The Southeastern University men's basketball team will put its six-game win streak on the line this week in a pair of contests during the Mike Miller Classic in South Dakota.
Turn Around:
After losses in five of six games, the Fire have now won six straight, two against Top 25 opponents. Southeastern picked up a 74-73 win over No. 14 Bethel at the STU Classic, and the next night, defeated No. 7 Taylor 72-69 in Lakeland.
Reese:
Junior
CJ Reese was named The Sun Conference Player of the Week after averaging 24.7 points per game over three games last week. He also averaged 5.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game during a 3-0 week. Additionally, Reese shot 50% from the field, 41% from 3-point range, and 82% at the line. His layup at the buzzer against Florida National sent the game to overtime.
Freshmen:
Southeastern freshmen are responsible for nearly 30% of the Fire scoring this season.
Jeremy Oppenheimer has led the charge, averaging 11.9 points per game, and has added 4.1 rebounds per game.
Travels:
The World's Only Corn Palace, site of the two games in Mitchell, S.D. is 1,682 miles from the SEU campus. This is the farthest from home the Fire have played since November of 2013, when they went to Ashland, Oregon. SEU is 7-4 away from The Furnace this year, which includes a 6-1 record on neutral courts.
The Corn Palace:
First built in 1892, The World's Only Corn Palace has become known worldwide, and was named one of the top 10 places in America for high school basketball. The Palace is redecorated each year with naturally colored corn and other grains and native grasses to make it "the agricultural show-place of the world." The corn murals are stripped at the end of August and the new ones are completed by the first of October.
Mike Miller Classic:
The classic consists of 17 games played at two different locations, benefiting the Mike Miller Foundation. The foundation provides aid to disadvantaged or disabled children and encourages children to have a healthy lifestyle. Miller, a former NBA Champion with the Miami Heat, was born in Mitchell.
Dakota State:
The Trojans have faced five ranked or receiving votes teams this season, dropping all five of those games during a 5-10 season thus far. DSU is coming off a 73-63 loss to Viterbo in a conference game on December 17
th. Four players were in double figures, including Tanner Heiser's 21, but couldn't keep pace with the hot shooting of the V-Hawks (51% FG, 50% 3-pt.). Heiser is 19
th in the nation in 3-pointers made with 45.
Dakota Wesleyan:
Ranked 12
th in the most recent NAIA Division II Top 25, the Tigers have also won six straight contests, and are 6-1 at The Corn Palace this year. The Tigers boast one of the nation's premier scoring offenses at 93.1 points per game, and are third in the nation in field goal percentage at 52.3%. Tate Martin has already racked up 131 assists in 16 games, with Jason Spicer his favorite recipient, averaging 21.3 points per game, and shooting 64.5%.
