Mustang
BASKETBALL MONDAY, NOV. 1 Morningside University begins an 11-game 2021-22 home schedule tonight with a Great Plains Athletic Conference – Heart of America Conference battle against Peru St. First-year head coach Trent Miller and assistant coach Joel Haveman debut on the Mustangs’ bench in their new roles this evening, too. They lead a squad that returns plenty of firepower from a 2020-21 season that reached the Sweet 16 of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Championships.
THE SERIES It’s the first meeting between the two programs since 2009. Mside has won all of the previous six contests, with three decided by 11 points or less.
THE MATCH-UP The Mustangs’ eight top scorers return intact, led by the senior duo of returning All-Americans guard Zach Imig and center Trey Brown. The pair is both part of the program’s career top 25 in scoring and has designs on some potential school records going into their final season. They’ve been part of a magical run for Morningside, with four straight conference championships and national tournament appearances included. Brown and Imig have plenty around them to share the workload. Junior forward Trey Powers, senior guard Tyler Vavrina, junior guard Will Pottebaum, sophomore guard Joey Skoff, sophomore guard Jack Dotzler, sophomore guard Aidan Vanderloo, senior forward Collin Hill, sophomore forward/center Ely Doble and senior center Will Hurd have all seen varsity floor time during their collegiate careers. Head coach Bob Ludwig’s Bobcats began their season with a 104-57 victory over Spurgeon College on Oct. 28. They shot 50.6 percent from the field overall, which included 38.2 percent from beyond the arc. Freshman guard Ajantae Hogan led the ‘Cats in scoring with 19 points. Junior guard Troy Houghton and junior forward Dedoch Chan were also in double-figures with 10 points each. Morningside continues 2021-22 week one with a trip to Cornerstone University for the Cornerstone Classic Friday and Saturday, Nov. 5 and 6. Mside takes on the Olivet Nazarene University of Illinois in the tourney opener Friday at 5 p.m.