Posted: Feb 09, 2013
�Game NotesFAYETTE, Mo. - The Central Methodist men's basketball team travels to Avila on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. CT.
The game can be seen online at cmueagles.com.
Central Methodist (14-11, 7-6 HAAC) at Avila (8-15, 3-10 HAAC)
Saturday, February 9 - 4 p.m. CT
Kansas City, Mo. - Mabee Fieldhouse
Live Video:�cmueagles.com
Live Stats:�cmueagles.com
Twitter Updates:�@cmueagles
Series Information:
Last Meeting:�Central Methodist defeated Avila, 70-60, on Jan. 5, 2013.
Streak:�Cental Methodist has won two straight games between the two teams.
About Central Methodist:
Central Methodist enters Saturday's game with a 14-11 overall record and 7-6 mark in Heart of America Athletic Conference play after an upset loss to Graceland (Iowa) on Thursday. The Eagles are 5-5 in their last 10 games.
Elliott Black leads the team and ranks seventh in the HAAC in scoring average at 15.4 points per game. Black ranks second in the conference shooting 51.6 percent from the field. Melvin Tillman ranks eighth in the HAAC in scoring average at 15.3 points per contest, while�Eric Franklin�ranks third in the league in assists per game (4.7).
The Eagles are 4-6 in road games this season.
About Avila:
Avila enters Saturday's matchup with an 8-15 overall record and 3-10 mark in Heart of America Athletic Conference play after losing at No. 22 MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) on Thursday. The Eagles rank�10th in NAIA Division I in offensive rebounds per game (14.652), 19th in steals per game (9.565), 21st in total steals (220) and 22nd in turnover margin (2.826).
Brandon Redmond is seventh in Division I in offensive rebounds per game (3.435) and 18th in steals (52).
Avila is 3-7 in home games this season, tied with Graceland (Iowa) for the worst home record among all conference teams.
Tillman and Black Take Control Against Avila
Melvin Tillman�and�Elliott Black�combined for 46 points to lead Central Methodist to a 70-60 win against Avila in Puckett Fieldhouse on Jan. 5.�Tillman tallied a season-high 27 points, including 17 in the first half, and had a career-high seven three-pointers. The Richmond, Ind., native also tied a career-high with 10 field goals.
Central Methodist Must Contrain Avila's Redmond and Johnson
Brandon Redmond and Sedrick Johnson are Avila's top players. Redmond leads the conference in offensive rebounds per game (3.44) and is in the top three in the league in total rebounds (183) and steals (52). Johnson is second on the team and 21st nationally in steals (50).
Led by senior point guard Eric Franklin, Central Methodist is one of the best teams in the country protecting the ball, ranking in the top 50 in assist/turnover ratio (1.1) and turnover margin (0.32).
Redmond and Johnson combined for four steals in the first matchup this season in Fayette, but Franklin forced all five of the Green and Black's steals in the game to lead all players.
Central Methodist Ranks in Multiple NAIA Division I Categories
In NAIA Division I, Central Methodist:
Ranks Number 11 in Division I in Free Throw Pct (0.729)
Eagle Players Rank in Several NAIA Division I Categories
Ranks Number 11 in Division I in Free Throw Pct (0.729)
Ranks Number 12 in Division I in Total Assists (380)
Ranks Number 13 in Division I in 3-Pt Fg Pct Defense (0.302)
Ranks Number 15 in Division I in Assist/Turnover Ratio (1.101)
Ranks Number 17 in Division I in Assists per Game (15.200)
Ranks Number 18 in Division I in Scoring Defense per Game (65.280)
Ranks Number 20 in Division I in 3-Pt Fg Pct (0.371)
Ranks Number 21 in Division I in Total 3-Pt FG Made (181)
Ranks Number 28 in Division I in Total Rebound Defense (33.960)
Ranks Number 29 in Division I in Field Goal Pct (0.455)
Ranks Number 30 in Division I in 3-Pt Fg Made per Game (7.240)
Ranks Number 37 in Division I in Scoring Margin (5.160)
Ranks Number 45 in Division I in Total Scoring Offense (1761)
Ranks Number 49 in Division I in Turnover Margin (0.320)Eagle Players Rank in Several NAIA Division I Categories
Eric Franklin ranks 16th in assists (112), 18th in assists per game (4.667) and 28th in assist/turnover ratio (2.154).
Elliott Black is 27th in field goal percentage (0.516) and 39th in scoring (384).
Elliott Black is 27th in field goal percentage (0.516) and 39th in scoring (384).
Melvin Tillman ranks 34th in 3-point field goal percentage (0.411) and 40th in scoring (382) and assists (86).
