#9 Oilers Face Hillsdale, Saginaw Valley State this Week
The University of Findlay men's basketball team, ranked ninth in the NABC/NCAA Division II poll, will compete in a pair of Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) contests this week. The Oilers will travel to Hillsdale, Michigan to face Hillsdale College on Thursday, December 8 at 8 pm before returning home to host Saginaw Valley State University at 3 pm on Saturday, December 10 in Croy Gymnasium.
Sights and Sounds
All Oilers basketball games can be heard on 88.3 FM "WLFC" or on the internet via their website.
You can listen to the broadcast by clicking on the following link:
The University of Findlay will also broadcast all of their home basketball games on America One. The games can be viewed on your computer for a small fee by visiting the American One website at the following address:
UF athletics will also offer live stats for all home games. A link to this process can be retrieved by clicking on the live stats button located on the left side of the Oilers athletic website.
The Series
The Oilers currently own a commanding 42-5 advantage in the all-time series against the Chargers dating back to the 1959-60 campaign when Findlay won 90-59.
The Oilers swept the season series last year, winning 77-68 on the road and 64-53 at home.
In the win on the road, Kyle Caiola led four Oilers in double figures with 18 points on 5-of-7 shooting.
Jack Smith also contributed 16 points while Aaron Robinson and Nathan Hyde scored 11 and ten points, respectively.
In the win at home, Caiola again tallied 18 points as he hit all ten of his shots from the charity stripe.
Brad Piehl added nine points and five boards in the victory.
The Oilers have captured 23 straight victories over the Chargers with the last loss coming in 80-58 fashion during the 2000-01 campaign.
The Oilers also hold a commanding 16-2 lead in the all-time series against Saginaw Valley State dating back to the 1992-93 campaign when the Cardinals were victorious by a score of 75-67.
Last season, Findlay came away with a 76-58 win over the Cardinals in University Center, Michigan.
Greg Kahlig led the charge with 15 points while Nathan Hyde added 14 points in the win.
Kyle Caiola and Aaron Robinson reached double figures as well with 13 and ten points, respectively.
Robinson also tallied seven rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks while Caiola snatched four rebounds to go along with a pair of steals.
Brad Piehl also had a solid game in the win, contributing seven points and eight rebounds.
The University of Findlay
The University of Findlay men's basketball team set a new school record with 30 assists in their 98-57 win over Notre Dame College (Ohio) on Saturday, December 3 in Croy Gymnasium.
The Oilers, who now stand at 6-1 on the season, connected on a season-high 61.8 percent (42-of-68) of their shots from the field and also out-rebounded the Falcons by a 40-20 margin.
Findlay also drained 10-of-25 (40%) shots from three point range and came up with 13 steals in the lopsided victory.
Senior guard Kyle Caiola led the squad with 15 points while sophomore forward Greg Kahlig and freshman forward Jake Heagen each scored 14.
Kahlig added a game-high eight rebounds while Heagen had seven boards and two assists off the bench.
Junior forward Jack Smith also reached double figures with 11 points and five boards while junior guard Aaron Robinson tallied nine points and a pair of assists.
Sophomore guard Sean Samsel came off the bench to contribute eight points, a career-high five assists and four steals while sophomore forward Mark Frilling stuffed the stat sheet with eight points, a career-high seven rebounds and a career-high four assists.
Note: The previous record for assists in a game was 28, set twice. The Oilers accomplished the feat against Rio Grande (12/22/2007) and Lake Erie (11/27/2006).
For Findlay's 2011-12 season statistics, please click on the following link:
For Findlay's 2011-12 roster, please click on the following link:
Hillsdale College
The Chargers are currently 6-1 on the season with a 2-0 record in conference play.
Brent Eaton leads the team with a 13.2 points per game average while Nick Washburn is averaging 11.6 points per contest.
Tyler Gerber is stuffing the stat sheet with averages of 10.9 points, 5.7 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game.
For Hillsdale's 2011-12 season statistics, please click on the following link:
For Hillsdale's 2011-12 roster, please click on the following link:
Saginaw Valley State University
The Cardinals are currently 4-3 on the season with a 1-0 record in the GLIAC.
They are being led by Chris Webb's 18.6 points per game average.
Greg Foster and Michael Fugate are also averaging in double figures at 15.4 and 13.7 points per game, respectively.
For Saginaw Valley State's 2011-12 season statistics, please click on the following link:
For Saginaw Valley State's 2011-12 roster, please click on the following link:
Lighting Up the Scoreboard
The Oilers are averaging 84.3 points per game on the season, the best mark in the GLIAC.
Individually, sophomore forward Greg Kahlig ranks 21st with 13.6 points per contest.
Contesting Shots
The Oilers are making it difficult on their opponents as they are holding them to a mere 39.9 percent shooting clip on the year. The percentage is the third best mark in the conference.
Pounding the Boards
The Oilers are ranked first in the GLIAC in rebounds per game at 40.3 and lead the conference with 27.6 defensive rebounds per outing.
Individually, junior forward Jack Smith checks in eighth at 7.7 rebounds per game while teammate Greg Kahlig, a sophomore forward, is ranked 13th with 6.3 rebounds per contest.
Swatting Shots
The Oilers are averaging 4.6 blocks per game on the season, the second best mark in the league.
Individually, sophomore forward Greg Kahlig ranks seventh in the GLIAC with 1.3 blocked shots per game while fellow sophomore forward Mark Frilling checks in ninth at 1.1 swats per contest.
