- Men's Sports
Men’s Basketball
Streetsboro Grad Leads UU to Stellar Year
by Frank Aceto, Associate Sports Editor, The Gateway News
STREETSBORO, Ohio (July 14, 2010) - Robert Wilson had a knack for dominating the opposition during his days at Streetsboro High School. Amazingly, that hasn't changed at all despite playing against much tougher opponents. Wilson, 18, completed a stellar freshman season with the Urbana University men's basketball team. The 2009 Streetsboro graduate led the Blue Knights to a 14-13 record, clinching the program's first winning season in 13 years. He was named the NCAA Division II All-Independent Freshman of the Year and also was a first-team selection. [Click here to read the entire article on thegatewaynews.com]
Naudzuinas Named to NABC Honors Court
KANSAS CITY, Missouri (July 12, 2010) - The National Association of Basketball Coaches, or NABC, announced their annual Honors Court today recognizing collegiate basketball student-athletes who excelled in academics during the 2009-10 school year. Recent Urbana University graduate Vitas Naudziunas (Toronto, Ontario/Eastern Commerce) was named to the court after a wrapping up a stellar collegiate career on the floor and in the classroom. In order to be named to the Honors Court, a student-athlete had to maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher as a junior or senior. This past semester, Naudziunas posted a perfect 4.0 GPA while wrapping up his Blue Knight playing career. He was 1 of 2 Blue Knights named to the 2010 A.D.'s Spring Honor Roll along with sophomore guard Anthony Gage. To view the entire NABC Honors Court, click here.
Blue Knights' Community Service Continues
STREETSBORO, Ohio (June 25, 2010) - Urbana University and All-Independent Freshman of the Year Rob Wilson (Streetsboro, Ohio/Streetsboro HS) recently helped out at a youth basketball camp at his high school alma mater. Click here to read the article at recordpub.com.
This past school year, the Blue Knights men's basketball team continued their volunteer work in the "Knight Read" program. The program was designed to encourage children at the 3rd grade level to enjoy reading. Urbana University student-athletes are using the opportunity to reach out and give back to the local community, while having fun interacting with the kids in the process. Participating schools include Mechanicsburg, Urbana East and Urbana North, Graham and West Liberty-Salem elementary schools. The program was originally developed during the 2008-09 school year by Head Volleyball Coach Wendy Cromer along with Ann Corfman and Jan Dagger, and the plans are already in the works to bring back the program for a third year in 2010.
Wilson Named Independent Freshman of the Year; Makes 1st Team in 1st Season
Ellis makes 2nd Team, Nicholson named Honorable Mention
URBANA, Ohio (May 24, 2010) - Urbana University freshman Robert Wilson (Streetsboro, Ohio/Streetsboro HS) headlined the NCAA Division II All-Independent selections released today. Wilson, 6'3" guard/forward, was named Freshman of the Year. Wilson was also a First Team selection, as well as an All-Freshmen Team selection. He was the only freshman to make either the First or Second Teams. In his first collegiate season, Wilson led the Blue Knights in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 14.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. He started all 27 games, leading Urbana to a 14-13 finish, clinching the program's first winning season in 13 years.
Wilson's mark of 8.8 rebounds per game was the most by a Blue Knights since the 1995-96 season, and remarkably, he got stronger as the season wore on. He reached double-figures scoring in each of the team's final 16 contests, averaging 19.0 ppg over the final 9 games. Wilson notched a team-high 9 double-doubles on the season, and finished 2nd on the team in assists, steals, blocked shots and 3-point shooting percentage. The Blue Knights 14-13 record was good for 4th amongst the 8 NCAA Division II Independents.
