#25 Oilers Battle #11 Norse in NCAA Tournament
The University of Findlay men's basketball team, ranked 25th, will face #11 Northern Kentucky University in the first round of the NCAA Division II Tournament. The contest is scheduled to begin at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 10 in Louisville, Ky.
Sights and Sounds
All Oilers basketball games can be heard on 88.3 FM "WLFC" or on the internet via their website.
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The Series
The Oilers have played the Norse eight times during their history and sport a 4-4 record against them.
The two programs last met during the 2007-08 campaign when Findlay came out on top by a score of 66-53 in Highland Heights, Ky.
Josh Bostic led the way with 29 points, eight rebounds, four steals and three assists.
Tyler Sparks came off the bench to provide 11 points while Morgan Lewis had six points and eight boards.
Anthony Teague led the Norse with 13 points while Mark Hawkins scored 12.
The Oilers and Norse have hooked up twice before in the NCAA Tournament with each team securing one win apiece. Findlay defeated Northern Kentucky 80-76 in 2003 and lost 60-56 to the Norse in 2007.
The University of Findlay
The Oilers captured their sixth Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Tournament Championship after defeating Hillsdale College by a score of 71-52 on Sunday, March 4 in Hillsdale, Mich.
The Oilers came out firing on all cylinders as they jumped out to a 24-2 lead in the first 15 minutes of the game and entered the break with a 31-12 advantage on the scoreboard.
In the second half, the Oilers and Chargers played to a 40-40 tie, but Findlay's big first half lead proved too difficult to overcome as they improved to 23-6 on the year.
Kyle Caiola led the charge with 22 points on 7-of-10 shooting. He also drilled all eight of his free throw attempts in the win and finished the tournament by making 29-of-30 attempts from the charity stripe, which is a new GLIAC record.
Caiola, who was named the GLIAC Tournament MVP, also added five assists, three rebounds and three steals.
Jake Heagen added 14 points and seven boards en route to a spot on the all-tournament team while Brad Piehl had eight points and three rebounds, also earning a spot on the all-tournament team.
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:
Northern Kentucky University
The Norse are ranked 11th in the nation and sport a 23-6 record on the year. Jon Van Hoose leads a balanced offensive attack at 12.5 points per game. Eshaunte Jones (10.9), DeAndre Nealy (10.0) are also averaging in double figures while Chad Jackson (9.7) and Ethan Faulkner (9.5) contribute close to ten points an outing.
The team is shooting 52.1 percent from the floor and 43.0 percent from behind the three point line. They are scoring 78.3 points per game and giving up only 63.2.
For Northern Kentucky's 2011-12 season statistics, please click on the following link:
For Northern Kentucky's 2011-12 roster, please click on the following link:
All-GLIAC
Senior guard Kyle Caiola was named first team all-conference for the second consecutive year on March 3 as the league office released their annual awards in Hillsdale, Michigan.
In addition, sophomore forward Greg Kahlig earned second team all-conference honors while junior guard Aaron Robinson was an all-defensive team pick for the second straight year.
Earning Accolades
Senior guard Kyle Caiola led the Oilers to their sixth GLIAC Tournament title on March 4 with a 71-52 win over Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan. It was the Oilers first championship won on the road during their history and Caiola was rewarded by being named the 2012 GLIAC Tournament MVP.
During the tournament, Caiola averaged 18.3 points, 4.0 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game. He also shot 54.5 percent (12-of-22) from the field and 96.7 percent (29-of-30) from the free throw line.
In addition, freshman forward Jake Heagen and junior forward Brad Piehl each earned spots on the all-tournament team for Findlay.
Heagen averaged 9.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game while shooting 66.7 percent (10-of-15) from the floor while Piehl clicked for 9.7 points per outing as well.
Shooting for the Record
Senior guard Kyle Caiola is on pace to break the school record for highest free throw percentage in a career. Thus far, Caiola has drained 91.0 percent (254-of-279) of his free throw attempts during his tenure with the Oilers. The current record of 90.1 percent belongs to former All-American Nathan Hyde.
Riding the Hot Hand
Senior guard Kyle Caiola has been on fire in each of the past five games as he is averaged 20.8 points per contest. He is also shooting 55.6 percent (25-of-45) from the floor, 56.3 percent (9-of-16) from three point range and 97.8 percent (45-of-46) from the charity stripe during the run.
Fabulous Frosh
The Oilers are a perfect 7-0 since inserting freshman forward Jake Heagen in the starting lineup.
The move was made after the Oilers 77-74 loss at Tiffin on Feb. 9 and has paid dividends as the frosh is averaging 8.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 0.9 blocks per game while providing solid defense in the half court setting.
GLIAC Tournament Records
The Oilers set several records during their GLIAC Tournament run this season. The Oilers set new records for free throws made in a game (36 vs. Grand Valley State), free throws attempted in a game (41 vs. Grand Valley State), free throws made in a series (67) and free throw percentage in a series (91.8%).
Individually, senior guard Kyle Caiola set records for most free throws made and attempted in a game after going 19-of-20 from the line in the Oilers win over Grand Valley State on Feb. 29.
Automatic from the Line
Senior guard Kyle Caiola is hitting 92.9 percent of his free throw attempts on the year, the best mark in the league and the second best in the nation.
