RedStorm Men Looking to Rebound Against Patriots

RIO GRANDE, Ohio – The University of Rio Grande men’s basketball team will attempt to shake off the effects of a disappointing Mid-South Conference loss when the University of the Cumberlands pays a visit to the Newt Oliver Arena on Saturday afternoon.

Tipoff is set for 2 p.m.

The RedStorm, ranked No. 14 in the latest NAIA Division I coaches poll, suffered a 100-96 loss to defending national champion – and No. 18 – Georgetown College on Thursday night.

Rio Grande (14-7 overall, 7-3 MSC) sliced a 21-point second half deficit to just one inside the final minute, but could not complete the comeback against the Tigers, who avenged a 79-72 loss to the RedStorm on January 4 in Georgetown, Ky.

Senior guard Jermaine Warmack (Orange, NJ) led Rio Grande with 21 points – all in the second half – and a game-high seven assists. He also surpassed the 1,000-point mark for his career during the game.

Junior forward Josh Reagan (Cleveland, OH) added 19 points and a team-high seven rebounds, while sophomore guard D.D. Joiner (Columbus, OH) and freshman forward Bilal Young (Cleveland, OH) tossed in 18 and 15 points, respectively. Sophomore forward Phillip Hertz (Rungsted Kyst, Denmark) tied Reagan for team honors with seven rebounds of his own.

Reagan leads the team in scoring at 19.8 points per game, while Hertz and Warmack average 13.9 and 11.7 ppg, respectively. Young and Joiner are also in the double-figures club, scoring at a 10.5 ppg and 10.2 ppg clip, respectively.

Young continues to lead the team in rebounding at 6.8 rpg, while Warmack tops the club in assists (4.7) and steals (2.2).

Cumberlands is coming off of a 71-67 win on Thursday night at Shawnee State.

Freshman guard Taylor Gover led a quartet of double-digit scorers for the Patriots (13-7, 5-5) with 13 points, while senior guard R.J. Scott netted 12 points and the duo of senior guard Shaquille Lowery and junior guard Tony Bradley tossed in 11 points each.

Senior forward Steve Goins added 11 rebounds in the win.

Bradley leads five UC players averaging in double figures at 14.2 ppg, while the remainder of the list is comprised of senior guard James Archie (13.4), Scott (11.6), Lowery (11.0) and Goins (10.2). Goins also averages 6.7 rebounds per game.

Rio Grande won the earlier meeting between the two squads, 66-65, on January 2 in Williamsburg, Ky. Warmack hit a free throw with no time remaining for the win.

A live webcast of the contest will be available at www.ihigh.com/redstorm beginning at approximately 3:45 p.m.