Taking top honors as Independent Player of the Year was North Greenville's Paul Harrison. Harrison averaged 22.4 ppg, 8.8 rebounds per game, while shooting an incredible 63.3% from the floor for the 16-12 Crusaders. Last year, the Independent Player of the Year was Oakland City's Brandon Hopf, who averaged an identical 22.4 ppg, 8 rpg, and 63.3% shooting last season for the Mighty Oaks. Hopf's numbers slipped to 14.5 ppg, 6 rpg on 65.1% shooting this season. Harrison was named Independent Freshman of the Year last season, after averaging 16 ppg, 9.3 rpg on 57% shooting. Central State Head Coach Doug Lewis was named Coach of the Year after leading the Marauders to an Independent-best 22-6 record, including a berth in the NCAA D-II National Tournament. Lewis was also named the Independent's top coach last season.
Wilson's UU teammate T.R. Ellis (Detroit, Michigan/Melvindale HS) landed on the All-Independent Second Team. The 6'4" senior guard played all 27 games for the Blue Knights, leading the team in assists, assists-to-turnover ratio, and 3-pointers made. His 9.4 ppg was good for 3rd on the team. He also finished 3rd in free throw percentage and steals. In his final season as a Blue Knight, he orchestrated an 8-point turnaround, the 2nd largest in school history at UU.
Urbana sophomore Clint Nicholson (Willoughby, Ohio/Eastlake North HS) rounded out the Blue Knights' selections on the All-Independent teams. He was named Honorable Mention. The 6'2" guard battled through some injuries, but still managed to finish 2nd on the team in scoring and rebounding at 13.0 ppg and 5.0 rpg. Nicholson tied Ellis for the team lead with 42 threes on the season, shooting 34.1% from behind the arc. His 38 steals led the team, and Nicholson was at his best at home in the Grimes Center where he reached double figures in all 9 of his home games. The Blue Knights finished 8-1 in those contests behind Nicholson's 16.8 ppg.
The rest of the All-Independent Teams, along with the final season standings are below. The All-Independent Teams were selected and voted upon by the Athletics Communications department at the University of Dayton.
Final Season Standings
1. Central State University (22-6)
2. Oakland City University (21-9)
3. North Greenville University (16-12)
4. Urbana University (14-13)
5. Lake Erie College (11-16)
6. Washington Adventist University (6-18)
7. Palm Beach Atlantic University (6-24)
8. University of the District of Columbia (1-20)
NCAA Division II All-Independent Teams
Coach of the Year: Doug Lewis, Central State
Player of the Year: Paul Harrison, North Greenville
Freshman of the Year: Robert Wilson, Urbana
FIRST TEAM
Paul Harrison, North Greenville
Robert Wilson, Urbana
Ethan Bradshaw, Lake Erie College
Jared Maners, Oakland City
Anthony Passley, Central State
SECOND TEAM
Gino Smith, Central State
Nathan Schumacher, Oakland City
T.R. Ellis, Urbana
Chris Joseph, Palm Beach Atlantic
Cole Prophet, Central State
ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Robert Wilson, Urbana
Luke Lattimer, North Greenville
Garrick Sims, Lake Erie College
Antonio Ortega, Washington Adventist
Dante Valentine, Palm Beach Atlantic
HONORABLE MENTION
Nigel Munson, District of Columbia; Khalid Martin, Washington Adventist; Brandon Hopf, Oakland City; Clint Nicholson, Urbana; Branden Washington, Washington Adventist; Tim Ellison, District of Columbia.
Blue Knights Bond Through Paintball
MT. GILEAD, Ohio (April 25, 2010) - The Urbana University men's basketball team participated in a team building activity this past Sunday at Splatter Park in Mt. Gilead, Ohio. Blue Knights Charlton Conner, Rob Matthews, T.R. Ellis, Anthony Gage, Rob Wilson, Jared Dewberry, Deon Briggs, and Marcus Pearl teamed up in a very competitive game of paintball on a wet and muddy spring afternoon.
"We had a lot of fun," said junior guard Charlton Conner. "It was good for team bonding." Sophomore forward Rob Matthews thought paintball was a good chance to hang out with the team in a different setting, and sophomore guard Anthony Gage said, "It was fun to compete with the guys in something other than basketball." Pictured below are the wet and muddy Blue Knights, along with Head Coach Jeff Porter in the aftermath of their paintball games.
