Men's Basketball 12/19/2006 12:00:00 AM Canisius College Athletics

Men's Basketball Returns Home to Face Robert Morris

Canisius College (3-6) vs. Robert Morris University (6-3)

Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2006? 7 p.m. Koessler Athletic Center (2,176)?Buffalo, N.Y.
Media Audio: CJRN 710 AM, Jay Moran (play-by-play), GoGriffs.com Video: None

Tonight's Game

Canisius returns home after a five-game road trip to host Robert Morris in a non-conference contest.
The Golden Griffins have not played in the Koessler Athletic Center since a 72-69 loss to Buffalo Nov. 10, in the season opener. It's the Griffs' first home game since an 81-71 loss to Syracuse at HSBC Arena Nov. 25.
The Blue and Gold is coming off a 75-72 victory at Detroit last Saturday. Canisius is 0-2 at home, and 2-3 in the last five overall.
Robert Morris is 2-3 in its last five and 2-3 on the road this season. The Colonials are coming off a 79-78 home victory over Youngstown State last Saturday.
Robert Morris owns a 6-1 non-conference record, with the lone loss coming at No. 7 Pittsburgh.
Canisius is 19-35 in non-conference games in the last six seasons.
Canisius is in a stretch where it plays three games in eight days before Christmas.
Starting tonight, the Griffs play five of their next six at home, including three MAAC contests.

Turner Named Co-Rookie of the Week

Guard Frank Turner was named the MAAC Co-Rookie of the Week by the league Monday. He shares the honor with Tyrone Lewis of Niagara.
Turner posted 11 points, eight assists and six rebounds in a 75-72 win at Detroit in Canisius' lone contest. He had just three turnovers in 40 minutes of action.
The freshman has played 40 or more minutes in three of the last four games. He is averaging 14.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.5 assists in the last four outings.
He is the first Canisius player since current senior Darnell Wilson to be named MAAC Rookie of the Week. Wilson earned the honor Feb. 15, 2004.

Quick Hits

Darnell Wilson needs six points to become the 27th player in Canisius history to score over 1,000 points.
Wilson collected eight rebounds at Marist Dec. 8, putting him over the 500 mark for his career. He is the 22nd player in Canisius history to go over 500 and the first since Toby Foster in 2004.
Wilson also needs 80 rebounds to join Micheal Meeks (1992-96) as the only players in school history to record over 1,000 points, 600 rebounds, 100 blocked shots and 100 steals.
Pawel Malesa tied his career high with 12 points at Detroit. He played a career-high 20 minutes in the game.
Canisius has tallied 104 offensive rebounds in the last six games for an average of 17.3 a contest.
Canisius is 3-1 when scoring 70 or more points.
Chuck Harris needs 177 points to reach 1,000 for his career. He also needs 48 rebounds and 38 assists to join Brian Smith (1984-88) and Craig Wise (1991-95) as the only Canisius players with over 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 300 assists. He has started the last 69 contests.
Harris has led Canisius in scoring in four of the last six games. He has scored 20 or more points twice in that stretch.

Series History Series: Robert Morris leads 4-1, Streak: L-4, Began: 1980-81

This will be the first meeting between the two schools since a 63-61 RMU victory at the Niagara Falls Convention Center Dec. 13, 1992.
Craig Wise led Canisius in that game with 22 points, and Darrell Barley scored 20.
Robert Morris has won the last four games of the series, which began in 1981.
The Colonials are 1-1 in the KAC and 1-2 on the road against Canisius.
Canisius is 30-35 against schools in the current Northeast Conference. The Griffs suffered an 85-83 double-overtime loss at Northeast Conference member Fairleigh Dickinson Dec. 2.

Scouting the Colonials

Senior A.J. Jackson leads the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging 18 points and 8.9 rebounds a contest.
Tony Lee averages 14.7 points and 6.3 rebounds a game, while Jeremy Chappell averages 11.9 points and 5.4 rebounds.
Derek Coleman averages 10.8 points.
The Colonials shoot 44.1 percent from the field, 31 percent from 3-point range and 70.1 percent from the free-throw line.
RMU was picked second in the Northeast Conference Preseason Poll.

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Players Mentioned

#14 Chuck Harris: G; 6' 3"; Senior

#33 Pawel Malesa: F; 6' 6"; Junior

#3 Frank Turner: G; 5' 10"; Freshman

#1 Darnell Wilson: F; 6' 6"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#14 Chuck Harris
: 6' 3"; Senior
: G

#33 Pawel Malesa
: 6' 6"; Junior
: F

#3 Frank Turner
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: G

#1 Darnell Wilson
: 6' 6"; Senior
: F