MEN’S BASKETBALL RESUMES PLAY AT #9 INDIANA WESLEYAN

MARION, Ind. - Men's Basketball (10-1, 5-1) will pick up where it left off with a big non-conference showdown with #9 Indiana Wesleyan (10-2, 2-1) on Saturday, Dec. 30 at 3 p.m. Both teams have had strong starts to the year and will look to end their 2023 on a high note with a victory.

THREE KEY THINGS

A SPLIT DECISION

The Warriors and the Wildcats will meet for the third time, with the series between both teams slotted at 1-1. Rochester took the first matchup at Garth Pleasant Arena on Dec. 8, 2021, 78-51. The Wildcats would redeem themselves shortly after, winning 12 days later against the Warriors in Daytona Beach, Fla., winning 82-53.

This time, both teams enter with under two losses each and plenty on the line.

A POTENT OFFENSE

Rochester's biggest challenge will be on the defensive side, as the Wildcats bring in one of the most efficient offenses in the country. Indiana Wesleyan leads the NAIA in FG% (54.6%) and has four players averaging 13 points per game.

6-7 forward Javan Buchanan leads the team in scoring with 17.6 points per contest and also leads the team in blocked shots and rebounds. Like Buchanan, many of the Wildcats are talented two-way players who can impact both ends of the floor.

ROCHESTER SEEKS TOP 10 WIN

The Warriors will look to add another NAIA Top 25 win to its belt, with the Wildcats being the highest-ranked opponent they have faced since facing #6 Indiana Tech in the 2022-23 WHAC Tournament. Rochester secured a Top 25 win last season against Indiana Tech in Garth Pleasant Arena, defeating the then-ranked #14 Warriors 71-64.

Rochester's last win against a Top 10 opponent was the aforementioned Dec. 8, 2021, victory against the Wildcats.

COACH'S CORNER

Head Coach Klint Pleasant had this to say about the Wildcats:

"They have been a power for years. They don't really have a 'team'. Rather, they have a 'program'. We played a few years ago, and we split with them. Playing them on the road is a brutal test.

We will, as always, just try to control the things we can control. But playing hard and with passion will certainly be key. "

SPORTS INFORMATION SPOTLIGHT

Point guard Gunner Walters currently ranks eighth in the NAIA in assists per game at 6.3.

Hussein Murray - RU Athletic Communications

Featured Image: Hanna Swanson - RU Athletics