Dawgs Look to Finish the Regular Season on a High Note

HOLLY SPRINGS, Miss.– So far, the Fisk University Bulldogs (13-14, 10-7 GCAC) are having an up and down season. After winning two on the road in New Orleans last week, they dropped to home games this week. Today they look to get back get back to the positive side, when they take on the Rust College Bearcats (10-14, 7-10 GCAC) in Gulf Coast Athletic Conference action from Holly Springs, Mississippi.

With the loss on Thursday, Fisk's seeding was solidified to fourth for the GCAC tournament. Rust on the other hand could end up as high as fifth if they win but as low as eighth if they lose. Rust won the matchup in Nashville, so the Bulldogs also have a lot to play for.

"We can't afford just to mail it in, we have to make a statement," said Fisk Head Coach Kenny Anderson. "They came back to beat us at home. That started a trend for us to lose games down the stretch. We need to build our confidence back up. Every game is important this time of the year."

Fisk comes in winners of five of their last seven games against GCAC opponents. They are 9-5 since the calendar has turned to 2024. Jayden Lockett has been on fire in the seven-game stretch, averaging 17.2 points per game. Last Saturday, he scored a career-high 39 points against Southern University of New Orleans. It was the most points by a Fisk men's player since Cam Lewis hit 40 points in 2014.

The WMG "Pick 2 Click" for the game is Jayden Lockett. Lockett has been a "Road Warrior" lately, averaging 20.5 points per game in his last four road games. He had seven steals on Thursday to raise his average to 2.9 which places him fifth in the country and tops in the GCAC.

Game 28: Fisk University (13-14, 10-7 GCAC) at (Rust College 10-14, 7-10 GCAC)

Date/Time: Saturday, February 24 | 4:00 p.m. (CST)
Watch: HBCU Plus

Location: Rust College, Holly Springs, Mississippi  

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, Key Fisk Winning The Most Games in GCAC Play

The Bulldogs have won ten games in the GCAC for the first time in team history. Anderson is sure that his team's tough schedule, which included two games against NCAA D1 teams Tennessee State University and Austin Peay State University is the key to preparing the team.

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 9^th, he scored his 1,000^th 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 Martin has made it tough for opponents to get points in the paint.

NEXT UP:

The GCAC tournament.