By Bob Franceski, NEPASportsNation.com
Wednesday’s National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I basketball schedule saw five District 2 graduates playing or serving as head coach.
Here is a recap of how each did:
BOBBY PLANUTIS, PURDUE FORT WAYNE MEN
6-foot-8 graduate student forward from Hazleton Area
Wednesday’s result
Purdue Fort Wayne (6-4 overall, 1-1 Horizon) defeated host Southeast Missouri State (5-5), 89-68
Individual statistics
Started, played 33 minutes; 5/9 FG, 4/8 on 3-pointers, 0/0 FT, 14 points; 3 defensive rebounds; 2 turnovers.
Notes
Southeast Missouri State jumped out to a 9-0 lead three minutes into the contest before Planutis scored Purdue Fort Wayne’s first points on a 3-pointer with 16:56 remaining in the first half. …Both teams went back-and-forth until Planutis made another 3-pointer with 8:19 remaining to tie the game at 20. … Planutis is second on the team in scoring at 13.8 points per game and leads the team with 33 3-pointers while hitting 46.5 percent from long range.
Up next
Purdue Fort Wayne visits Missouri State Saturday at 8 p.m.
ETHAN MEUSER, STONEHILL COLLEGE MEN
6-foot-8 freshman guard from Wyoming Seminary
Wednesday’s result
Stonehill (4-7) lost to visiting Rider (4-4), 78-67
Individual statistics
Came off the bench, played 4 minutes; 1 offensive rebound; no other statistics.
Notes
Stonehill held a four-point halftime lead, but Rider outscored the Skyhawks, 43-28, in the second half. … Meuser picked up two quick fouls after entering the game and sat the remainder of the first half. … Rider was Stonehill’s second opponent from the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) on the schedule. The Skyhawks lost to Quinnipiac, 102-95, in November.
Up next
Stonehill travels to Boston College Tuesday, December 13.
DA’MIR FAISON, NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY MEN
6-foot-7 junior forward from Hazleton Area
Wednesday’s result
New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) (1-8) lost at Army West Point (5-5), 63-62
Individual statistics
Came off the bench, played 5 minutes; 0/1 FG, 0/1 on 3-pointers, 0/0 FT, 0 points; 1 offensive rebound; 1 turnover; 2 blocks.
Notes
NJIT battled back from an early double-digit deficit to take a second-half lead but could not hold on for the victory. … NJIT turned the ball over a season-low five times but was outrebounded 52-34.
Up next
NJIT visits Farleigh Dickinson University Sunday. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.
VICTORIA TOOMEY, RIDER UNIVERSITY WOMEN
6-foot-2 senior center from Dunmore
Wednesday’s result
Rider (3-5) lost to visiting St. Joseph’s (9-0), 60-53
Individual statistics
Started, played 18 minutes; 1/3 FG, 2/2 FT, 4 points; 1 defensive rebound; 1 assist; 1 turnover.
Notes
Rider fell behind early, then mounted a furious comeback that came up just short. St. Joseph’s jumped out early and led 22-9 at the end of the first quarter. Rider outscored St. Joseph’s in each of the three remaining quarters but could not overcome the deficit. … Rider held an 18-4 advantage in bench points.
Up next
Rider visits Seton Hall Friday. Tipoff is scheduled for 11 a.m.
BECKY BURKE, UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO WOMEN
Head coach from Abington Heights
Wednesday’s result
Buffalo (2-4) defeated host Niagara (1-7), 63-58
Notes
Buffalo ended a three-game losing streak by picking up a road win at Big Four rival, Niagara. … Fifth-year guards Zakiyah Winfield and Jazmine Young led the Bulls with 17 points each. Winfield recorded her fourth double-double of the season. … University at Buffalo shot 54.1 percent (20-for-37) and 42.9 percent (3-for-7) from 3-point range, both season-highs. … “They are getting better every single day and it’s starting to show in the win column,” Burke said, according to a recap posted on the university’s athletic website. “They have been patient and are trusting the process this season.”
Up next
Buffalo hosts Long Island University Saturday at 2 p.m.
