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The first Great West Conference game of the year for both teams begins on Wednesday at 7 pm, immediately following the 5 pm game between their women's basketball counterparts from NJIT and UTPA.
Both teams will be happy to press the reset button on their won-lost records, as wins have been hard to come by in the pre-conference part of the schedule.
The two programs are at similar stages of rebuilding, having posted identical 4-8 Great West Conference regular season records in 2009-10 and then having won their GWC Tournament first-round games before succumbing in the semifinals. Last year, NJIT and UTPA split the season series, with the Broncs winning at home on January 14 (66-53) and NJIT winning in Newark on February 20 (66-59).
Two of the top three scorers for the Broncs, including leader Perry Petty (16.9 ppg) are newcomers. A 6-foot-1 senior, Petty previously played at Santa Clara. He also leads the team in rebounding (5 rpg), assists (53), and steals (34).
Sophomore Aaron Urbanus, a member of last year's GWC All-Newcomer team, is the top returnee, averaging 11.8 points while connecting on 36 three-point tries. Sophomore Brandon Provost, a 6-3 transfer from Air Force, is just shy of double-figure scoring with 9.8 ppg. He has made 33 threes.
The Highlanders, who were 73-47 winners the last time out against Marywood, come into this game having averaged 79 points per game in their last three home contests. Before that, they had not scored more than 70 points in a game this season.
A key will be to maintain some of the scoring rhythm while tightening up on the defensive end of things. Despite the increased scoring, the home games against LIU and Lehigh resulted in losses, with LIU scoring 89 points and Lehigh scoring an opponents' season-best 92.
NJIT enters the game vs. Texas-Pan American with three players averaging double-figure scoring, led by senior Jheryl Wilson (12 ppg). He is second on the team in rebounding (4.8 rpg) and first in assists (39).
Chris Flores, like Wilson, a preseason all-GWC pick, is averaging 10.9 ppg and has 34 assists. Flores has reached double-figure scoring in four of the last five games. Junior Isaiah Wilkerson, another preseason all-GWC honoree, chips in 10.8 ppg plus a team-leading 5.4 rpg.
Fans unable to make the game can follow all the action live on www.njithighlanders.com, which will carry a webcast play-by-play and commentary from Matt Provence, as well as an in-game real-time stat feed.
