Richey Named SCAC Player of the Week
Alex Richey, a junior guard from Alpharetta, Ga., has been named SCAC Basketball Player-of-the-Week for games played Monday, December 7 through Sunday, December 13.

Richey led Oglethorpe to a thrilling 97-93 double-overtime over cross town rival Emory University Dec. 7. He scored 34 points while connecting on 12 of 22 shooting, grabbed seven rebounds, forced three steals and added three assists in the win.

 
On the season, Richey is second in the SCAC averaging 17.4 points per game and also ranks in the top 10 in the SCAC in field goal percentage (48.9% - seventh), steals (1.6 per game – tied for 10th) and minutes played per game (37.7 – third).

Men Win Double Overtime Thriller Over Emory
The Oglethorpe University men's basketball team defeated Emory University in Decatur, Georgia in a double overtime thriller on Monday evening, 97-93. Alex Richey scored a lay-up to give the Petrels a 94-93 lead late in the second overtime and then converted two free throws following a missed Emory field goal to seal the exciting victory.

The game started innocently enough with Emory forging a five point 32-27 lead at the half. Then, the two teams exploded offensively in the second half to open up a high scoring affair. One should have known this game would come down to the wire: the result of this one marks the third time in the last four games the two teams have played their way into overtime.
 
Down by two with 30 seconds to play, Todd Ward found Wade Weldon for a game tying lay-up to help send the game into the first overtime. The Petrels were then up by three with 22 seconds remaining in the first overtime before the Eagles managed to bank in a three-point attempt with only six seconds left to force the second extra session. Finally, in the second overtime, the Petrels broke through on the aforementioned Richey lay-up with 45 seconds left to take the lead for good and claim the non-conference win.
 
The game featured 18 lead changes and 15 ties to make it yet another Emory-Oglethorpe classic. The Petrels shot a scintillating 60% from the field in the second half and 54% overall for the game.  In a box score anomaly, Oglethorpe scored 97 points yet made only one three-pointer.
 
Alex Richey led the way for Oglethorpe with a monster game that included 34 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. Todd Ward added 18 points, 15 rebounds and 3 blocked shots while Wade Weldon chipped in 17 points on 7 of 10 shooting from the field. Freshman Alex Pitts tallied 16 points on the night to round out the Petrels in double figures.
 
With the win, Oglethorpe has won back-to-back games for the first time this year and stands at 4-3 overall. The team will have a brief hiatus for exams before returning to Pinholster Court to face Hanover at 7:30 p.m. on December 18.

Men Rout Sewanee, 76-42
The Oglethorpe University men's basketball team defeated the Sewanee Tigers in Tennessee on Saturday night, 76-42. Oglethorpe's defense suffocated the Tigers into a 28% shooting performance that held Sewanee to only 4 made field goals in the second half.

Down 15-14 halfway through the first stanza, the Petrels stormed back to take a 37-26 lead into the break. Oglethorpe then blistered Sewanee at the start of the second half on a 24-2 run to blow the game open and stake an insumountable 61-28 lead.
 
While locking down the Tiger offense, Oglethorpe forced 28 Sewanee turnovers and held them to a dismal 15% (4-27) shooting performance in the second half.
 
Alex Richey led 11 different Petrels who scored in the contest with 17 points and 6 rebounds. Freshman Alec Pitts chipped in 11 points and junior Todd Ward posted 10 to round out the Petrels in double figures. Sophomore Erik Strong led all rebounders with 14 boards on the night.
 
With the win, Oglethorpe is 3-3 (1-0) on the season and will have look to avenge a season opening loss to Emory this Monday at 7:00 p.m. in Decatur, Georgia.

Men Lose Nailbiter to Piedmont
The Oglethorpe University men's basketball team lost to the Piedmont College Lions on Pinholster Court on Wednesday night, 76-73. The Petrels had the ball and a chance to tie but could not get a shot off in the waning seconds of the game.

The game was a nip-and-tuck affair throughout with the largest lead for either team during the contest being a scant six points. The Lions took a 40-38 lead into the locker room and were able to hold onto the lead, albeit slim, throughout the second half.
 
The Petrels briefly took a lead late in the game when Alex Richey stroked a three-pointer from the top of the key with only 1:30 remaining to push Oglethorpe ahead by two, 73-71. The Lions responded immediately, however, with a three-ball of their own, got an Oglethorpe stop on the other end and then a basket on their ensuing possession to provide the winning margin.
 
The Petrels had 10 seconds remaining to try and tie the score with a three-pointer but the Lions used excellent defense to thwart any Oglethorpe attempt.
 
Richey led the Petrel attack on the night with 21 points on a torrid 7 of 9 shooting from the field. Todd Ward also tallied 21 points to go along with 6 rebounds and sophomore Erik Strong turned in the finest performance of his young career with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
 
With the loss, Oglethorpe stands at 2-3 on the season and will travel to face Sewanee in SCAC play this Saturday night at 9;00 p.m. Eastern.

