MSOE cagers to host Engineers Classic
| Published: 11/20/2008 |
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Milwaukee - The MSOE men's basketball team will host the third Engineers Classic, Saturday November 22 and November 23 at the Kern Center Arena. The tournament will feature four of the nation's most prominent engineering and technological institutions underneath one roof.
In addition to MSOE, other Division III opponents include Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) of Boston, Mass., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute of Troy, New York, and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology of Terre Haute, Indiana.
The tournament will begin at 5 p.m. on Saturday, November 22 when MIT takes on Rose Hulman. MSOE and RPI will battle at 7 p.m. The consolation game will be held Sunday, November 23 at 12 noon, followed by the championship tilt at 2 p.m. While all four schools are well known for their academic reputation, they are also making great strides in the athletic front.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is led by D3 Hoops preseason All America selection Jimmy Bartolotta. Last year, Bartolotta set a school record by averaging 23.9 points per game in 24 games played. Bartolotta was a 2007-08 All America selection and a First Team CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America, and a finalist for the prestigious Jostens Trophy.
MIT returns nine players from last year's team including 6'7" senior Hamidou Soumare (13.5 ppg, 9.6 rpg) and 6'8" senior Billy Johnson (10.0 ppg, 5.2rpg). In MIT's season opener on November 15, the Engineers registered an 82-60 victory over Emmanuel College. Soumare posted a game-high 28 points on 9-for-10 shooting from the floor while collecting 15 rebounds.
The Rose Hulman Engineers compiled a 12-14 mark last winter in the 100th season of men's basketball at the college, highlighted by the 200th career victory for head coach Jim Shaw. The Engineers return two starters and one honorable mention all-conference player from last season's roster. Sophomore Daniel Lowers averaged 10.2 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. Sophomore Michael Kelly pitched in with averages of 7.0 points and 4.0 rebounds per game as the second returning starter. The Engineer roster features seven returning letter winners from last season, including senior Lorenzo Rice (5.5 ppg) and junior Jeff McCartney (3.8 ppg). Rose-Hulman opens the 2008-09 season at Blackburn on Nov. 20.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) finished the 2007-2008 campaign with a 11-14 overall record. They return leading scorer and rebounder Sam Simmons. The 6'4" senior forward averaged 16.7 points per game and 8.3 rebounds per game for the Red Hawks. RPI returns 12 from last year's squad, including junior forward Ricky Philatre (5.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg) and sophomore guard Jeremy Bull (6.7ppg). RPI, who won the Engineers Classic in 2004, opens the season with Mount Saint Mary College (NY) on November 19.
The 2008-2009 season looks to be a bright one for the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) men's basketball team. The Raiders made their presence known last year, finishing the season with a 17-10 overall record and in fourth place finish in their first year of Northern Athletics Conference competition. Head Coach Brian Miller returns for his fifth season at the helm for MSOE and looks to continue his unprecedented success. MSOE has recorded the three best records in school history the past three seasons going 50-30 over that span a remarkable 62% winning percentage.
The Raiders graduate three starters, but returns nine letter winners. The leading returning scorer from last year's squad is senior guard Andy Voigt (11.9ppg) and has been the second leading scorer the past two seasons. NAC Rookie of the Year Austin Meier averaged 11.4 points per game and led the team in rebounds (166), and steals (44) in 2007-08. He placed second on the team in field goals made with 120 shooting at an astounding 58%.
Look for the Raider inside game to be anchored by Jamel Sabree who averaged 6.3 points per game and 3.1 rebounds per game in 2007-08, but averaged 10 ppg in 2006-07. The Raiders played their first exhibition match against a Division I opponent on November 5. MSOE was trailing UW-Milwaukee by five points with ten minutes remaining, before UWM went on a 28-8 run, clinching a 68-43victory over MSOE. The Raiders season opener is against RPI in the second game of the Engineers Classic; a repeat pairing of the 2004 championship game.
For more information regarding the tournament, contact the MSOE athletics office at (414) 277-4552 or Brian Gibboney, Sports Information Director at (414) 277-2412.
