THE OPENING TIP
Davis & Elkins men's basketball makes its season debut on Thursday night, welcoming Frostburg State for a conference matchup at approximately 7:30 PM. Delaying the start of the season to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Senators will open the new campaign looking to clinch a berth in the Mountain East Conference (MEC) Tournament after just missing out in 2019-20.
Head coach
Daniel Mondragon, now in his second season, has retooled the roster for 2021 with a focus on becoming a more athletic group. Frostburg State recorded 10 victories last season but ended the year with five consecutive losses.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
- Game One: Davis & Elkins vs. Frostburg State
- When: Thursday, January 7 (7:30 PM)
- Where: McDonnell Center – Elkins, W. Va. (No spectators permitted)
- Records: Davis & Elkins (0-0); Frostburg State (0-0)
- Social Media Updates: @Senator_MBB on Twitter
- Live Video: Click Here (Play-by-Play: Seth Cain)
- Live Stats: Click Here
- Quick Facts (PDF): Click Here
SERIES HISTORY
- All-Time Series: Frostburg State leads 2-1 (since 2000-01 – Full History)
- First Meeting: November 18, 2000 – Frostburg State 82, Davis & Elkins 70
- Last Meeting: February 26, 2020 – Davis & Elkins 77, Frostburg State 75 | Recap | Box Score | Game Highlights
- How It Happened: Davis & Elkins held off a Frostburg State rally late to hold on for a narrow 77-75 road victory in the penultimate game of the 2019-20 regular season. Donte Doleman fired home 22 points in 38 minutes, while Erkam Kiris dominated inside with 19 points, eight rebounds and a block.
DAVIS & ELKINS NOTES
- D&E is set to take the floor for game action for the first time since February 29, 2020.
- With 10 newcomers to bolster the Davis & Elkins roster in 2021, the Senators will rely on two returning starters to anchor the squad this season. Seniors Myles Monroe (13.1 PPG, 5.6 RPG, .490 FG% in 2019-20) and Patrick Wilburn (5.9 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 34 steals in 2019-20) will provide veteran leadership alongside senior Emre Yildirim (4.4 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 27 assists in 2019-20).
- The Senators have added several transfers for the 2021 season, including Cortney Walton (Potomac State), Breland Walton (Potomac State), Bryton Bissainthe (McCook CC), and Marcus Fleming (Wayne CC).
- D&E will also look for other returners to take a step forward this season. Teemu Tumanoff started eight games in 2019-20, while Kyle Leslie and Ryan Wickham wee efficient in limited action. Elliot White converted 72% of his makes from beyond the arc last season and added nine assists.
- Taking care of the ball is important for all teams, but will be a point of emphasis for the Senators in 2021. D&E ranked last in the MEC with a -2.32 turnover margin in 2019-20.
- With high scoring teams across the conference, the Senators will need to improve their scoring output, after ranking 11th in scoring offense (72.5) last season.
SCOUTING FROSTBURG STATE
- Frostburg hit its stride around the midpoint of last season despite ending the year with five consecutive defeats. The Bobcats were 5-10 on the road in 2019-20.
- Senior guard Joe Adedayo returns as the team's second leading scorer from last season. While the Bobcats will need to replace Daniel Alexander (20.8 PPG), Adedayo started 18 games and averaged 10.7 points/game.
- Head coach Sean Brown is in his third season at Frostburg State, taking the job prior to the 2018-19 season. A two-time team captain as a student-athlete from 1997-2002, Brown held Frostburg's single-season school record for three-point shooting percentage and was a First Team All-AMCC selection as a senior.
- A veteran team, Frostburg has nine upperclassmen compared to just five freshmen/sophomores.
- The Bobcats last played on February 29, 2020 against Fairmont State. Five players scored in double figures that game, but only Adedayo returns from that group last season.
