Air Force to compete in first annual Savannah Invitational
7/27/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Air Force will play in the First-Annual Savannah Invitational November 25-26 at the Savannah Civic Center. This season's stellar field includes: University of Akron, Air Force Academy, East Carolina University, Mercer University, Georgia Southern University, Stetson University, Radford University, and Florida A&M University.
Air Force finished the 2015-16 season with a 14-18 overall record and finished 10th in the Mountain West with a 5-13 mark. The team's 14 wins tied as the 12th most in program history. The Falcons were 12-5 at home. The 12 wins ranked fourth in the conference and are the team's most since 2012-13. The Falcons return all but one player from last season's squad, including their top four scorers. Senior Hayden Graham is the top returning scorer and rebounder with averages of 13.8 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. The Falcons are coached by Dave Pilipovich, who is in his fifth season. He has guided the program to a 60-73 record.
The Akron Zips finished the 2015-16 season as the Mid-American Conference Regular Season Champions with a 26-9 overall record and 13-5 league mark, earning its sixth all-time bid to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). The Zips' 26 wins are tied for the most in program history while becoming the third team in history to post an undefeated season at home (James A. Rhodes Arena, 15-0). Under the leadership of 13th-year head coach Keith Dambrot, UA has posted 21 or more wins for 11-straight seasons and reached the MAC title game in eight of the last 10 seasons. The Zips return three starters and nine letterwinners, including the MAC's Sixth Man of the Year in senior center Isaiah Johnson (13.6 ppg, 7.6 rpg), the team's second-leading scorer junior guard Antino Jackson (11.8 ppg, 3.5 apg), and junior point guard Noah Robotham (9.7 ppg, 3.7 apg).
The Mercer men's basketball team finished the 2015-16 season with a record of 19-15, earning an invite to its fifth straight postseason appearance with a bid to the CIT. The Bears return five of their top seven offensive contributors from last season. The group is led by junior Stephon Jelks, an All-SoCon selection as a sophomore. Jelks led the league in rebounding last year, averaging 8.4 board per game while adding 11.7 points per outing.
After enduring a season decimated by injuries, East Carolina has restocked its roster for its third campaign in the American Athletic Conference. The Pirates return of three of their top four scorers led by junior B.J. Tyson (14.6 ppg) who has been ECU's top point producer each of his first two seasons. Senior Caleb White (12.5 ppg), who is on pace to become the school's fourth all-time leading scorer, is back for his swan song after ranking among The American league leaders in scoring and 3-point shooting each of the previous two years. Sophomore Kentrell Barkley (10.1 ppg) looks to build upon his American Athletic Conference All-Rookie Team campaign of 2015-16, while seniors Michel Nzege and Clarence Williams will be counted on for rebounding and leadership. The addition 7-foot-1 Wake Forest graduate Andre Washington and return of 6-foot-10 redshirt freshman Deng Riak are also expected to bolster inside play.
Each team will play four games in the Invitational - the first two at on-campus sites and the final two rounds at the Savannah Civic Center November 25 -26th. Air Force hosts Florida A&M on Sunday, Nov. 20, and Stetson on Tuesday, Nov. 22, to begin the tournament.
Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.savannahinvitational.com or, by calling Etix at 912-651-6556, or at the Civic Center Box Office Monday-Friday, 10am-5pm. You can also click here to purchase in the Air Force area.
