Dawgs Finish NOLA Trip with Tough Test Against SUNO
NEW ORLEANS– The Fisk University Bulldogs (12-12, 8-6 GCAC) have reached the .500 for the second time this season. They will now try to do something that hasn't been done since October 2018, go over the even mark as they take on the Southern University Knights (7-20, 7-9 GCAC) in a key Gulf Coast Athletic Conference game in New Orleans (5:30 PM HBCU+).
The Bulldogs won the first matchup in January. 86-76 and coming back from a 47-41 halftime deficit. SUNO has more than likely GCAC Player of the Year candidate freshman Jamal Gibson on their roster. Gibson has dominated the weekly GCAC Player and Newcomer of the Week Awards this season. In the first matchup, he scored 25 points and had 24 rebounds.
Both teams need to play well down the stretch, to be ready for the highly competitive GCAC tournament. SUNO finished January on a four-game winning streak. After dropping the next three, they defeated Oakwood on Thursday. Their game against Fisk is their final regular season test.
"Just another day in the GCAC," said Fisk Head Coach Kenny Anderson. "Every game in this league is tough. Gibson is the best player in the league, and they have been playing great since leaving Nashville. We need a huge effort on Saturday."
The WMG "Pick 2 Click" for the game is Michael Ashley. Ashley, a former DI football player at UMass, has been a beast in the paint. He had 13 points and 16 rebounds in the first game against SUNO. The Dawgs will need similar numbers from Ashley if they want to come home with a win.
Game 25: Fisk University (12-12, 9-6 GCAC) at Southern University of New Orleans (7-20, 7-9 GCAC)
Date/Time: Saturday, February 17 | 5:30 p.m. (CST)
Watch: HBCU Plus
Location: Southern University of New Orleans
Quick Hits
Armstead Named Perry Wallace Courage Award Winner
Jeremiah Armstead came to Fisk last season after being homeless. His story was featured in The Washington Post. He was named the United States Basketball Writers' Association's 2024 Perry Wallace Courage Award winner. Armstead will be invited to take part in the NCAA's Final Four Weekend.
Anderson's Tough Schedule Will Be Key When Conference Play Starts
With two NCAA D1 teams (TSU and Austin Peay) on the schedule, one might think that head coach Kenny Anderson is setting his team up for failure. Anderson scheduled them, and NAIA powers Faulkner (AL) University, Clark Atlanta, Freed-Hardeman University, Bethel University, Life University, and Wilberforce University to set his team up for success once the conference season rolls around.
Spicy Wings
Anderson has some athletic wings at his disposal, in Jayden Lockett, Tyon Thompson, and Blake Goodman. The three have shown up huge this season. Lockett, a former Mr. Basketball candidate in Tennessee, is filling up the scoresheet with "Scottie Pippen" type numbers. On January 9th, he scored his 1,000th career collegiate point. Thompson is the team's leading scorer, doubling up as a point guard at times. Goodman has four 30-point games this season with a high of 36 in the first game against Faulkner University.
Ashley and Martin Bring Physicality to Interior
One of the most expensive cars on the is an Ashton Martin. At Fisk Ashley and Maritn have been a motor in the middle that has helped the team succeed. Michael Ashley, a senior and former NCAA football player from Atlanta, and classmate Tyree Martin from Chicago are big and physical posts for the Bulldogs. Ashley is averaging 10.2 rebounds per game against conference opponents and the 6'9 Maritn has made it tough for opponents to get points in the paint.
NEXT UP:
The Bulldogs will step out of conference play when they take on Freed-Hardeman at home on Tuesday.