WHAC QUARTERFINAL PREVIEW: Men's Basketball prepared to face Cleary in WHAC Quarterfinals

(Rochester Hills, MI) - The Rochester Christian men's basketball team is making its ninth-straight appearance in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) Tournament when they take the floor on Thursday evening against the Cleary Cougars. 

GAME INFORMATION

#3 Rochester Christian Warriors vs #6 Cleary

February 26 | 7 PM | Garth Pleasant Arena | Rochester Hills, MI

Live Video | Live Stats | Tickets

ABOUT THE COUGARS

Cleary is led by Head Coach Carl Thomas, who is the program's first-ever head coach. Thomas is in his third season, leading the Cougars, and has an overall record of 23-58. 

The Cougars have three players averaging at least 10 points a game, with Zan Kemp leading the charge with 14.1 points per game, while Nick Ellis tallies 11.1 per game and Bennie Crenshaw Jr. averages 10.4. Bennie Crenshaw Jr. leads the teams in assists per game at 3.1. 

The team's leading rebounders are Nick Ellis, Zane Kemp, and Tim Kewley, who bring down an average of 5.6, 5.6, and 5.4 rebounds per game. Isaiah Bailey averages one steal per game, and Tim Kewley leads the WHAC in blocks per game at 2.3. 

ABOUT THE WARRIORS

The Warriors are led by 15-year Head Coach Dr. Klint Pleasant, who has compiled a record of 326-115 at RCU. 

Five different Warriors tally double figures in points, with Tymias Williams leading the team with 18.7 points per game (5th-most in the WHAC). James Fisher (13.4), Linden Holder (12.1), Darnell Turner Jr. (11.7), and Tyler Allen (11.2) all average in double figures as well. Fisher leads the WHAC in field goal percentage at 67.8%, while Linden Holder is tied for third in the conference, averaging 4.6 assists per contest.

Tymias Williams and James Fisher lead the rebounding effort this season, pulling down 8.0 (4th in the WHAC) and 7.1 (7th in the WHAC) rebounds, respectively. Tymias Williams is top in the WHAC this season, averaging 2.5 steals per game, and is fifth in blocks per game, averaging 1.4. 

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT (PREVIOUS MATCHUPS)

This will be the first-ever postseason meeting between the two teams. RCU is 6-0 against the Cougars all-time, having swept the season series the past three seasons. 

The first meeting of the season came on January 3, as the Warriors walked away with a 96-77 win. Darnell Turner Jr. led all scorers in the game, posting 30 points, as well as nine rebounds and four steals. Tymias Williams scored 21 points and tallied three steals, while Tyler Allen scored 16 and Linden Holder and James Fisher each had 10 points. Bennie Crenshaw Jr. and Jacob Mueller led Cleary with 12 points each, while Zane Kemp scored 11. 

The second matchup occurred 11 days ago on February 14, as the Warriors would win at home, 86-79. Darnell Turner Jr. once again led both teams with 27 points, while James Fisher scored 18 and Tymias Williams recorded a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Cleary's Zan Kemp led the Cougars with 17 points, while Isiah Bailey tallied 15. 

STAT COMPARISON

WHAC TOURNAMENT

The top 8 teams in the regular-season standings qualify

Higher seeds host in all rounds

Quarterfinals - Thursday, February 26

G1    #1 Madonna vs #8 Aquinas - 7:00 pm

G2    #4 Lourdes vs #5 Lawrence Tech - 7:00 pm

G3    #2 Indiana Tech vs #7 Cornerstone - 7:00 pm

G4    #3 Rochester vs #6 Cleary - 7:00 pm

Semifinals. Saturday, February 28

G5    Winner G1 vs Winner G2

G6    Winner G3 vs Winner G4

Championship - Tuesday, March 3

G7    Winner G5 vs Winner G6