Grand Theft
The Oilers lead the conference in steals per game with 10.0 per contest.
Individually, sophomore forward Greg Kahlig is ranked fourth in the league in steals per game at 2.1.
Making Shots
Junior forward Brad Piehl leads the team and ranks sixth in the GLIAC in field goal shooting percentage, hitting 57.8 percent of his attempts.
As a team, the Oilers are connecting on 49.8 percent of their field goal attempts, which is the fifth fourth mark in the league.
Spreading the Wealth
The Oilers rank second in the GLIAC with 17.0 assists per game.
Individually, senior guard Kyle Caiola is ranked ninth in the GLIAC in assists per game with 3.6 per contest.
Automatic from the Line
Senior guard Kyle Caiola is hitting 94.1 percent of his free throw attempts on the year, the best mark in the league.
In addition, junior forward Brad Piehl checks in eighth at 84.6 percent while sophomore forward Greg Kahlig ranks ninth with a 84.0 percent shooting clip from the charity stripe.
As a team, the Oilers are shooting 74.5 percent from the line, the fourth best mark in the GLIAC.
Stroking 3's
Senior guard Kyle Caiola is draining 52.2 percent of his three point attempts, the sixth best mark in the league.
Junior guard Aaron Robinson ranks seventh with a 50.0 percent shooting clip from long range as well.
As a team, the Oilers are hitting 41.8 percent of their three pointers, which is the second best mark in the GLIAC.
They are also making 7.3 three pointers per contest, the second best total in the conference.
Simply the Best
The Oilers have the best winning percentage in NCAA Division II competition since the year 2000, having won 292 games and lost only 58 for a percentage of .834.
A Tough Place to Play
The Oilers are 518-110 (.825) in Croy Gymnasium since they starting playing home games there during the 1969-70 season.
In the past nine years, the Oilers are a staggering 142-3 at home for a winning percentage of .979.
Dominating GLIAC Home Games
The Oilers have won 67 straight GLIAC games at home during the regular season.
Their last loss at home in conference play came in 70-68 fashion against Gannon University on February 12, 2004.
Conference Championships
The Oilers have won ten GLIAC South Division titles in their 14-year affiliation with the conference and have also won five conference tournaments, capturing titles in 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2010.
In the last ten years, the Oilers have won nine GLIAC South Division titles.
GLIAC Tournament Success
The Oilers currently sport a 22-6 record in the GLIAC Tournament, winning titles in 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2010.
Findlay has appeared in the championship game of the event seven times in the past nine years. They reached the finals in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.
National Elite
The Oilers have appeared in nine of the last ten NCAA Division II National Tournaments with a 15-8 record, reaching the Elite Eight during the 2004-05 campaign and the Final Four in the 2008-09 season when they captured their first NCAA Division II National Championship.
They also reached the Sweet 16 during the 2007-08 campaign.
Passing Their Way into the Record Book
The Oilers dished out a school record 30 assists in their lopsided 98-57 win over Notre Dame (Ohio) on December 3.
The previous record of 28 was established twice before in a 94-45 win over Rio Grande (12/22/2007) and a 99-67 win against Lake Erie (11/27/2006).
Breaking Board Records
The Oilers broke a school record in their first game of the season after snatching 63 rebounds in their 92-62 win at home over Ohio Valley on November 12.
The previous record of 56 rebounds came in a 102-54 win against Tiffin on December 18, 2001.
Preseason GLIAC Poll
The Oilers received a league-best 170 points and 20 first place votes in the 2011-12 Preseason GLIAC Poll, which was released on November 2.
They have won nine GLIAC South Division titles in the past ten years.
Preseason All-GLIAC
Senior guard Kyle Caiola was tabbed a first team all-conference pick while junior guard Aaron Robinson earned second team all-league honors during the preseason.
Caiola, who was a first team all-league pick last year, averaged 14.0 points per game last season.
Robinson, an all-defensive team selection last year, averaged 10.2 points and 4.4 rebounds per game in 2010-11.
Preseason All-American
Senior guard Kyle Caiola was tabbed an honorable mention All-American by the Sporting News.
Caiola, a first team all-conference selection last year, averaged 14.0 points per game during his junior season.
NABC/NCAA Division II Poll
1. Missouri Southern (7 first place votes) 8-0
2. Metropolitan State, Colo. 7-0
3. (tie) Lincoln Memorial, Tenn. 8-0
3. (tie) Southern Indiana 6-0
5. Kentucky Wesleyan (1 first place vote) 6-0
6. Bellarmine, Ky. 6-1
7. Colorado School of Mines 5-0
8. Humboldt State, Calif. 5-1
9. Findlay, Ohio 6-1
10. Fort Hays State, Kan. 7-0
11. West Liberty, W.Va. 7-1
12. Tarleton State, Texas 6-1
13. Rollins, Fla. 6-0
14. (tie) Cal Poly Pomona 4-0
14. (tie) Indiana, Pa. 5-1
16. Augustana, S.D. 5-1
17. Winona State, Minn. 6-1
18. Alabama-Huntsville 5-2
19. Georgia Southwestern 6-1
20. Bowie State, Md. 3-1
21. Benedict, S.C. 3-1
22. Alaska-Anchorage 4-2
23. Northern Kentucky 6-0
24. Midwestern State, Texas 6-0
25. Arkansas Tech 4-1
Helpful Links
For more information on the GLIAC, please click on the following link:
For more information on NCAA Division II Men's Basketball, please click on the following links: