Game Preview: Harper vs. Oakton (Men's Basketball)
The Harper College men's basketball team closes out a five-game homestand Tuesday night as they host Oakton Community College at 7 PM. The Hawks have won seven straight games, including wins over Olive-Harvey College and the Olivet Nazarene University JV team last week.
Meanwhile, the Raiders (5-5) are coming off an 81-77 win on Saturday over the North Park University JV squad.
Last Meeting
The Hawks used a balanced scoring attack to top the Raiders 82-66 last season at Oakton. Former Hawk Garrett Gatz scored 20 points while current sophomores Michael Rose (Rolling Meadows, Ill./Rolling Meadows) and Tyler Gaedele (Arlington Heights, Ill./Rolling Meadows ) scored 16 points and 15 points, respectively.
Key Players
The Hawks boast five players who score nine or more points per game, led by freshman guard Kevin Walsh (/St. Viator) (15.5 PPG). Walsh has been on a tear the last six games, averaging 19.2 PPG while canning 20 3-pointers in that span.
A pair of Prospect grads – Bradley Reibel (/Prospect) (12.9 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 4.2 APG) and Kevin Sexton (/Prospect) (12.2 PPG, 4.7 APG – have played pivotal roles in the team's success.
Gaedele (10.1 PPG) has begun to find his shooting touch in recent days and nailed seven 3-pointers in a recent win over Elgin Community College that helped earn him Region IV Div. III Player of the Week honors.
The Raiders have five players who average eight or more points per game, led by sophomore forward Sam Mitchell (13.1 PPG). Mitchell is also a 96.2 percent (50-of-52) foul shooter. Sophomore guard Najee Bailey is the team's second-leading scorer at 12.0 PPG.