AUSTIN, Texas – The Concordia University Texas men's basketball team will tip off the the 2014-15 season at 3 p.m. Saturday against McMurry.
The Tornados are coming off a 16-10 ledger (13-9 ASC) a year ago. Led by 11th-year head coach Stan Bonewitz, Concordia Texas was picked to finish fourth in the American Southwest Conference Preseason Poll last month.
Live video and statistics will be available for the contest, free of charge. New subscribers to the CTX Athletics Digital Network will be required to register an account in order to watch the game, but registration is free.
ABOUT THE SERIES WITH MCMURRY
Saturday's contest marks the 30th all-time meeting between Concordia and McMurry, in a series that began during the 1988-89 season. The War Hawks own a commanding 25-4 lead in the series, and McMurry has won four straight matchups. The two teams have not met since Feb. 9, 2010, when McMurry collected a 109-99 victory in an ASC contest in Austin. The Tornados' last win in the series came on Feb. 6, 2010, in a 108-89 decision at Concordia Fieldhouse.
MORE ON THE WAR HAWKS
McMurry will again be a regular member of the Tornados' schedule, as the War Hawks have returned to the Division III level and the ASC. McMurry will be a full member beginning with the 2015-16 season.
#FAST40
The Tornados have led the American Southwest Conference in scoring in the last eight seasons. In the past four years, Concordia has ranked among the top 10 in the nation in scoring. The Tornados averaged 87.6 points per game last year, which ranked eighth in the country.
SANCHEZ CLOSING IN ON 1,000 POINTS
Josh Sanchez is only 17 points away from 1,000 points in his career. The senior guard has netted 983 points in three seasons at the collegiate level. Sanchez has posted 920 in two campaigns with the Tornados and 63 in his freshman season (2009-10) at McMurry.
WHAT'S RETURNING?
Concordia returns 13 letter winners from last year's club that finished with a 16-10 overall record. The Tornados also return 1,625 of 2,278 points (71%) and 622 of 984 rebounds (63%) from last season's team.
ADDING MORE OFFENSIVE FIREPOWER
Terry Corprew returns to the floor for the Tornados after missing the entire 2013-14 campaign due to an injury. The 5-foot-11 guard averaged 11.5 points per game two years ago and helped CTX to the NCAA Tournament Round of 32. In addition to Corprew's offensive prowess, Concordia has added junior guard Donovan Ford, who joined the squad this fall after transferring from ASC foe Howard Payne. Ford averaged 16.2 points per game a year ago, which ranked eighth in the league.
HOME SWEET HOME
Concordia is 20-5 in games played at Concordia Fieldhouse in the past two seasons. The Tornados were 9-4 at home last year and 11-1 during the 2012-13 campaign. Over the last two seasons, CTX has averaged 98.3 points per game at home. The Tornados also have outscored their opponents at Concordia Fieldhouse by an average of 11.3 points during the same stretch.
LAST TIME OUT
Concordia ended the 2013-14 season with a loss to Texas-Tyler in the ASC Tournament opening round, 104-86. Josh Sanchez and Andre Potts led the way for the Tornados, as the duo combined for 51 points. Sanchez poured in 26, while Potts tallied 25. The Patriots shot 60 percent (33-of-55) from the field in the win.
UP NEXT
The Tornados will hit the road on Tuesday, Nov. 18 to play former ASC foe Texas Lutheran. The non-conference tilt is slated to tip off at 7:30 p.m. at Memorial Gymnasium in Seguin.
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