Men's Basketball

WARRIORS, BLACKHAWKS CLASH IN BURLINGTON

WARRIORS, BLACKHAWKS CLASH IN BURLINGTON
Posted: Feb 05, 2022

West Burlington, IA – For the second time this season, Indian Hills and Southeastern square off in a nationally ranked matchup. As postseason play looms, Saturday's matchup has all the makings of another historic battle between the two conference foes.

GAME DETAILS: Saturday, Feb. 5 | 7:00 PM | West Burlington, IA - Loren Walker Arena

Video: GoHillsTV

Indian Hills: Roster | Schedule | News | Stats

Southeastern: Roster | Schedule | News | Stats

OPENING TIP

  • Saturday's matchup is the 136th all-time meeting between the two squads with Southeastern owning a 75-61 series lead.
  • Over the course of the last 126 contests, dating back to the 1971-72 season, the two teams are separated by just five points, a 9,441-9,436 margin in favor of the Blackhawks.
  • The Warriors own a 13-4 advantage in the Hank Plona era
  • The Warriors enter Saturday's matchup 20-5 overall and 2-1 in ICCAC play while the Blackhawks come in at 19-3 and 2-0 in conference action.
  • Indian Hills is ranked No. 12 in the latest NJCAA DI Men's Basketball Poll and No. 7 in the JUCO Media Poll. The Blackhawks check in at No. 7 in the NJCAA rankings and No. 6 in the JUCO Media Poll.
  • Saturday's contest is the highest-ranked matchup between the two squads since No. 14 Southeastern edged No. 12 Indian Hills on March 3, 2019 in the NJCAA Region XI Championship game.
  • The Warriors are winners of six consecutive games heading into Saturday night while Southeastern has won a pair in a row after falling to Triton 74-72, a team Indian Hills beat earlier in the season.

LAST TIME OUT

  • Southeastern edged Indian Hills in the previous matchup this season on Jan. 8 as the Warriors put together a 26-10 run in the closing three minutes, but fell 88-86 at the Hellyer Center.
  • Six Warriors reached double-figures in the loss, led by Eddiean Tirado's 17 after going 5-8 from three-point range.
  • The Blackhawks put four players in double-figures, led by a career-night from Railer Vargas Hernandez with 21 points and 10 rebounds.
  • The two teams combined to shoot 54.1 percent (20-37) from three-point range.
  • The game was the 15th all-time matchup separated by two points or less in the historic rivalry series.

ROAD WARRIORS

  • Indian Hills sports a 10-1 record away from the Hellyer Center, including a 5-0 mark in true road games.
  • The Warriors are outscoring their opponents by an average of 11.4 points per game on the road.
  • The two teams have split the last 12 meetings at Loren Walker Arena, with the Warriors winning the last matchup in overtime, 77-67 on Jan. 27, 2021.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

  • Five players are averaging 9.0 PPG or more for the Warriors on the season, led by Taj Anderson's 12.3 PPG. In the last meeting with Southeastern, Anderson scored all 11 of his points in the second half, including eight in the final 2:22 of play.
  • J'Vonne Hadley, the three-time reigning ICCAC Athlete of the Week, is averaging 18.6 PPG over his last seven contests while shooting 60.8 percent from the floor. Hadley is also averaging 7.9 RPG and 4.1 APG during the same stretch.
  • Jesiah West has powered the Blackhawks throughout the season and leads the team with 14.4 PPG on the year. Davion Bailey is coming off back-to-back 14-point games and averages 12.8 PPG.
  • Railer Vargas Hernandez is coming off a 20-point performance in a win over Highland.