Men's Basketball | February 22, 2018
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.- The Bethune-Cookman Wildcats (16-13, 10-3) will honor three seniors pregame before a fight for first place in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference against Savannah State (Feb. 24, 4 p.m.) and host their final regular season home game against another foe in first, North Carolina A&T State (Feb. 26, 7:30 p.m.).
Game Info
Television: CatEye Network
Radio: None
Live Stats/Tickets: bcuathletics.com
Twitter: @BCUHoops
Hashtag: #PreyTogether #Commit
Series: BCU leads, 42-32 | BCU trails, 32-43
Promo: Senior Day
The Starting Five
1 Entering this weekend, BCU leads the MEAC in total rebounds (41.36) and blocks (106), and is second in offensive rebounds (13.54), and scoring offense (80.5). Among the NCAA, it is third in rebound average, 11th in offensive boards, 45th in scoring offense, and 108th in blocks.
2 Isaiah Bailey has broken the 20-point mark six times since the turn of the calendar, including a season-high 28 recently at Morgan State. In total, Bailey has reached double-figures in 19 consecutive outings, and in 25 of his 27 games played
3 BCU has its hopes in its second-ever MEAC regular season title. Its first came in 2011, when the Wildcats went 13-3 in the conference and finished 21-13 for its first 20-win season since 1977
4 Brandon Tabb ranks in the MEAC's top 5 in four three-point statistical categories- 3ptFGA (256), 3ptFGM (89), 3ptFG per-game (3.42), and 3ptFG % (34.8%). He is two made three's away from passing Julious Grant (1987-90) career 197 for third place all-time in BCU history. He is on pace to surpass Owen Harris' (1968-71) .842 career free throw percentage with his .876 mark
5 Head Coach Ryan Ridder, in his first year leading BCU, already has the second-most wins of a Wildcat Head Coach in his first season of BCU's Division 1 era. His 16 wins are two behind Gravelle Craig's 18 in 2011-12. The 16 wins also mark the fourth-highest total in D1 history. The record belong's to 2011's 21 victories
Previously
Isaiah Bailey recorded the final four of his career-best 28 points at the free-throw line and sealed a 96-95 overtime victory for Bethune-Cookman against Morgan State in an all-time classic Monday night at Hill Field House. Bailey was a rebound away from a triple-double and set bests with nine rebounds, 10 assists, and three steals in 42 minutes.
BCU (16-12, 10-3) won its fourth connective game and moved into a three-way tie for first place with Savannah State and North Carolina A&T with Bailey and Brandon Tabb's career-tying 34 points paving the way.
Tabb and Diakite Double Up MEAC Honors
Bethune-Cookman's Brandon Tabb has been selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Player of the Week, the conference announced Tuesday. Norfolk State's Alex Long and Bethune-Cookman's Soufiyane Diakite shared Co-Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Tabb averaged 34 points over the past two games as Bethune-Cookman finished the week with a 2-0 mark and has battled back into a three-way tie for first place in the MEAC. The senior from Hampton, Va. scored 34 points on Saturday in a win at Coppin State while holding it down from the free throw line with 13-of-14 free throws made. Tabb nailed six free throws in the final 29 seconds to hold off Coppin State's late charge while setting a career-high in points. Against Morgan State on Monday, Tabb once again tied his career-high of 34 points behind seven three-pointers. He saved his best for last as he scored 18 points in the second half against the Bears.
Diakite (F, Jr., Bronx, NY) was the MEAC's top rebounder with a total of 24 over the past cycle. He grabbed 12 apiece versus Coppin State and Morgan State along with a steal while also blocking a total of three shots. He has grabbed 10-plus boards 15 times throughout the season.
Team D1 History Watch (Since BCU entered the MEAC in 1980)
| Category |
Current Value |
Current Rank |
Record |
Year |
| Total Points |
2255 |
4 |
2283 |
2013 |
| 3-Point Attempts |
674 |
2 |
787 |
2016 |
| 3-pt Field Goals |
216 |
3 |
249 |
2016 |
| Free Throws |
487 |
3 |
509 |
211 |
| Free Throw Attempts |
711 |
T-5 |
742 |
2013 |
| Rebounds |
1158 |
2 |
1186 |
2016 |
| Rebound Average |
41.4 |
1 |
40.1 |
1986 |
| Assists |
430 |
3 |
448 |
1990 |
| Blocks |
106 |
6 |
191 |
2016 |
MEAC Standings (according to MEACsports.com)
1 North Carolina A&T State
Overall: 17-11 // Conference: 10-3
2 Bethune-Cookman
Overall: 16-12 // Conference: 10-3
3 Savannah State
Overall: 13-15 // Conference: 10-3
4 Hampton University
Overall: 15-14 // Conference: 10-4
5 Norfolk State
Overall: 11-17 // Conference: 9-4
6 North Carolina Central
Overall: 14-13 // Conference: 8-5
7 Morgan State
Overall: 10-16 // Conference: 6-7
8 South Carolina State
Overall: 9-19 // Conference: 5-8
9 Howard University
Overall: 8-21 // Conference: 5-8
10 Florida A&M
Overall: 6-23 // Conference: 5-8
11 Coppin State
Overall: 5-24 // Conference: 5-9
12 Maryland Eastern Shore
Overall: 6-22 // Conference: 2-11
13 Delaware State
Overall: 3-25 // Conference: 1-1
Up Next
BCU closes out the regular season with a trip to rival Florida A&M on Thursday, Mar. 1. The action from Tallahassee gets underway at 8:00 p.m. on WELE 1380 The Cat.
Tweets of the Week
