SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Indiana University South Bend men's basketball is set to being the 2020-21 campaign on Tuesday, Nov. 24 as the Titans host Trinity Christian for the season-opening non-conference match against the Trolls at 7:30 p.m. For the safety of all, Tuesday's contest is not open to the public but is available on
LIVE STREAM via Regional Radio Sports Network.
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Something to Prove
IUSB earned it's first-ever Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship and punched a ticket to the NAIA DII National Championship after a thrilling come-from-behind victory at No. 4 Olivet Nazarene. The NAIA announced on Thursday, March 12 that all winter championships were canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as the Titans season came to an abrupt end after a program-best 25 victories.
Scouting the Titans
IUSB returns nine from last year's squad that went 25-8 overall with an 16-6 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference record. The new Titan additions include junior transfers
Spencer Pettit and
Vashawn Sims and freshmen
Da'Vion Davis and
Alex Schmidt.
As a team last year, IUSB averaged 86.3 ppg while shooting an impressive 49.4 percent from the field. Junior
Norell Smith led the way on the glass, averaging 6.4 rpg, as the Titans grabbed 37.4 rebounds a game.
Riding the Streak
IUSB enters Tuesday's contest having won eight straight games dating back to Feb. 5 when the Titans defeated Roosevelt in Chicago, Ill. by a score of 70-67.
Starting the Year off Right
The Titans look to win their 10th straight season-opener on Wednesday as IUSB has not lost a season-opening game since back on Oct. 20, 2010 when IUSB fell at Bethel University 74-49.
Coaching Staff
Head coach
Scott Cooper enters his eight season at the helm of the men's basketball program. Cooper is 106-111 overall and has coached eight players that have received All-CCAC nods, including last year forward
Miles Tracy who was named to the honorable mention team. Cooper added the addition of
Austin Ervin to the staff before the 2019-20 campaign. Ervin joined the Titan staff after being a two-sport NCAA Division I student-athlete at Central Michigan where he was a member of the football and basketball programs.
Scouting the Trolls
Trinity Christian enters the contest after dropping its last outing at home against IU Northwest by a score of 95-81. The lone victory occurred back on Nov. 18 at Goshen as the Trolls defeated the Maple Leafs 74-64.
As a team, TCC averages 75.3 points per game while shooting .450 from the floor that includes .355 from behind the arc. Senior guard Sterling Brown paces the offense this season, averaging 23.3 points while senior teammate Jayln Clark grabs a team-high 7.0 rpg.
IUSB owns the head-to-head matchup with a 10-7 overall record against the Trolls. The Titans are 6-2 at home when hosting TCC that includes a 110-49 stomping back on Jan. 15, 2020.
On the Horizon
Following the weekend, IU South Bend hits the road for the first time this season to play in the Thanksgiving Classic hosted by St. Francis (Ill.). In Joliet, Ill. the Titans face Bellevue and East-West on Nov. 28 & 29. IUSB remains on the road until Thursday, Dec. 10, hosting IU Northwest at 7:30 p.m. inside the
Student Activities Center.
