The Warrior men traveled to Dearborn, MI to take on host University of Michigan-Dearborn on Tuesday night. Despite forcing the wolves into 26 turnover, the warriors still came up short with a 57-55 defeat. The first half was less than impressive from either team as RC shot just 20% from the floor, while UMDearborn shot 33% and carried a 24-18 lead into half-time.
Even with the poor play from the warriors, they gave themselves a chance at the end. The Warriors had the ball with just over 7 seconds left in the game and down by two. Senior John Djurovski had the ball for the last shot of the game and came up short from the baseline for a game winning 3 pointer. Junior Tony Watkins lead the way with 21 points, while junior Adrian Schaffer contributed 10 points in the loss.
The warriors were able to get off 14 more shots than the wolves, but the poor shooting from the floor and the free throw line down the stretch was the difference. The warriors missed two front ends of one-and-ones along with two other free-throws that would have given them a better chance to win. With the loss the warriors fall to 3-2 on the season. They will travel to St. Louis this weekend to play two games on Friday and Saturday.
05 November 2008
Warriors claim victory #2 on the season
The Warrior men hosted St. Clair College (Windsor, Canada) on Tuesday night and came away with a 100-50 win, pushing the season record to 2-0. Both teams started the game shooting well from the field, but turnovers made the difference. St. Clair shot 52% from the field on 12 of 23 shots, while the Warriors shot 56% on 21 of 37 shot. The warriors took a 54-28 lead into halftime because they were able to force St. Clair into 15 first half turnovers.
The RC men continued to shoot well from the floor as they shot 66.7% from the floor in the second half, while holding St. Clair to just 30% from the field. Leading the way for the warriors was Tony Watkins with 21 points, Adrian Schaffer had 20 points, and John Djurovski contributed 11 points.
The Warriors next travel to Cleveland, Ohio to take on Notre Dame College and Ohio State-Lima on November 13th and 14th.
03 November 2008
Warriors start in winning fashion with a 91-54 victory
Saturday November 1st, 2008
The RC men's basketball team began the season with an impressive 91-54 win over visiting Lambton College (Sarnia, Canada) in the annual homecoming game. Despite a sluggish start which saw both teams battle to an 8-8 score, until the warriors picked up the pace and began to build a sizable lead. By the end of the first half the warriors had built up a 43-26 lead, in which the RC men shot 58% from the field.
The second half saw the warrior men pick up their intensity and continue their hot shooting, filling the basket at a 61% clip. The warriors were led by junior Tony Watkins who scored 16 points on 8 of 10 shooting from the floor. 2 of his points came on a thunderous alley-oop dunk from Adrian Schaffer late in the 1st half, which sent a buzz throughout the crowd. Also contributing to the balanced scoring attack was Adrian Schaffer (14 points), Grant Brown (11 points), and John Djurovski (9 points). Senior Rob Fragoso, once again, controlled the game with 11 assists with only 1 turnover.
The Warriors will play another home game this tuesday at Rochester High School when they will welcome another Canadian team in St. Clair College (Windsor, Canada). The game is scheduled to begin at 7:30 pm.
24 November 2007
Warriors fall short against Division I University of Detroit 67-51
Over the thanksgiving break the RC men's basketball team traveled to Detroit to take on the University of Detroit Titans. Entering the game the warriors were huge underdogs, but they proved to be a tough dog to beat. During the first half the warriors had the lead 3 different times, and only trailed by 2 points at the half 30-32. The warriors were able to shoot 52 percent from the floor in the first half including 5 of 10 shooting from the 3 point line. Helping keep RC in the game the first half was a 14 to 11 advantage in rebounding. The Warriors were led in scoring by senior guard Odai Baylor (Lake Orion) with 23 points, which led all scorers in the game. Not helping the warriors in the second half was a Titan 10-3 spurt to begin the second half, and a 5:24 scoring drought for RC.
As is the case with the warriors, they would not give up and would fight to the end for the final 16 point deficit. The road doesn't get any easier for the warrior men as they will travel to Andrews University on December 4th, followed by a December 17th game at Grand Valley State University and Oakland University on December 19th.
