2008 Woodie Awards
Blue Raiders pick up third straight SBC home win
Chris Martin
Issue date: 1/14/08 Section: Sports
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Over their last seven games, MT has held opponents to just 64.3 points per game compared to the 78.4 it was allowing over the first seven. Last season, the Blue Raiders led the Sun Belt Conference in opponent scoring.
"I believe our last three practices have been the best of the season, maybe the best since I've been here," junior guard Kevin Kanaskie said. "The focus was there and it paid off in this game. We played solid defense and our team chemistry continues to improve."
Desmond Yates led MT in points and rebounds with 14 and seven, respectively. Two Blue Raider newcomers also contributed in the win. Junior transfer Demetrius Green gave MT 11 points, five rebounds and three assists. Freshman Josh Sain had 10 points to go along with four boards.
The Owls (4-12, 0-5 SBC) were led by junior forward Carlos Monroe and senior forward Jeff Parmer. Monroe, FAU's leading scorer and rebounder, scored 15 points and pulled down nine rebounds while Parmer had 16 points and eight rebounds.
"Give Florida Atlantic a lot of credit," MT head coach Kermit Davis said. "I thought they played with a real purpose defensively. They got [Paul] Graham back and he's starting to get back into playing shape. They moved Parmer to the four and I thought that makes them a lot better because he can really shoot it and that stretches your defense.
"I was proud of our team. We had a chance right there to maybe blow it out a little in the first half and we kind of got stalemated offensively. I give Florida Atlantic a lot of credit for that."
The game was a sloppy affair as both teams combined to commit 43 fouls and shoot 42 free throws.
"A win is a win and none of them are ugly," Green said.
MT continued to have problems rebounding the ball. FAU outrebounded MT 38-32. The Blue Raiders have been outrebounded in eight of their fifteen games. Also they have been beaten on the boards in six of their nine losses.
So far this season, the Blue Raiders are undefeated when playing a conference foe in the Murphy Center. MT's two conference losses have come at the hands of last season's SBC regular season champion South Alabama and preseason favorite Western Kentucky. They are the top two teams in the East Division as of press time.
The Blue Raiders head into next week's game at Troy (8-7, 1-3 SBC) riding its first winning streak of the season and will look to extend it to three. The Trojans are looking to bounce back from a 74-49 road loss to Florida International.
The game will take place at Trojan Arena and is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m.
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