Men Top Maryville in Thanksgiving Classic
The Oglethorpe University men's basketball team defeated Maryville College in this weekend's Thanksgiving Classic hosted by LaGrange College on Sunday afternoon, 79-68. The Petrels regained their shooting touch from both the field (48%) and the free throw line (89%) to score the big non-conference win.

The Petrels had to rally to claim the victory over the Scots as they trailed 39-35 at the half. Oglethorpe used good work on defense, holding Maryville to only 39% shooting, and scratched out a 40-35 advantage rebounding to claim the win.
 
Junior Joe Kennedy led the way for Oglethorpe with 24 points and 9 rebounds. Classmate Todd Ward poured in 14 points and grabbed 9 rebounds of his own while Alex Richey heated up for 19 points and 6 rebounds.
 
Oglethorpe is now 2-2 on the season and will come home to continue non-conference play this Wednesday night at 8:00 p.m. when they square off with Piedmont College.

Men Tripped Up by LaGrange
The Oglethorpe University men's basketball team lost to LaGrange College on Sunday afternoon in LaGrange, Georgia, 60-51. Cold shooting from the field (34%) doomed the Petrels' chances against the Panthers.

In addition to struggling from the field, Oglethorpe could not take advantage at the free throw line either, missing 20 of their 30 attempts from the charity stripe.
 
Junior Joe Kennedy led the Petrels with 14 points on the afternoon and Todd Ward chipped in 11 points and 12 rebounds in the losing effort.
 
With the result, Oglethorpe is now 1-2 on the season and will look to bounce back against a stout Maryville College squad this Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. To follow along with live statistics, go here.

Men Top Methodist in Overtime
The Oglethorpe University men's basketball team picked up their first win of the 2009-2010 season by topping Methodist University in overtime on Pinholster Court on Sunday afternoon, 87-85.

The Petrels trailed for much of the first half before heading to the locker room down three at the break, 33-30. After only connecting on 41% of their shots in the first half, the Petrels found the range in the second stanza and opened up an eleven point with 7:18 to play.
 
The Monarchs rallied, however, by forcing turnovers and getting some key misses from the Petrels at the free throw line and, with 16 seconds left in regulation, Oglethorpe had the ball and the score tied at 75. The Petrels ran a pick and roll but Joe Kennedy's drive to the basket came off the front rim and the game headed to overtime.
 
In the overtime session, the score was tied at 85 with only seconds remaining when, once again, the Petrels ran a pick and roll. This time, Kennedy finished the play with a lay-in off the class to give Oglethorpe the victory.
 
The Petrels were led by the outstanding play of freshman Alec Pitts who led all scorers with 26 points on the afternoon. Pitts sank 10 of 14 shots en route to being the high scorer and backcourt mate Joe Kennedy also tallied 23 points to spearhead the Petrel attack. Still getting into game shape after suffering an ankle injury, All-America candidate Todd Ward scored 10 points and snatched a team-high 16 rebounds.
 
With the win, Oglethorpe is now 1-1 on the season and will get set to play in a Thanksgiving Tournament this Saturday and Sunday at LaGrange College.

Men Lose Season Opener in Overtime
The Oglethorpe University men's basketball team lost their first game of the season on Pinholster Court on Thursday night against cross-town rival Emory University in overtime, 85-81.

After trailing by as many as fifteen points and being down by twelve at the half, Oglethorpe stormed back to take a six point lead heading into the game's final 60 seconds. Disaster struck, however, as the Petrels missed six consecutive free throws in the waning seconds to open the door for the Eagles who promptly took advantage. Daniel Curtain hit a three-ball to tie the game with 16 ticks remaining and Emory rode the momentum into the overtime session for the win.
 
Prior to the meltdown at the free throw line, Oglethorpe looked poised for a nice season opening win after treating the crowd to the thrilling fifteen point turnaround. The comeback was highlighted by freshman Tyler Cerone connecting on consecutive three-pointers on the first two shots of his career.
 
The Petrels were led by Joe Kennedy's 18 points and 7 rebounds. Todd Ward added 13 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists on the night and Wade Weldon and Alex Richey tossed in 16 and 15 points respectively. For the night Oglethorpe shot 45% (32-71) from the field but a woeful 37% (7-19) from the free throw line.
 
The Petrels will shoot for their first win of the season this Sunday when they face Methodist on Pinholster Court at 3 p.m.

Expectations Abound as Men's, Women's Basketball Gets Underway
The men's and women's basketball 2009-2010 seasons are just around the corner and lofty expectations are the preseason theme for both the men's and women's programs at Oglethorpe.

Exclusive balloting by the men's and women's basketball coaches in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference were held last week to determine the preseason order of finish for all 12 conference members and both the men's and women's teams for Oglethorpe fared well in the voting process.
 
