NORFOLK, Va. (December 12, 2019) – The SUNY Delhi men's basketball team, who enter winter break with a 7-3 record, were ranked fifth in the latest edition of the USCAA Division I National Coaches Poll with 226 points.
After a 1-1 start, head coach Zack Thomsen's team have won six of their last eight games. They recently went 4-1 over a five-game home stand, featuring victories over Centenary, Castleton, Bard, and Houghton. The Broncos return from their three-week winter break heading to the two-day Utica College Classic in late December. They begin with Rensellear Polytechnic Institute on Sunday, Dec. 29 at 6:00 p.m., followed by the host Utica Pioneers on Monday, Dec. 30 at 3:00 p.m.
Washington Adventist (9-3) topped the poll with 249 points. Florida National (8-5) ranked second with 246 points, while Bryant & Stratton Buffalo (7-2) took third with 238 points. Clinton (4-0) placed fourth with 235 points.
The Broncos look to qualify for their first-ever USCAA National Tournament, which runs from Thursday, Mar. 12 to Saturday, Mar. 14, hosted by Penn State Fayette. The tournament will consist of eight teams.
Senior Justin Daoud leads the Broncos in scoring and rebounding with 14.1 ppg. and 9.3 rpg., including a team-best 3.2 offensive boards per game. His highlights this season features four double-doubles and tying his Delhi career best with 31 points in the Broncos' 112-94 win at Cazenovia on Nov. 19. Sophomore Norman Wilson and junior Darius Hines were each named the ACAA Player of the Week back to back weeks. Wilson ranks second on Delhi with 11.4 ppg., with his highlights including 22 points in the team's 96-95 win over Centenary on Nov. 23. Hines is third with 11.0 ppg., making 39.5 percent of 3-pointers (17-for-43). He has two 20-point games, including 23 against Cazenovia and 21 points in the Broncos' 81-62 win over Bard on Dec. 3.
Seniors Daoud, William Knight, Jordan Fragale, and Payton Dean are closing in on 1,000 career points. Daoud currently sits at 959 points, with Knight at 958, Dean at 886, and Fragale at 871.
