If the first 18 games have been any indication, the Clarkson University Men's Basketball team definitely prefers to play its games at home. Though the Golden Knights have only had four home games, their shooting success rate is considerably higher at Alumni Gymnasium, which is good news since the Green and Gold host Rensselaer and Union in key games this weekend.
The Golden Knights struggled on the road against Skidmore on Tuesday after a hot shooting weekend at Alumni Gymnasium versus RIT and first-place Hobart. In the first go-round with the Engineers and Dutchmen, Clarkson combined to shoot just 11-for-48 from beyond the 3-point arc (22.9%). Overall, the Knights are shooting 33.9% from the 3-point line away from Alumni Gym, but rip the nets for a 44.9% rate when in Potsdam, which should be good news for Clarkson fans this weekend.
Against Union in mid-January, Felix Abongo (Beacon, NY) and John Coleman (Potsdam, NY) each shot well and tallied better than 20 points, but their performances weren't enough as Clarkson fell 91-84 in double overtime. Union (5-10 overall, 2-5 Liberty League) has lost four straight games since that Friday night meeting and desperately needs a win in league play. Kevin Weckworth tossed in 25 points for the Dutchmen in the previous meeting, and William Hython had 20 points and 17 rebounds for Union.
Rensselaer is still the highest scoring team in the conference, averaging just under 90 points per game but allowing nearly 95. That wasn't the case in the first match up between the two teams as the Engineers were held to a then season-low 71 points. Unfortunately for Clarkson, that was two more points than the Golden Knights could muster. Marques Charlton (Deer Park, NY) had 21 points and eight rebounds in the first game while both Abongo (14 points, 14 rebounds) and Coleman (14 points, 11 rebounds) had double-doubles. Rensselaer is in the same boat as Union as far as recent contests, as the Engineers have gone just 1-4 since playing Clarkson.
