Hutchinson, KS – For the 18th time in program history, the Indian Hills Men's Basketball team is set to compete at the Hutchinson Sports Arena for the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) DI Men's Basketball National Tournament.
DETAILS: NJCAA DI Men's Basketball National Tournament
#5 (6) Indian Hills vs. #21 (11) Ranger (TX)
WATCH LIVE: NJCAA Network
LIVE STATS: Indian Hills vs. Ranger
LIVE AUDIO: GoHillsTV
TICKETS: NJCAA DI Men's Basketball Championship
TOURNAMENT CENTRAL: NJCAA Championships
BRACKET: NJCAA DI Men's Basketball National Tournament
WHERE TO WATCH IN OTTUMWA: Godfrey's Alehouse, Morgan's Corner, Courtside Bar & Grill, Indian Hills Formal Lounge (Ottumwa Campus)
STARTING FIVE
- The Warriors enter the national tournament with a record of 27-4 and claimed the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) Regular Season title.
- Indian Hills claimed the No. 6 overall seed with an at-large bid and a first round bye as one of the top eight seeds in the national tournament field.
- Sophomore guard Don McHenry (Milwaukee, WI/Hawaii-Hilo) enters the tournament as the ICCAC Player of the Year and a first-team NJCAA All-Region XI selection.
- Indian Hills enters the tournament with the lowest opponents' field goal percentage in the nation at 36.7 percent on the year.
- Indian Hills' 9.6 three-point shots made per game are the second-best mark among the 24 teams in the national tournament this year.
HOW WE GOT HERE
Indian Hills heads to Hutchinson, KS as one of the top teams in the nation after another dominant regular season under head coach Hank Plona.
- Indian Hills posted a 7-1 record against nationally ranked opponents on the year, including a 3-0 mark against top-10 teams.
- The national tournament field features five teams that were on the Warriors' schedule this year. Indian Hills posted a 6-2 record in those games.
- 1-0 vs. #1 seed John A. Logan
- 0-1 vs. #4 seed Moberly Area
- 1-0 vs. #7 seed Northwest Florida State
- 2-0 vs. #13 seed Dodge City
- 2-1 vs. #14 seed Southeastern
- Indian Hills posted an 11-1 record on the road this season, including 9-1 in true road contests.
- The Warriors, who opened the season at No. 3 in the preseason rankings, spent all 14 weeks inside the top-seven of the national rankings, including three weeks (Nov. 21-Dec.5) at No. 1 in the polls.
WARRIORS AT HUTCH
One of the most historic programs in the history of the national tournament, Indian Hills will be making its 18th all-time appearance in Hutchinson, KS.
- The Warriors' 18 all-time appearances are tied for seventh-most, joined by Chipola College (FL) who is in this year's field and Coffeyville Community College (KS).
- Indian Hills is 27-18 all-time at the national tournament.
- The Warriors' first appearance came in 1993 where the team placed fourth overall.
- Indian Hills has now appeared in nine of the last 10 national tournaments – one of only two teams in the nation to claim that feat along with Vincennes University (IN), also in this year's field.
- The No. 6 seed is the Warriors' sixth time earning a first round bye at the national tournament, and first time earning the No. 6 seed.
- The Warriors are the only team in NJCAA history to win three consecutive national championships – 1997, 1998, 1999.
WARRIORS TO WATCH
- Don McHenry became the sixth consecutive Warrior to win the ICCAC Player of the Year after leading the conference with 15.5 points per game on the year.
- The Warriors bring three sophomores with national tournament experience from a year ago in Enoch Kalambay, Eddiean Tirado, and Leeroy Odiahi.
- Kalambay was named a first-team NJCAA All-Region XI selection after averaging 12.2 points per game and 6.7 rebounds per contest.
- Truth Harris, Ryan Myers, David Jones, and Lado Laku have provided solid performances for the Warriors this year as each sophomore has appeared in all 31 contests.
SCOUTING THE RANGERS
The Warriors will matchup with Ranger College (TX) on Wednesday night after the 11th seeded Rangers upended No. 21 seed Seminole State College (OK) 78-75 Tuesday afternoon in the opening round.
- The Rangers enter Wednesday's matchup with a 27-7 overall record and finished as runners-up in the NJCAA Southwest District Championship with a loss to Midland College (TX).
- Ranger ranks 19th of the 24 teams in the national tournament field this year with 77.5 points per game.
- Led by Tayton Conerway's 4.6 FT/game, the Rangers rank fourth nationally with 18.2 FT attempts/game and eighth in the NJCAA with 25.8 FT attempts/game.
- Shay Davis leads three Rangers in double-figures with 15.4 points per game this year while Mykell Robinson is averaging 12.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game this year.
- Ranger is making its sixth all-time appearance at the national tournament and fourth since 2016, including a runner-up finish in the 2019 title game.
- Indian Hills is 7-1 all-time at the national tournament vs. teams from Texas
SERIES HISTORY
Wendnesday night's meeting with the Rangers will be just the second such occurrence for the Warriors. Indian Hills previously matched up with Ranger in 2008 at the Arkansas-Fort Smith Tournament where the Warriors took an 85-62 victory behind 24 points from Dwight Buycks and 23 from Dwight Hardy.
WHAT'S NEXT
A win on Wednesday night for Indian Hills would send the Warriors to the quarterfinal round and one of eight teams remaining in the bracket. Indian Hills will play the winner of No. 3 Odessa College (TX) and No. 14 Southeastern Community College who will square off at 6:00 PM Wednesday night.