Week 4 Game of the Week Previews
Previewing the best game for each team for the week of 11/23-11/39
Week 4 is here, definitely the lightest week outside of Christmas Week. No new housekeeping notes so we can jump right into this preview.
Nov 23rd:
Nov 23rd - 2pm EST - Longwood at Columbia
Longwood Weekly Recap:
Nov 18th: Longwood falls to UMES 83-82 2OT
Jacoi Hutchinson set a career high with 21 points, included in that 21 points was going 10-10 from the free throw line.
Johan Nziemi with 17 points (also went 10-10 from the line), Elijah Tucker with 12 points, and both Elijah Jones and Alphonzo Billups with 10 each round out the double figure scorers.
As of Nov 18th, was considered the 7th most exciting game of the season and the most exciting game in the Big South.
Columbia Breakdown:
Coached by 1st year head coach and 2025 National Champion Kevin Hovde, Hovde got his 1st career win against New Haven on Nov 7th.
Kenny Noland leads Columbia in scoring with 15.6 PPG.
The series is split evenly between the two programs at 2-2, both with one home and one away win.
Game Breakdown: I do like both of these teams a lot, Columbia is coached by an amazing coach as is Longwood. I do see this being a weird scheduling spot for Columbia, they are coming off a game vs Lehigh and have to travel to Fairfield on Wednesday. For that reason alone, along with Longwood likely being motivated, I am taking the Lancers.
Official Prediction: Longwood 72 - Columbia 70
Other Games on Nov 23rd:
Winthrop at Jackson State - 8pm EST - SWAC TV
Nov 24th:
Nov 24th - 8pm EST - Radford at SMU
Radford Weekly Recap:
Nov 16th: Radford falls to Cleveland State 89-82
Del Jones led the Highlanders with 18 points, along with adding 5 rebounds and 5 assists.
Tyson Brown got his first double double of the season with 11 points and 13 rebounds.
Dennis Parker with 15 points and Lukas Walls with 13 rounds out those with double figures.
Radford blew a 17 point lead, including giving up a 16-3 run from 5 minutes left to just under 1 minutes to go.
Nov 18th: Radford falls to South Carolina 87-58
Del Jones led Radford with 16 points, Dennis Parker was the only other Highlander in double figures with 10.
Cold shooting plagued the Highlanders as they went 17-55 from the field and 7-24 from behind the arc.
Nov 21st: Radford falls to UNC Wilmington 81-73
Dennis Parker Jr and Del Jones with 27 and 26 points led the team respectively.
No one else scored more than 10 points for the Highlanders.
SMU Breakdown:
Andy Enfield is entering Year 2 at the helm of the Mustangs after going 24-11 last season and just missing the tournament, making the NIT.
This game is a homecoming of sorts as Zach Chu was on Enfield’s staff last season, along with members of Radford’s staff having gone to SMU.
Boopie Miller leads the Mustangs with 19.5 PPG.
This is the 2nd ever matchup between the two program, SMU won the first matchup in 1986, 82-61.
Game Breakdown: I think this will be a bloodbath, simply put. I am completely out on Radford because of some internal details. I do not see that getting any better from the time I am writing this and Monday night. SMU should destroy Radford pretty easily.
Official Prediction: SMU 102 - Radford 71
Nov 25th:
Nov 25th - 6:30pm EST - Tennessee State at UNC Asheville
UNC Asheville Weekly Recap:
Nov 19th: UNC Asheville falls to Western Carolina 80-73
Toyaz Solomon led the Bulldogs in scoring with 22 points along with 3 blocks and 2 steals.
Kameron Taylor with 17 points and Justin Wright with 12 points round out those with double figures.
DJ Patrick returned from injury and scored 8 points off the bench.
After Cord Stansberry’s buzzer beater 3 point shot, Mike Morrell was ejected for arguing for a foul, leading to the 7 point win.
Tennessee State Breakdown:
After the late departure of Penny Collins, Nolan Smith took over at Tennessee State. Smith earned a win his debut vs Fisk and currently holds a 2-3 record.
Smith is a former McDonalds All American and NBA role player.
Aaron Nkrumah leads the Tigers with 18.6 PPG.
UNC Asheville won the only game between the two programs last season, 92-74.
Game Breakdown: For taking over the job very late, Coach Smith has done a very good job of getting this team pretty competent. Asheville is entering a spot in-between two rivalry games with WCU being before this, then a game in Asheville vs App State. In any other spot, I would take Asheville, but with the weird scheduling spot I like Tennessee State.
