored in parentheses):
• Surpassed the 1,700 career points mark vs. Le Moyne on Feb. 8 (Feb. 10).
• Averaged 26 points per game in a pair of Owls wins.  Pours in a game-high 33 points in road win at No. 21 Franklin Pierce on Jan. 25 (Jan. 27).
• Averaged 18.5 points per game and 7.0 rebounds per game as SCSU goes 2-0 for the week (Jan. 20).
• Leading scorer versus Southern New Hampshire and at Bentley (Jan. 13).
• Averaged 21.5 points per game as the Owls won both games at the Clancy Tournament (Jan. 6).
• Recorded his seventh career double-double: grabbing 15 rebounds to go along with a game-high 27 points, in the Owls' come from behind overtime victory against New Haven on Dec. 22 (Dec. 23).
• Totaled 17 of his game-high 20 points in the second half in the Owls' 76-65 win over Saint Rose on Dec. 4, a few days before leading all scorers with 24 at AIC on Dec. 7 (Dec. 9).
• Against Pace on Nov. 26, the senior recorded a double-double in defeat. Langston, who led all scorers with 25 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and was one of five players to score in double figures for Southern Connecticut (Dec. 2.).
• In the Owls' 80-52 victory over Adelphi on Nov. 20,  Langston topped all scorers with 24 points. The Owls' senior, who went 12-for-19 from the floor, also grabbed six rebounds (Nov. 25).
• In the Owls' 98-74 victory over Concordia on Nov. 15,  Langston led all scorers with 28 points. The senior guard also had six rebounds and dished out three assists (Nov. 18).
• Averaged 25.0 points per game at the Bridgeport Classic (Nov. 11).

CAPTAINS CARRY THE LOAD
Owls' tri-captains Greg Langston, Luke Houston and Tylon Smith have carried the scoring load for the team. At the Bridgeport Tournament, the three guards accounted for just shy of 69% of SCSU's points.
• Langston, leads the Owls averaging 20.6 points per game, second in the Northeast-10 Conference.
• Smith, who set a team-high with 37 points versus Bridgeport on Dec. 16, leads the team with 4.9 assists per game.
• Houston, who recorded a double-double at Bentley, tops SCSU with 2.2 steals per game.

MALLORY MAKES A MARK
Freshman guard Michael Mallory has stepped right into the Owls' rotation this season. He finished with 17 points, along with six rebounds, in the season-opener against Molloy. In 2013-14, Mallory has averaged 15.9 points per game and 4.2 rebounds per game.

100 NOTES
For the first time since the 1974-75 season, Southern Connecticut broke the century mark in consecutive games. The Owls followed up a 110-point showing in a win over Stonehill on Jan. 22 with 106 points in the road victory at No. 21 Franklin Pierce on Jan. 25.
• During the middle of January, the Owls surpassed the 100 point mark in three out of four contests.

WINNING SEASON
With the win over Stonehill on Jan. 22, the Owls secured their third straight winning season. The program recorded three consecutive winning seasons from 1999-2000 to 2001-2002.

MALLORY NAMED ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
For the second time this month, Michael Mallory was selected as the Spalding Northeast-10 Conference Rookie of the Week on Jan. 20. The freshman, who equaled a career-high with 26 points vs. Saint Michael's on Jan. 18, recorded his first career double-double, 17 points and 11 rebounds, in the win at Saint Anselm on Jan. 14.
• Tylon Smith and Greg Langston earned a selection to the NE-10 weekly honor roll for their efforts.

HISTORIC WIN
SCSU got back into the win column on Jan. 11 beating Bentley 88-76. This was the first road victory for the Owls in Waltham since the 1989-90 season.

BUCKETS AND BOARDS
Luke Houston recorded double-doubles in each of the Owls' games the week of Jan. 12. The junior had 19 points and 10 rebounds in the home loss to Southern New Hampshire on Jan. 8 and 15 points and 10 rebounds in the road win over Bentley on Jan. 11.  Houston earned Northeast-10 Conference weekly honors for his efforts.

CRUZ CONTROL
Jose Cruz set season-highs of eight points and seven rebounds at Bentley on Jan. 11.  The seven boards were also a career-best.

GREAT GREG
Greg Langston led the Owls in scoring against both Southern New Hampshire (27 points) and Bentley (26 points). The senior has topped the team in scoring in 13 contests this season.

IN A ROW
The Owls rang off a seven-game winning streak from Dec. 4, 2013-Jan. 8, 2014. The last time that SCSU won seven in a row was the 1999-2000 season.

