The Niagara Knights men's basketball program (7-2, 2nd OCAA West) will look to fend off the Fanshawe Falcons when they host them at the Welland Campus Athletic Centre on Friday night. The OCAA's sixth ranked Knights bounced back with a pair of wins against the Sault Cougars last weekend after a loss against the St. Clair Saints.
The Fanshawe Falcons will travel to Welland with a 5-3 record that currently has them holding down the fifth spot in the OCAA West standings. In the OCAA's most recent rankings, the Falcons were named the seventh ranked program in the province, one spot behind the Knights.
Through 66 games against one another since the 1978-79 season, the Falcons have the advantage in the head-to-head record. In those 66 matchups, the Falcons have come away with a win in 44 of them. More recently, however, the Knights have had the upper hand on their opponent, defeating them three times in their four matchups over the past two seasons.
The Falcons have played a tough defensive style of basketball so far through their first eight games, only allowing their opponents to score an average of 77.1 points per game. The Knights high-powered offense, which is currently averaging 100.2 points per game, will be an interesting matchup against the Falcons defense.
The Knights are currently averaging the second most rebounds per game, as they have been physical on the glass all season long. Their 52.4 rebounds per game is second to none other than the Falcons, who are averaging 52.8 rebounds per game.
Van Hutchinson Jr. (Nassau, Bahamas) will look to record his ninth double-double in just ten games so far this season. The fourth year forward is averaging 7.3 assists per game and 12.0 rebounds per game, both of which lead the OCAA, along with 25.1 points per game which ranks third.
The Knights and the Falcons will battle at the Welland Campus Athletic Centre on Friday night, their second last game of 2018 before the mid-season break. The game is scheduled to begin at 8pm and can be watched live here.