Official Prediction: Tennessee State 82 - UNC Asheville 78
Nov 25th - 7pm EST - NC Central at USC Upstate
USC Upstate Weekly Breakdown:
Nov 19th: USC Upstate falls to Tennessee Tech 88-84
Carmelo Adkins and Mason Bendinger both with 20+ points led the Spartans in scoring.
Tyler Smith and Karmani Gregory both with 10+ point rounds out those with double figures.
Tyler Smith led the Spartans with 8 assists and 4 steals, the assist total being a season high for Smith.
Nov 21st: USC Upstate falls to West Georgia 72-64
Mason Bendinger led the team with 21 points, his second straight 20 point game.
Carmelo Adkins was the only other Spartan in double figures with 19.
Jafeth Martinez added in a team high 12 rebounds.
NC Central Breakdown:
LeVelle Moton enters Year 17 at NC Central in which he holds a record of 273-198 including making 4 NCAA Tournaments.
Gage Lattimore leads NC Central with 21.5 PPG.
NC Central holds a 2-1 record over USC Upstate, but lost the most recent matchup 85-82 in 2023.
Game Breakdown: This is a tale of two programs looking at years off their past trajectory. USC Upstate looked to be a bottom tier D1 program a few seasons ago and NC Central looked to be a true MEAC contender in that time period. This season those have somewhat flipped, Upstate looks pretty good and NC Central looks to be near the bottom of the MEAC. I do think Upstate gets right before their trip to Nebraska with a win in this one.
Official Prediction: USC Upstate 75 - NC Central 68
Other Games on Nov 25th:
Piedmont at Charleston Southern - 7:30pm EST - ESPN+
Winthrop at Nebraska - 8:30pm EST - Big 10 Network
Nov 26th:
Nov 26th - 1pm EST - CIU at Presbyterian
Presbyterian Weekly Breakdown:
Nov 16th: Presbyterian falls to Sacramento State 64-62
Carl Parrish led the Blue Hose with 14 points.
Jonah Pierce had a double double with 12 points and 14 rebounds, his 2nd double double of the season.
Jaylen Peterson and Triston Wilson both with 10 points rounds out the double figure scorers.
Sacramento State ended the game on a 12-2 run, earning the win.
Nov 18th: Presbyterian falls to Cal 67-57
Carl Parrish led the Blue Hose with 16 points, and follow what has seemed to be a trend for Parrish, 13 of those came in the 2nd half.
Jonah Pierce and Triston Wilson both with 13 points rounds out those in double figures.
Presbyterian won the rebounding battle 34-30.
Nov 21st: Presbyterian falls to UCLA 86-46
Jonah Pierce led the Blue Hose with 13, Pierce was also the only player in double figures.
Josh Pickett had his first start in a Presbyterian uniform.
Game Breakdown: Simply, this was Presbyterian’s only game this week and I don’t think it will be a close one at all. CIU was pretty good last season, but they lost to Furman by 30. Give me Presbyterian taking this one pretty handedly.
Official Prediction: Presbyterian 95 - CIU 74
Other Games on Nov 26th:
Navy vs Gardner Webb - 4pm EST - FloSports
Nov 27th: No Games
Nov 28th:
Nov 28th - 4pm EST - Charleston Southern at South Carolina
Charleston Southern Weekly Recap:
Nov 18th: Charleston Southern beats IU Indy 103-91
A’lahn Sumler led the Bucs with 29 points coming off the bench, Armari Carraway had 24 points of his own.
Brycen Blaine with a double double with 19 points and 10 rebounds.
Jesse Hafemeister rounds out those in double figures with 10.
Most possessions in a game against a D1 for Charleston Southern since 2021.
Nov 21st: Charleston Southern beats East Carolina 77-65
Brycen Blaine led the Bucs with 23 points along with grabbing 11 rebounds, earning him his 4th double double of the season and 2nd straight.
Luke Williams returned from injury, wearing a mask. Williams had 13, the only other Buc in double figures.
Charleston Southern became the 3rd Big South team in 3 straight seasons to beat ECU, earning a Epitome Of Brutality tweet from Jon Rothstein.
South Carolina Breakdown:
Coached by Lamont Paris who is entering Year 4 at South Carolina with a record of 53-50.
Paris won SEC Coach of the Year in 2024.
Meechie Johnson leads the Gamecocks in scoring with 16.4 PPG.
South Carolina leads the series 8-1, including winning the most recent game 73-69 in the 23-24 season.
Game Breakdown: Picking the game of the week for Charleston Southern was tough, it was either Piedmont or South Carolina, and South Carolina is just slightly more interesting. I do think South Carolina takes it but I think CSU will give them a run for their money.