MALLORY NAMED ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Michael Mallory was selected as the Northeast-10 Conference Rookie of the Week on Jan. 6. The freshman, who set a career-high with 26 points at Dominican on Jan. 4, averaged 21.0 points in the Owls pair of wins at the Clancy Tournament.

AT THE CLANCY TOURNAMENT
The Owls picked up a pair on victories at the Clancy Tournament, hosted by Dominican College.
• Five players scored in double figures as Southern Connecticut defeated Post, 90-73, in the opening game of the tournament on Jan. 3.
• SCSU, which scored 52 second half points to overcome a halftime deficit, received a game-high 21 points from Greg Langston and 18 from Luke Houston.
• Michael Mallory came off the bench to tally 16 points, while Tylon Smith and Deshawn Murphy chipped in with 14 and 12 points respectively.
• Southern Connecticut closed the game on a 29-8 run to open up what was a back and forth contest. Langston recorded eight of his points during the run. 
• The following night Mallory scored a game-high 26 points off the bench to help the Owls defeat Dominican, 83-75.
• The freshman, one of three Owls to eclipse the 20 point plateau, also grabbed five rebounds and had three steals with his career-high point total.
• Langston and Smith each tallied 22 points in the victory, while Houston grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds.

HISTORIC OPENER
This season marked the first time that the Owls have won 11 of their first 12 games this millenium. Southern Connecticut last had a record of 11-1 in the 1996-97 season.

MURPHY'S LAW
Deshawn Murphy averaged 20.4 points per game as Southern Connecticut had a perfect December.
• In the Owls' 70-69 Northeast-10 Conference victory at Le Moyne on Dec. 19. Murphy led all scorers with 30 points as SCSU rallied from a 13 point halftime deficit to escape. The sophomore recorded 25 points in the final period.
•Murphy scored 21 in the Owls' 82-74 overtime win versus New Haven on Dec. 22.
•The sophomore recorded his first career double-double, scoring 23 points and snagging 11 rebounds, in the Owls' win over AIC, 80-70, on Dec. 7. 
• Murphy was named to the Northeast-10 weekly honor roll for his performance in NE-10 games against Saint Rose and AIC and again for the the three games versus Bridgeport, Le Moyne, New Haven.

LANGSTON LEADS OWLS BACK
Greg Langston scored 16 points in the second half in overtime to help the Owls erase a double digit second half deficit to defeat New Haven 82-74 in overtime on Dec. 22.

ON BOARD
Greg Langston's 15 rebounds in the win over New Haven on Dec. 22, were the most since Dexton Williamson grabbed 16 at Adelphi, on Dec. 1, 2010.

SMITH SETS CAREER-HIGH IN BRIDGEPORT WIN
Tylon Smith tallied a career-high 37 points to spur the Southern Connecticut State University men's basketball team to a 97-90 non-conference victory over Bridgeport on Dec. 16. The Owls' tri-captain went 12-of-15 from the floor and 13-of-16 from the free throw line. Smith also grabbed six rebounds, dished out five assists and had three steals.

IT'S BEEN AWHILE
The Dec. 7 victory marked the first time since the 2001-02 season that Southern Connecticut won at AIC.

WELCOME BACK
Deshawn Murphy and Jack McCarthy made an impact when they returned to the court in early December.
• Murphy scored 15 points off the bench against Saint Rose on Dec. 4 and then recorded a double-double, scoring 23 points and snagging 11 rebounds, when he started in the Owls win over AIC, 80-70, on Dec. 7.  It was the sophomore's first career double-double.
• McCarthy grabbed a career-high seven rebounds against Saint Rose on Dec. 4.

BALANCED ATTACK
The Owls had five players score in double figures in three of the first five games.

WILLIAMS CRASHES THE BOARDS
Stefon Williams recorded season-high 14 points and seven rebounds at Pace on Nov. 26. The sophomore had a team-high 10 rebounds in the exhibition against UConn.

LANGSTON DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Greg Langston tallied the sixth double-double (25 points, 14 rebounds) of his career at Pace on Nov. 26 and seventh versus New Haven (27 points, 15 rebounds) on Dec. 22.

HOUSTON EARNS NE-10 HONORS
Luke Houston was named to the Northeast-10 Conference weekly honor roll on Nov. 18.
• Houston recorded a double-double for the Owls against Concordia. The junior scored 15 points to go along with 10 rebounds.

SMITH NAMED NE-10 PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Tylon Smith, instrumental in SCSU earning two victories at the Bridgeport Men's Basketball Classic, was named the Northeast-10 Spalding Player of the Week on Nov. 11.
• In the Owls' 93-77 win over Molloy, the junior registered 22 points along with team-highs of 10 assists and eight rebounds. It was the seventh career double-double for the Owls' tri-captain.
• The following night, Smith had 12 of his 19 points in the second half to help SCSU earn the victory over Bridgeport, 77-73. The Owls' guard grabbed five rebounds and dished out seven assists.

SCSU WINS TWICE AT BRIDGEPORT CLASSIC
Southern Connecticut opened the 2013-14 season with two victories at the Bridgeport Men's Basketball Classic, defeating Molloy, 93-77, on Nov. 9 and host Bridgeport, 77-73, on Nov. 10.
• Against Molloy, five players scored in double figures, led by a double-double from tri-captain Tylon Smith. The junior guard registered 22 points along with team-highs of 10 assists and eight rebounds. Greg Langston led all scorers in the game with 24 points. Luke Houston and Michael Mallory each posted 17 for the Owls, while Stefon Williams added 10.
• The following night, Smith had 12 of his 19 points in the second half to help SCSU earn the victory over Bridgeport. The guard grabbed five rebounds and dished out seven assists. Greg Langston led all scorers with 26 points. The senior guard also grabbed six rebounds.

IN THE PRESEASON NE-10 COACHES POLL
In the release of the Northeast-10 Conference preseason coaches' poll, the Owls were picked second in the Southwest Division. SCSU received 70 points, including one first place vote, tied for second with Saint Rose and behind the University of New Haven. 

IN SEASON OPENERS
The Owls are 28-36 all-time in season-opening games. SCSU has won its last four season openers, including an 93-77 win over Molloy to start this year.

A LOOK BACK AT THE URI GAME
SCSU held a one-point lead at halftime, but the University of Rhode Island outscored the Owls by a 52-35 margin the second half to claim a 93-77 win in an exhibition contest on Nov. 1.
• Greg Langston led the Owls with 21 points in the contest. Michael Mallory added 19 points and five rebounds, while Tylon Smith chipped in 12 points, along with team-highs of seven rebounds, four assists and three steals.

A LOOK BACK AT THE UCONN GAME
Senior forward Greg Langston finished with 18 points, but the Southern Connecticut State University men's basketball team dropped a 93-65 decision to No. 18/19 nationally ranked University of Connecticut in an exhibition contest on Oct. 30.
• Michael Mallory also reached double figures in the contest as he scored 13 for the Owls. Luke Houston and Austin Carter added nine points each.
• After a jumper from UConn's Shabazz Napier to open the scoring, the Owls went in front on a three-pointer from Langston. The Huskies followed with an 8-0 run to take a 10-3 lead. Southern Connecticut countered with a spurt to cut the gap to 18-14 with just over nine minutes left in the opening frame. The lead was just 23-16 approaching the eight minute timeout.
• However, the Huskies closed the half on a spurt that allowed them to extend their lead to 44-28 at the break.
• The Huskies outscored the Owls by a 49-37 margin in the second half to make it a 93-65 final.

MAKING STRIDES ON THE GLASS
Southern Connecticut outrebounded UConn by a 48-43 margin in its exhibition opener.

NEW ARRIVALS
The Owls welcome five newcomers to the squad for the 2013-14 season - Michael Mallory, Austin Carter, Michael Bozzuto, Jonathan Paul and Dominic Migliaro.

HELLO AGAIN
Southern Connecticut returns eight players from last year's squad - senior Greg Langston, juniors Jose Cruz, Luke Houston and Tylon Smith and sophomores Stefon Williams, Deshawn Murphy and Jack McCarthy and redshirt freshman Lucas Van Nes.

THE CAPTAINS
Head coach Michael Donnelly announced that senior Greg Langston and juniors Tylon Smith and Luke Houston will serve as team captains for the 2013-14 season.

ON THE BRINK
The Southern Connecticut State University men's basketball team just missed out in its first NCAA Tournament berth in more than a decade. The Owls were ranked as high as No. 4 in the region during the year and closed the campaign with a 17-10 overall mark. It marked the second straight year that the Owls posted a winning record. In addition, the team also finished in fifth place in the Northeast-10 Conference, matching its highest placement since joining the league.

SMITH NAMED TO NE-10 MEN'S HOOPS ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM
Tylon Smith was selected to the Northeast-10 Conference Men's Basketball All-Academic Team for his work in the classroom and on the court. He averaged 10.2 points per game and had a team-high 6.8 rebounds.

EXCELLING IN THE CLASSROOM
Southern Connecticut had four student-athletes selected to the Northeast-10 Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll for their work in the classroom during the 2012-13 academic year.

UP NEXT
The Owls will host a Northeast-10 Conference Tournament quarterfinal round game on March 2 at 3p.m.