In addition, sophomore forward Greg Kahlig is hitting 81.4 percent of his attempts from the free throw line to rank 12th in the conference while junior forward Brad Piehl is at 81.3 percent, the 13th best mark in the league.
As a team, the Oilers are shooting 77.3 percent from the line, the best mark in the GLIAC and the seventh best in the nation.
Making Shots
As a team, the Oilers are connecting on 48.3 percent of their field goal attempts, which is the best mark in the league and the 23rd highest in the country.
Individually, junior foward Brad Piehl ranks seventh in the GLIAC in field goal shooting percentage, hitting 55.2 percent of his tries.
Sophomore forward Greg Kahlig is also ranked high amongst the league leaders and checks in tenth with a 54.0 percent shooting clip.
Lighting Up the Scoreboard
The Oilers are averaging 77.3 points per game on the season, the best mark in the GLIAC.
Individually, senior guard Kyle Caiola ranks ninth in the conference with a 14.9 points per game average while sophomore guard Greg Kahlig is ranked 17th at 12.9 points per contest.
Swatting Shots
The Oilers are averaging 3.4 blocks per game on the season, the fourth best mark in the league.
Individually, sophomore forward Mark Frilling ranks tenth in the GLIAC with 0.9 blocked shots per game.
Spreading the Wealth
The Oilers rank third in the GLIAC with 14.2 assists per game.
Individually, senior guard Kyle Caiola is ranked fifth in the GLIAC in assists per game with 3.9 per contest.
Stroking 3's
Senior guard Kyle Caiola leads the team and ranks ninth in the GLIAC with a 43.2 percent shooting clip from three point range.
Sophomore forward Greg Kahlig checks in tenth with a 42.9 percent shooting clip from long range while junior guard Aaron Robinson is hitting 38.2 percent of his triple tries, which is the 14th best mark in the GLIAC.
As a team, the Oilers are hitting 38.6 percent of their three pointers, which is the second best mark in the GLIAC. The percentage is also the 28th best in the nation.
They are also making 7.5 three pointers per contest, the best total in the conference.
Grand Theft
The Oilers are third in the conference in steals per game and rank 28th in the nation with 8.1 per contest.
Individually, senior guard Kyle Caiola ranks eighth in the league with 1.5 steals per game.
Winning Big
The Oilers are ranked first in the GLIAC and 17th in the nation in point differential as they are out-scoring their opponents by 10.7 points per game.
Hitting from Deep
The Oilers have been shooting the ball well from long range in their last 13 games, connecting on 42.1 percent (115-of-273) of their shots from behind the three point line.
During the stretch, the Oilers have made 115 three pointers, which amounts to 8.5 per game.
GLIAC Player of the Week
Senior guard Kyle Caiola was tabbed the GLIAC South Division Player of the Week on Monday, Feb. 20.
To earn the award, Caiola averaged 18.5 points, 6.5 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.0 steals per contest. He also hit 93.8 percent (15-of-16) of his free throw attempts, 56.3 percent (9-of-16) of his field goal attempts and 50.0 percent (4-of-8) of his shots from behind the three point line.
Simply the Best
The Oilers have the best winning percentage in NCAA Division II competition since the year 2000, having won 309 games and lost only 63 for a percentage of .831.
A Tough Place to Play
The Oilers are 529-110 (.828) in Croy Gymnasium since they starting playing home games there during the 1969-70 season. The number is even better in the past nine years as the Oilers are a staggering 153-3 at home for a winning percentage of .981.
Dominating GLIAC Home Games
The Oilers have won 76 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.
Handling Non-Conference Foes
The Oilers have posted a 78-4 record (.951) against non-conference opponents in games played at Croy Gymnasium during the past ten years.
Their last loss at home to a non-conference team came against Malone University on November 15, 2011 by a 74-71 margin.
Putting the Ball in the Hole
Senior guard Kyle Caiola has been a tremendous scorer during his career and has racked up 1,868 points during his tenure at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell and The University of Findlay.
Playing his first two seasons at Massachusetts-Lowell, Caiola scored 1,043 points. He has since scored 825 with the Oilers after transferring in last season.
Conference Championships
The Oilers have won ten GLIAC South Division titles in their 15-year affiliation with the conference and have also won six conference tournaments, capturing titles in 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2012.
In the last 11 years, the Oilers have won nine GLIAC South Division titles. Overall, Findlay has won GLIAC South Division titles in 1998, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011.
GLIAC Tournament Success
The Oilers sport a 25-6 record in the GLIAC Tournament, winning titles in 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2012.
Findlay has appeared in the championship game of the event eight times in the past ten years. They reached the finals in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012.
Findlay's six tournament titles is tied for the most in league history. Grand Valley State University has also won six championships during their tenure in the GLIAC.
Taking Care of Business
The Oilers have never lost a GLIAC Tournament game at home. Since 2002-03, the Oilers have an 18-0 record in GLIAC Tournament games within the friendly confines of Croy Gymnasium.
National Elite
The Oilers have appeared in ten out of the last 11 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.
A Record Setting Night
Senior guard Kyle Caiola broke the school record for most made free throws in a game with a 19-of-20 performance in the Oilers 72-66 win over Grand Valley State University on February 29 in the first round of the GLIAC Tournament.
The previous record of 17 made free throws was set by Randy Kortokrax, who accomplished the feat in a 118-104 win over Cedarville University on March 2, 1987
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.
Helpful Links
For more information on the GLIAC, please click on the following link:
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