Friday, November 18, 2011

MACON, Ga. - Twenty-four men's basketball games are slated for play over the next six days including three teams participating in non-conference tournaments. Belmont, Mercer and Lipscomb will continue their play in early-season tournaments.

The Bruins travel to Murfreesboro, Tenn. for the mainland portion of the EA Sports Maui Invitational, while the Bisons are off to Cancun, Mexico for the Cancun Challenge after a game against Illinois State. The Bears stay at home for the CBE Classic as they are one of two programs to host sub-regional games.

Seven A-Sun men's basketball contests are schedules to be shown on ASun.TV, while FGCU's contest at Miami will be shown on ESPN3 and North Florida's game at No. 3 Ohio State can be seen on Big Ten Network.

Atlantic Sun Men's Basketball Weekly Notes:
• Stetson sits atop the A-Sun standings with a 2-1 record. The Hatters won their first two contests of the season for the program’s first 2-0 start since the 1952-53 season.

• FGCU freshman Brett Comer is off to a great start for the Eagles as he ranks in the top-ten of four A-Sun categories early in the season. Comer ranks fourth in scoring (14.7 PPG), seventh in field-goal percentage (.577), first in assists (6.3 APG) and seventh in free-throw percentage (.857).

• Kennesaw State’s Aaron Anderson picked up his fourth career double-double on the road against Auburn with his 13 point, 13 rebounds performance. It marked the fourth of his career, which ties him for fifth-most amongst active A-Sun players.

• Belmont is competing in the EA Sports Maui Invitational in the first two weeks of the season. The Bruins opened on the road against Duke and Missouri and now square off with Towson and the winner of UNC-Greensboro/Middle Tennessee in the mainland portion of the bracket.

• Following their road win against Furman on Thursday, Nov. 17th, Mercer returns home to serve as one of two hosts of sub-regional games of the CBE Classic. The Bears will play contests in the three-straight days against Sam Houston State, Niagara and South Dakota State.

• As part of the Cancun Challenge, Lipscomb travels to Illinois to square off with the Illini and Illinois State on Thursday and Saturday. The Bisons then depart for Cancun, Mexico for contests on Tuesday and Wednesday.

• After starting the season 0-2, Jacksonville returns home for their home opener against Samford on Friday. Last season, the Dolphins posted a 11-2 home record with the only losses coming in A-Sun play.

• Following their home victory against Savannah State, North Florida hits the road for their next three contests at No. 7 Florida (11/17), at Miami (11/19) and at No. 3 Ohio State. The Ospreys were 7-11 last season in road contests.

• Last season, Torrey Craig, the 2011 Freshman of the Year, ranked seventh in scoring at 14.4 points per contest. Early in the 2011-12 season another Spartan freshman is at the top of the A-Sun scoring chart as Adrian Rodgers is averaging 15.0 PPG, which ranks second in the conference.

• In a 81-68 win against Appalachian State on Tuesday, ETSU forced 29 Mountaineer turnovers with 18 steals. The 29 miscues are tied for the second-most forced this season, while the 18 swipes ranks as the most this season in the A-Sun.

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