Game Preview: Men's Basketball Visits #7 Joliet to Start Conference Play
Joliet, IL – The Golden Eagles will take on their second nationally ranked opponent in five days. #9 Rock Valley College Men's Basketball (12-4) travels to #7 NJCAA DIII Joliet Junior College (14-2) on Wednesday, January 4th at 7:00 PM.
Probable Starters
#9 NJCAA DIII Rock Valley College (12-4)
PG-
Malique Ross - 6'1, Fr., Oswego, IL; 12.6 ppg, 5.8 apg, 3.1 rpg
SG-
Dalton Menke - 6'3, So., Winnebago, IL; 11.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg
SF-
Elijah Pappas - 6'3, Fr., Rockford, IL; 6.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg
PF-
DeMari Davis - 6'6, R-Fr., Indianapolis, IN; 7.1 ppg, 8.5 rpg
C-
Alec Pena - 6'7, So., Rockton, IL; 17.9 ppg, 6.7 rpg
6th-
Jace Kitchen - 6'6, So., DeKalb, IL; 12.4 ppg, 41.9% 3 PT
#7 NJCAA DIII Joliet Junior College (14-2)
PG- Richie Elias – 6'2, Fr., Plainfield, IL; 7.6 ppg, 4.0 apg
SG- Robert Brooks – 6'3, So., Plainfield, IL; 13.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg
SF- Rob Blissitt - 6'3, So., South Holland, IL; 8.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg
PF- Clinton Berhow – 6'3, Fr., Skyline, UT; 10.4 ppg, 6.6 rpg
C- Mitchell Kwasigroch - 6'5, Fr, New Lenox, IL; 11.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg
6th- Johnny Campbell - 6'2", So., Lockport, IL; 7.2 ppg, 6.0 rpg
Rock Valley Defeats #2 Elgin 94-74
Rock Valley took on #2 NJCAA DIII Elgin Community College at Rockford University last Saturday and came away with a commanding 20-point victory… The Golden Eagles quality play in the first half gave them a 16-point halftime lead... RVC was hot from deep hitting 12 field goals from behind the arc (12-20 3PT)... The 20 point victory brought the winning streak to six for Rock Valley… The Golden Eagles win came behind a well-rounded effort as six players scored in double figures… Leading the way was freshman guard
Malique Ross (Oswego, IL) who finished with 20 points and 7 assists…
Dalton Menke (Winnebago, IL) and
Jace Kitchen (Dekalb, IL) chipped in 15 points a piece, both knocking down 3 field goals from long range…
Elijah Pappas (Rockford, IL) finished with 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists, while
DeMari Davis (Indianapolis, IN) finished with 12 points and 17 rebounds, 8 coming on the offensive glass… Sophomore
Alec Pena (Rockton, IL) chipped in 10 points.
Game Notes
Rock Valley is an NJCAA Division III member of the North Central Community College Conference (N4C)… RVC Men's Basketball checked in at #9 nationally in the NJCAA DIII poll released on December 12, 2016… Rock Valley, with a record of 12-4, will travel to Joliet Junior College Wednesday to kick off their conference schedule… Last year, the Golden Eagles suffered one of their three losses, a 70-66 game, on the road against Joliet, but finished 2-1 overall against the Wolves during the season... In three of the last four seasons, the Golden Eagles and Joliet have played for the Region IV Championship, creating one of the strongest rivalries in NJCAA DIII Men's Basketball... Following Wednesday's game, Rock Valley will then host NJCAA DIII Harper College on Saturday, January 7
th before traveling to NJCAA DII Wilbur Wright on Wednesday, January 11th.
Joliet Community College Notes
Joliet Community College is an NJCAA DIII member located in Joliet, IL… The Wolves are coached by Joe Kuhn… Coach Kuhn is entering his 20
th season, and has amassed 455 wins… Joe Kuhn led Joliet to NJCAA DIII National Championship in 2010, and was elected into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2015… Joliet currently sits at 14-2 with the #7 ranking in the NJCAA DIII polls... The Wolves are led by sophomore Robert Brooks (Plainfield, IL) averaging 13.4 points per game... In their last contest out, Joliet visited #2 Elgin Community College and pulled out a 77-67 road victory.
