Billy Montgomery

Men's Basketball 12/15/2015 8:21:00 PM Corey Miggins, Sports Information Director

Men's Basketball Closes Big Ten Road Swing Wednesday at Minnesota

Chicago State (3-8) at Minnesota (5-5)
Date	Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Time	7 p.m.
Location	Williams Arena (14,625) - Minneapolis, Minn.
Video	ESPN 3
Radio	Gopher Radio Network
Live Stats	Minnesota Live Stats
Social Media	@ChiStateCougars

Minnesota Game Notes (PDF)

OPENING TIP – The Chicago State men's basketball team concludes a two-game Big Ten Conference road swing on Wednesday night when they take on host Minnesota at Williams Arena with the opening tip set for 7 p.m. The game will be shown live online on ESPN 3 with Clay Matvick (Play-by-Play) and Homer Drew (Analyst) calling the action.

SCOUTING CSU – Chicago State heads into the Twin Cities sporting a 3-8 season record, but is has lost its last seven games including a 77-35 decision at Northwestern on Sunday evening. The Green and White have three players who currently averaging double figure scoring this season with junior guard Elliott Cole (Chicago, Ill./Powerhouse) leading the way with 12 points a game to go along with a team-best 3.1 assists per contest. Senior guard Kieran Woods (Chicago, Ill./Crane) is second on the team with 11.7 points per game while leading the Western Athletic Conference at 2.3 steals a game. Junior guard/forward Trayvon Palmer (Milwaukee, Wis./Brown Deer) is grabbing a team-high 9.1 rebounds per game while scoring an average of 10.2 points a game for the Green and White.

SCOUTING MINN – Minnesota brings a 5-5 season record into Wednesday's contest yet has dropped its last three contests, including a close 62-60 decision to Oklahoma State last Saturday at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Golden Gophers have three players with double digit scoring averages this season, led by senior forward Joey King with 14.8 points per game. King is also shooting 92 percent from the free throw line, 51 percent from the field and 49 percent from three-point range. Sophomore guard Nate Mason is second with 13.4 points per game while averaging team highs of 4.4 assists and 1.1 steals a game. Freshman forward Jordan Murphy, a Big Ten Freshman of the Week honoree, is third on the team with 10.1 points a game to go along with a team-best 7.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocked shots per game.

SERIES HISTORY – Wednesday's game will mark only the third lifetime meeting on the hardwood between CSU and Minnesota with the Golden Gophers holding a 2-0 advantage. Minnesota posted a 66-58 win in the team's last battle at Williams Arena on Nov. 24, 2004.

CONFERENCE LEADERS – Chicago State currently ranks first in the WAC in steals (103 – 9.4 spg).

WHAT A FRIEND! – Senior forward Devon Friend (Joliet, Ill./Bolingbrook) has played well of the bench for CSU since making his debut on December 2nd at Northern Illinois. Friend is currently averaging 5.3 points and 4.3 rebounds per game for the Green and White which included producing career highs of 12 points and eight rebounds Sunday at Northwestern.

UP NEXT - The Cougars head back to the Jones Convocation Center on Saturday, Dec. 19 for their final home game of the year 2015 as they take on Western Illinois with a start time of 4:35 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

#15 Trayvon Palmer: G/F; 6' 5"; Junior

#3 Elliott Cole: G; 5' 11"; Junior

#1 Kieran Woods: G; 6' 2"; Senior

#35 Devon Friend: F; 6' 6"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#15 Trayvon Palmer
: 6' 5"; Junior
: G/F

#3 Elliott Cole
: 5' 11"; Junior
: G

#1 Kieran Woods
: 6' 2"; Senior
: G

#35 Devon Friend
: 6' 6"; Senior
: F

Scoreboard

Players Mentioned

Players Mentioned