Men’s Basketball Meets Wheelock Monday

BOSTON – Coming off a thrilling comeback conference win over Saint Joseph's (Maine), the Suffolk men's basketball team steps out of GNAC action Monday, Dec. 4 as it makes the cross city trip to Wheelock. Tip-off in the out-of-league game is set for 7:30 p.m.

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LAST TIME OUT
The Suffolk men's basketball team overcame a 16-point, half-time deficit to secure a 68-56 win over Saint Joseph's (Maine) in the GNAC opener Saturday afternoon inside Regan Gymnasium.

MORE READING: Men's Basketball Comes Back to Defeat St. Joseph's (Maine), 68-56, in GNAC Opener

RAMS RUNDOWN
Suffolk returned to the win column Saturday as the Rams opened GNAC action with a win for the first time since 2013-14, defeating the Monks of Saint Joseph's 68-56 to move to 2-4 on the season. 

The Rams' 69.7 ppg is thanks in large part to Thomas Duffy's 20.0 ppg. The sophomore guard is shooting 44.0 percent from the floor, 52.0 percent from three-point range and 68.0 percent from the charity stripe. Michael Hagopian joins Duffy in double figures as the junior averages 14.7 ppg thanks to a 42.5 connection rate from the field and a 54.3 shooting clip from downtown. Freshman Brendan Mulson and sophomore George Grillakis pitch in 7.7 ppg and 7.2 ppg, respectively, to Suffolk's offense. 

Grillakis, a 6-foot guard, leads the battle on the boards with 5.3 rpg with junior forward Kevin Querusio adding 5.0 rpg to the Rams' 29.7 rpg total.

WILDCAT WAYS
Wheelock, who is 1-4 overall, looks to snap a three-game skid, which included a 95-76 setback at Mount Ida, Monday night. 

The Wildcats are posting 77.4 ppg with four players contributing double digits. Kiwane Crowder's 18.8 ppg leads the way with Dejuan Rodriguez' 18.5 ppg falling in a close second. Kadeem Apply and Brendan Miller round out the foursome with 12.8 ppg and 12.2 ppg, respectively. 

A well-balanced team-effort helps Wheelock grab 38.2 rpg. Similar to the offensive output, Crowder paces the pack with 8.0 rpg. Rodriguez chips in 7.0 rpg with Erick Hernandez and Miller each producing 6.4 rpg.

INSIDE THE SERIES
Monday's meeting marks the fourth time Suffolk and Wheelock will tangle on the basketball court since the series began in 2014. The teams have traded victories with the Rams coming out on the winning side, 63-48, last season to grab a 2-1 lead in the all-time series.

EYES ON THE GAME

GNAC GATES
Suffolk lifts the lid on the GNAC portion of its schedule versus Saint Joseph's (Maine) for the second straight season and third time overall. When meeting the Monks in the first conference contest of the season, Suffolk is 1-1. 

Overall, the Rams own an 8-10 record in the first league game of the season, but has not taken home a win in the first conference outing of the campaign since 2013-14. 

When it comes to location, Suffolk has opened up league action at home 14 times including the last 11 straight.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk is back in front of its home crowd Saturday, Dec. 9 as it entertains Lesley at 1 p.m. inside Regan Gymnasium.