19 November 2007
RC Men bounce back after big defeat from Albion College to win against Tri-State University
The weekend began on a sour note as the RC men's basketball team traveled to Albion College for the Rotary Club Tip off tournament. The Warriors fell to the host Britons 40-85. The combination of poor play and a hot Albion team contributed to the lopsided victory. The Warriors were led by senior Odai Baylor's 22 points. Baylor was the lone bright spot for a warrior team that shot just 24 percent from the floor. The Britons shot 57 percent from the floor including an 11 of 23 showing from behind the three point line.
The warriors did not let the lopsided loss destroy their effort as they would take on a very good Tri-State University team on Saturday. RC would come out to a slow start against the Thunder and would go into the half down 14 points as the warriors shot just 25 percent from the floor. The first half shooting woes for the warriors would soon be erased as RC would shoot 52 percent from the floor in the second half. The warriors tied the game on a Steve McCune (22 points) jumper with 1:59 left to play. The score would remain tied until Tyler Leipprandt's 3 pointer would find the bottom of the net with just over 7 seconds left in the game to put the warriors up 58-55. The Thunder would have one more chance as they would attempt to tie the game on a three pointer with 4 seconds left. That shot fell short and out of bounds with just 1 second on the clock. The Warriors would inbound the ball and secure the come from behind victory and raise their season record to 6-2.
Next on the schedule for the Warriors is a trip to NCAA Division II Saginaw Valley State University on Monday night. Game time is scheduled for 7 pm.
14 November 2007
Andrew Clark saves the day as RC takes one at Madonna University
Andrew Clark scored on a put back with 1.1 seconds left in overtime as the warrior men steal a victory at Madonna University 81-80. The Warrior men trailed most of the entire game, but were able to tie the score on a Rob Fragoso free throw with 4.7 seconds left in regulation. The overtime period began with RC scoring first, but Madonna quickly answered with a score of their own. From that point on the teams would exchange baskets until Madonna would take an 80-79 lead with just under 20 seconds left in overtime. Rochester would have the ball for the last possession of the game. Tyler Leipprandt, who led RC with 20 points, had a good look at the basket with 5 seconds left on the clock. That shot fell off the rim as Andrew Clark had a hand on the tip that would miss, but fall back into his arms for a put back with 1.1 seconds left on the clock. Clark finished the game with 8 points and a game high 14 rebounds. Junior point guard Rob Fragoso and junior Marjon Lucas came up with big plays all game long. Fragoso would end up with 13 points and 4 huge steals, while Lucas finished the game with 6 points and 3 steals. Junior guard John Djurovski contributed 15 points off of the bench, as he hit some big shots for the warriors from behind the 3 point line. The win improves the warrior record to 5-1.
Next on the schedule for the RC men is a trip to Albion for the Albion College Tip-off Tournament on the 15th and 16th. They will take on the host Albion College at 8 pm.
10 November 2007
Warrior Men Start Season 4-1 and claim Homecoming victory
The Rochester College men's basketball team has had a successful start to the 07-08 season including a 71-52 homecoming victory on Saturday. The homecoming game pitted the men against the Lions of Lambton College (Sarnia, Ontario, Canada). Despite a slow start by the warriors, they were able to take a 37-26 lead into half time. In the first half the warriors shot just 38% from the floor including a bismal 2 of 9 from beyond the 3 point line. The second half saw the warriors increase their defensive energy to increase their 11 point lead to 20 points. The Warriors were led by junior forward Steve McCune who tallied a game high 29 points and 8 rebounds. It was McCune's energy that lifted the rest of the team as the warriors dominated the rebounding game 39-26. For the game the warriors shot 42% from the field and 76% from the free throw line.
In the previous 4 games leading to homecoming the Warriors claimed victories over Dayspring Bible College, St. Clair College (Canada), and Kuyper College. The lone loss of the season came against Olivet Nazarene University on November 2nd. The Warriors lost that game 49-61 against the NAIA Division 1 #18 ranked Tigers.
The Warriors will travel to Madonna University on Tuesday November 13 to start a tough stretch of games on the road. Other games include Albion College tournament, Saginaw Valley State, University of Detroit. The next home game will be against Madonna University on November 29, 2007.
