Five Things to Know - Men's Basketball Opens CBI Play

#Griffs Game Notes vs. Jacksonville State (PDF)
2018 College Basketball Invitational - First Round Game
Game No. 33
Canisius (21-11) vs. Jacksonville State (21-12)
Date: Wednesday, March 14, 2018
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Buffalo, N.Y. | Koessler Athletic Center
Online Video: ESPN3 - CLICK HERE
Talent: Jay Moran (p-x-p) and Richard Walsh (color)
Live Audio: WECK Radio 1230-AM/102.9-FM (Buffalo) - CLICK HERE
Talent: Pat Malacaro (p-x-p) and Andy Helwig (color)
Live Stats: Through GoGriffs.com - CLICK HERE
Twitter: @Griffs_MBB | #Griffs; #DefendMainSt; #MAACHoops

Five Things to Know Before Canisius Opens CBI Action Wednesday
1. First Time for Everything
• Canisius returns to action Wednesday night when the Golden Griffins play host to Jacksonville State out of the Ohio Valley Conference in the first round of the 2018 College Basketball Invitational (CBI). This will be the Griffs' 14th postseason appearance in school history, but it will be the program's first time in the CBI, and it also marks the fifth time in the last six years where the Blue and Gold have earned a postseason berth. Canisius is 13-16 all-time in the national postseason, with four of those wins coming at home.

2. A New Opponent to the KAC
• Jacksonville State will be making its first appearance in the CBI as well, and Wednesday's game will be the first meeting between the Griffs and the Gamecocks on the hardwood. Canisius is 13-7 since 2007-08 when meeting an opponent for the first time in program history. Jacksonville State is the 63rd different NCAA Division I school to play a game in the Koessler Athletic Center since the building opened in 1968.

3. Jermaine Crumpton - 2018 MAAC Co-Player of the Year
• Senior Jermaine Crumpton became just the fourth player in program history to be named the MAAC Player of the Year when he was honored along with Niagara senior Khalil Dukes at the league's annual postseason awards show March 2 in Albany, N.Y. The Niagara Falls, N.Y., native, who enters Wednesday's game ranked eighth in career scoring at Canisius, is the first Griff to earn Player of the Year honors since former Griff guard Billy Baron was tabbed as the league's top player in 2013-14. This year marks the first time in the MAAC's 37-year history where the Player of the Year award was shared between two players.

4. Molson is the MAAC's Top Rookie
• Canisius freshman Takal Molson was named the 2018 MAAC Rookie of the Year on March 2, making him just the fourth player in program history to receive that award, and the first since Frank Turner in 2006-07. Molson, who ranks third among MAAC freshmen in scoring average at 12.6 points per game, is just the second true freshman in the program's history to start more than 30 games in his first season on Main Street. Last year, teammate Malik Johnson set the school record for career starts by a freshman by appearing and starting in all 34 games.

5. Reese in Rare Company
• Canisius sophomore Isaiah Reese earned All-MAAC First Team honors Feb. 26, when the conference office announced its 2017-18 all-star teams. Reese is just the second sophomore in school history to be named to the MAAC's top postseason unit, joining former Griff and Canisius Sports Hall of Famer Micheal Meeks, who earned all-league first-team accolades in 1993-94. Reese starts Wednesday's game ranked in the top-10 in nine different statistical MAAC categories.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#2 Jermaine Crumpton: F; 6' 6"; Senior

#1 Malik Johnson: G; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#13 Isaiah Reese: G; 6' 5"; Sophomore

#15 Takal Molson: G; 6' 5"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#2 Jermaine Crumpton
: 6' 6"; Senior
: F

#1 Malik Johnson
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: G

#13 Isaiah Reese
: 6' 5"; Sophomore
: G

#15 Takal Molson
: 6' 5"; Freshman
: G