GSU Men’s Basketball Travels North for MEC Matchup Against Fairmont State

Glenville, W.Va. - Glenville State Men's Basketball starts their three-game road trip against conference rival Fairmont State. This Saturday will mark the 165th meeting between these two schools. Fairmont State is coming off two consecutive losses while the Pioneers enter on a three-game winning streak.

A Look at Fairmont State

In Fairmont State's last time out they suffered defeat to Concord University 86-83. The Falcons enter the contest with a (5-2) overall record and (3-2) in Mountian East Conference play. Isaiah Saunders led FSU in scoring with 26 points just shooting under 50% from three.

Fairmont State is coached by Tim Koeing who enters his fourth season as head coach. Koeing during his tenure at Fairmont State has gone 66-22 and has made three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. Before Coach Koeing's time at Fairmont State, he was at Notre Dame College for six seasons. While at Notre Dame College Koeing coached the only All-Americans in the history of the program.

The Falcons have one of the top offenses and defenses in the league. Through seven games Fairmont State is averaging 90.9 points per game and allowing 76.9 points per contest which both rank third in the MEC. Currently, the Falcons are #1 in the conference for team free throw percentage shooting 78.4% from the line. However, they do not get to the free-throw line as well as other teams in the league.

Isaiah Saunders has been the go-to man for Fairmont this season offensively. During the 2022-23 campaign Saunders is averaging 20.4 points per game which is fourth in the MEC. In five of the Falcons' seven games, he has scored 20 or more points. Transfer Fonz Hale this season has proven to be one of the best distributors for Fairmont. Hale is third in the conference for assists with 5.0 per contest.

A Look at Your Pioneers

Glenville State enters Saturday's contest with a (5-4) record and (2-3) in league play. In the Pioneers' last time out, they were able to escape with a win overcoming a double-digit deficit against Frostburg State. Jacquez Yow had a career-high 31 points in the winning

With GSU's offense finding its rhythm in the month of December, they have shot up the conference and national statistical rankings for scoring offense. Through nine games the Pioneers are averaging 88.2 points per game which is 13th in the country and fourth in the MEC. Coach Caldwell's squad has continued to rebound the ball well and force turnovers. GSU is producing 15 offensive rebounds a contest and forcing 19.1 turnovers a game.

Jordan "Turbo" Smith is the Pioneers' leading scoring averaging 17.2 points per game. Junior Freddie Word has been another great addition to Glenville's backcourt. Word is producing 16.0 points per game and 7.2 rebounds per contest. Freddie so far this season leads GSU in assists with 5.4 per game. Jacquez Yow in the last three games has been solid for the Pioneers during the winning streak. Yow in the past three games has averaged 20.3 points per contest.

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Players Mentioned

#4 Freddie Word: G; 6' 1"; Junior

#11 Jacquez Yow: F; 6' 6"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#4 Freddie Word
: 6' 1"; Junior
: G

#11 Jacquez Yow
: 6' 6"; Junior
: F

Players Mentioned

#4 Freddie Word

#11 Jacquez Yow

Players Mentioned

#4 Freddie Word

#11 Jacquez Yow