Official Prediction: South Carolina 84 - Charleston Southern 76
Other Games on Nov 28th:
SE Louisiana vs Gardner Webb - 12pm EST - FloSports
Siena vs Longwood - 1pm EST
Nov 29th:
Nov 29th - 2pm EST - Western Carolina at High Point
High Point Weekly Recap:
Nov 17th: High Point beats Canisius 93-50
Rob Martin led the Panthers with 17 points, along with leading the team with 8 assists.
Chase Johnston with 15 along with Cam’ron Fletcher and Conrad Martinez with 12 points each round out those in double figures.
43 points is the largest win over a D1 program in HPU Men’s Basketball History.
Nov 20th: High Point beats UIC 90-80
Cam’ron Fletcher set a new career high with 27 points and his third 20 points performance of the season.
Chase Johnston with 18, Rob Martin with 14 and Scotty Washington with 12 all ended up in double figures, Johnston and Washington having new season highs.
Chase Johnston led the team in steals with 5, with the team having 13.
Nov 22nd: High Point beats Incarnate Word 91-80
Terry Anderson led the team with 23 points going 101-2 from the field.
Cam’ron Fletcher with an 18 point and 12 rebound double double, his third double double of the season.
Martinez (13), Aquino (11) and Washington (10) all in double figures.
High Point won the rebounding battle 38 to 27.
Western Carolina Breakdown:
Coached by former Gardner Webb Head Coach Tim Craft, they are headed into Year 2 of his tenure for the Catamounts.
Former Runnin’ Bulldog Julien Soumoaro leads the Catamounts with 14 PPG.
High Point holds a 6-1 record over WCU, the most recent being a 97-71 win in 2023.
Game Breakdown: This game is a sleeper game, Western Carolina has looked pretty good compared to last year and High Point, well has looked like High Point. Coming off their MTE and Thanksgiving can give teams issues. I don’t think that will phase this High Point team, but it would be something to watch, with that being said. Give me High Point taking this one.
Official Prediction: High Point 92 - Western Carolina 81
Nov 29th - 3pm EST - Gardner Webb at UNC Wilmington
Gardner Webb Weekly Recap:
Nov 18th: Gardner Webb falls to DePaul 93-62
Jacob Hogarth with his first double double led the team in points and rebounds with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
DJ Jefferson with 12 along with Ace Talbert and Spence Sims with 10 rounds out those with double figures.
Chris Holtmann earned his second win in the Gardner Webb vs DePaul series, his first coming as the coach of GWU in 2012.
Nov 22nd: Gardner Webb falls to Richmond 102-67
Spence Sims led Gardner Webb with 17 points and DJ Jefferson followed him in double figures with 11.
Gardner Webb was outscored in the first half 62-30.
Gardner Webb allowed Richmond to shoot over 50% from 3 in the first half.
UNC Wilmington Breakdown:
Former GWU player and assistant coach, Takayo Siddle leads UNC Wilmington.
In 2022, UNCW took home the CBI Title under Siddle’s leadership.
Nolan Hodge leads the Seahawks with 18.7 PPG.
This is the first matchup between the two in-state programs.
Game Breakdown: It’s really cool to see UNCW invite Gardner Webb to their MTE, Takayo gets to face his alma mater in Gardner Webb, and Gardner Webb gets a somewhat close MTE with similar level teams. With all that being said, UNC Wilmington will be the clear favorite, being the home team and having the better roster and I agree with that sentiment.
Official Prediction: UNC Wilmington 97 - Gardner Webb 71
Nov 29th - 4pm EST - SC State at Winthrop
Winthrop Weekly Recap:
Nov 18th: Winthrop falls to Arkansas 84-83
Kareem Rozier led the Eagles with 23 points, his 2nd straight 20 point performance.
Kody Clouet with 16, Logan Duncomb with 13 and Daylen Berry with 13 rounds out those in double figures.
The game ended in controversy as Logan Duncomb and Nick Pringle had a scuffle resulting in 4 ejections between the two rosters.
SC State Breakdown:
Coach Erik Martin is entering Year 4 at SC State, so far having a career record of 39-62.
Coach Martin won the 2023-24 MEAC Regular Season Title.
Owen Bronston Jr leads the Bulldogs with 12.2 PPG.
Winthrop holds a 2-1 record against SC State, the most recent game coming in 2022 which Winthrop won 81-67
Game Breakdown: Winthrop seems way better than their 2-3 record seems, they played Arkansas and George Mason very close and their really “bad” loss was to Coastal Carolina, and that game is always very close. South Carolina State on the other hand really has not looked good at all, losing every game by double digits so far this season, and I see Winthrop adding to that streak.
Official Prediction: Winthrop 92 - SC State 73