Harper Stats
Triton Stats
RIVER GROVE, Ill. – The Harper College men's basketball team will play its second ranked opponent in four days as they travel to No. 8 Triton College (15-2, 1-0 N4C) for a conference showdown at 3 PM Saturday afternoon. The Hawks (7-10, 0-1 N4C) are coming off a loss at top-ranked Rock Valley College, while the Trojans knocked off No. 6 Joliet Junior College, 88-78, on Wednesday night.
Last Season
The Trojans won the conference with an 11-3 mark and finished 24-9 overall. Harper and Triton split their season series last year, with the Hawks winning 66-60 at home and the Trojans winning 100-91 on their home court.
Key Hawks
The Hawks are at their best when top scorer Admir Suljic (Chicago, Ill. /Lane Tech) (17.5 PPG) is putting the ball in the hoop and creating opportunities for teammates. Robert Hudson (Hoffman Estates, Ill./Conant) (13.1 PPG, 4.9 RPG) offers a unique skillset with a good inside and outside game. Davion Benton (Chicago, Ill. /Alcott College Prep) (12.1 PPG, 9.7 RPG), who has seven double-doubles on the year, brings a ton of energy and effort to the floor. Point guard Marcus Gatlin (Chicago, Ill./Curie) (6.4 PPG, 2.5 APG) is also a sparkplug for Harper.
Key Trojans
The Trojans have a bevy of scoring options, led by sophomores Brian Howard (14.2 PPG) and Donavan Smith (13.2 PPG, 6.2 RPG). Fellow sophomores Darryl Howell (10.4 PPG) and Eric Ross (7.9 PPG, 9.5 RPG) also provide a lift for a team featuring seven second-year players.
Keys to the Game
Harper is going to have to keep Triton off the glass. The Hawks grab only 31.4 rebounds per game compared to 41.4 for the Trojans. The Trojans score 81.1 points per game, while the Hawks have only eclipsed that mark one time this season. It'll take a strong defensive effort for Harper to be victorious.
