Bluestone News

Preview: Battle of the Bluefield's

The Bluefield State University men's basketball team looks to defend the hill against Bluefield University for the third consecutive year on Saturday, January 21st at Ned Shott Gymnasium with tipoff at 6 p.m.

In the previous two meetings between the Big Blue and the Rams, the Big Blue has led the competition with a 95-92 (2021-22) and 86-77 (2019-20) victory over the Rams.

The Big Blue will rely on returners Jordan Hinds, Hirotaka Ohashi and Landry Palata.

The Big Blue have gone 6-10 in the 2022-23 season, with the Rams coming in at 8-13. Malik Tidwell leads the Big Blue in scoring with 18.0 points per game(ppg) followed by Kaine McColley with 15.1. On the Rams side, Freshman Elijah White leads with 15.4 ppg with 3.6 rebounds per game. Palata hopes to control the boards with 6.1 rebounds per game.

"When it comes to a rivalry game, we all know that anything can happen" said head coach Devin Hoehn. "We plan to be ready and come prepared and do everything we can to win this traditional Battle of the Bluefields."

The Big Blue hope to gain control early against the Rams by forcing a fast pace tempo due to their full court press. The Big Blue will enter this rivalry game with 149 steals on the season led by starting point guard Ohashi with 29 steals. In 2022-23 season, the Big Blue average 91.47 points per game, with the Rams only averaging 73.9.

Original source can be found here