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Men's Basketball December 31, 2015

CU Men's Basketball Preview - at Union/RPI (1/2-3)

Men's Basketball December 31, 2015

CU Men's Basketball Preview - at Union/RPI (1/2-3)

When the Clarkson University Men's Basketball team takes the court against Union College on Saturday, it will mark the first game for the Golden Knights in 30 days, and the Green and Gold hope that the long lay off will provide a boost as the team starts off the Liberty League slate.

The Golden Knights (3-6 overall) have concluded their non-league schedule and the final 16 regular-season games will determine whether or not Clarkson can reach the post-season. Clarkson will face Union (2-5) on Saturday and then take on Rensselaer (6-3) on Sunday afternoon.

Following a 1-5 start, Clarkson won two out of three to end the first semester and nearly finished 2015 with a three-game winning streak after a narrow loss to SUNY Canton. Senior Felix Abongo ranks 10th in the conference in scoring average with 13.9 points per game, but truly got going in those final three games, pouring in 54 points (18.0 ppg) in the stretch. Along with ranking 10th in the league in scoring, Abongo also ranks in the top in the league in rebounding (6.6 rpg, 7th), assists (3.2 apg, 6th) and steals (1.9 spg, 4th) and the swingman is also shooting 45.6% from the floor. Bolstering the offense is junior forward Derek Hart, who is just below Abongo's scoring average with 13.6 points per contest. He also has 5.8 rebounds per game and leads the Liberty League in field goal percentage (54.3%) and blocks (2.1 bpg). Over the final three games of the semester, Hart shot 64.3% from the field (18-for-28). Also getting hot in the final week of the 2015 portion of the schedule was junior Conrad Zampier. The third-year shooting guard is averaging 8.9 points per game, but tossed in 13.3 ppg following the Thanksgiving break.

Clarkson trails in the all-time series against the Dutchmen with 27 wins and 38 losses, but the two teams split last year's series. Union ranks second in the Liberty League in scoring with 78.0 points per game and not surprisingly has a couple members among the conference leaders. Deshon Burgess leads the conference in scoring at 19.6 points per game and is third in the league in 3-point field goal shooting at 46.2% (18-for-39). William Hython ranks in the top five in the league in both scoring (16.7 ppg, 5th) and rebounding (8.4 rpg, 2nd). Ryan Whelpley is shooting 56.3% from the field and contributes 9.6 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. 

The Knights have won three straight against Rensselaer by an average of 11.7 points per game, but still trail in the all-time series 33-71-1. The Engineers lead the Liberty League in several categories, including scoring defense (62.0 ppg). A pair of newcomers have helped improve Rensselaer's record in the early going as freshmen Tom Horvat and Andreas Kontopidis have made a quick impact. Horvat leads the Liberty League in steals (2.9 spg), but has also supplied the Engineers with 13.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game. Kontopidis has also kicked in 9.4 points per contest. RPI veterans Tyler Gendron and Chase Almond are chipping in 12.0 points and 9.3 points per game, respectively. Almond currently leads the conference in rebounding (8.8 rpg) as well. 
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Players Mentioned

Felix Abongo

#14 Felix Abongo

G
6' 4"
Senior
Derek Hart

#42 Derek Hart

F
6' 7"
Junior
Conrad Zampier

#23 Conrad Zampier

G
6' 1"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Felix Abongo

#14 Felix Abongo

6' 4"
Senior
G
Derek Hart

#42 Derek Hart

6' 7"
Junior
F
Conrad Zampier

#23 Conrad Zampier

6' 1"
Junior
G