The Oglethorpe University men's team received 103 total votes, including two first place votes, to make them the second pick overall in the conference. The Petrels trailed only eastern division rival Centre in the voting after the Colonels were able to secure 114 votes. To view the men's preseason order of finish as voted on by the coaches, go here. The men's season tips off at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 19against Emory on Pinholster Court.
 
The Oglethorpe University women's team received 76 total votes to make them the fifth overall selection in the twelve team conference. The Petrels are projected to finish third in the eastern division behind DePauw (117 votes) and Centre College (109 votes). To view the women's preseason order of finish as vvoted on by the coaches, go here. The women's season tips off against Emory on Tuesday, November 17 at 7:00 p.m. on Pinholster Court.

Hoops Season Tips Off With Saturday Night Extravaganza
The 2009-2010 men's and women's basketball seasons begin in earnest this Saturday night with an extravaganza open to all on Pinholster Court. Come watch the season get underway with a slam dunk contest, three-point shooting exhibition and intra-squad scrimmages. There will also be performances by the cheerleaders and free give-aways to students in attendance. The extravaganza begins at 8:00 p.m. in the Dorough Field House so don't be late!

Ward Named Preseason All-America by D3hoops.com
Oglethorpe University junior forward Todd Ward of Venice, Florida has been voted to the 2009-2010 D3hoops.com Preseason Men's All-America Team. Voted on by a panel of sports information directors around the country, Ward was an Preseason All-America Second Team selection.

Ward led the Petrels in a bevy of statistical categories in the 2009-2010 season including scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage and blocked shots. The athletic 6'5" forward poured in 17 points per game while connecting on 56% of his shots from the field. Additionally, Ward grabbed 10.2 rebounds per game to lead the entire Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.
 
To view the release announcing Ward's selection, visit the D3hoops.com site here.

Men's Hoops Gets Attention of Preseason Pollsters
The D3hoops.com Division III Men's Basketball Preseason Poll was released on Thursday and the Oglethorpe University men's basketball team collected 46 votes to place them in 31st position.

The Stormy Petrels return all five starters to a team that won 16 games last season and the pollsters are taking notice of a squad that could be out for a banner year in 2009-2010. Among the returning starters for head coach Phil Ponder are All-SCAC First Team selection Todd Ward, All-SCAC Third Team selection Joe Kennedy and All-SCAC Honorable Mention selection David Allison. Add the returning services of swingmen Alex Richey and Wade Weldon, along with a bevy of talented recruits, and the Petrels will be off and running this season.
 
To view the entire poll and see, visit the release on the D3hoops.com site here. To view an article including a photo of Todd Ward currently running on D3hoops.com, go here. To view Oglethorpe's 2009-2010 schedule, go here.
 
The D3hoops.com Top 25 is voted on by a panel of coaches, sports information directors and media members from across the country and is published weekly.

Ward Named to D3Hoops.com All-South Region First Team
Oglethorpe University sophomore forward Todd Ward of Venice, Florida has been named a member of the 2009 D3Hoops.com All-South Region First Team. Players were nominated for these awards by the Sports Information Directors at the various schools and all SIDs in the region were given the opportunity to vote. Ward is only one of five players in the entire South Region to receive the illustrious First Team status.

Ward led the Petrels in a bevy of statistical categories this season including scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage and blocked shots. The athletic 6'5" forward poured in 17 points per game while connecting on 56% of his shots from the field. Additionally, Ward grabbed 10.2 rebounds per game to lead the entire Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.
 
Only one underclassman, junior Clay Henson of Guilford, received more votes than Ward, making Ward a leading candidate for All-South Region Player of the Year in the upcoming 2009-2010 campaign.
 
 

Richey, Richmann Selected to SCAC Basketball All-Sportsmanship Teams
The Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference announced its 2009 Men's and Women's Basketball All-Sportsmanship Teams and Oglethorpe players Alex Richey and Biz Richmann were selected as members. Twelve men’s basketball and twelve women’s basketball student-athletes were selected to the 2008-2009 squads.

The SCAC is placing a special emphasis on sportsmanship this year – asking all fans of the conference to exhibit good sportsmanship at all conference functions throughout the 2008-2009 season.

 

Ward Named GABCA POTY; Allison, Kennedy and Weldon Also Collect Honors
The Georgia Basketball Coaches Association announced it's postseason awards on Monday and Oglethorpe men's basketball players Todd Ward, David Allison, Joe Kennedy and Wade Weldon each received regognition, including Ward collecting Georgia's Division III Player of the Year award

The awards feature a Player of the Year, Newcomer of the Year and Coach of the Year for each division in addition to a five-player All-State team. The GABCA also recognizes an Honorable Mention All-State team as well as honoring 64 student-athletes as GABCA All-Academic selections.



 
After pacing the 16-10 Petrels all season long, Ward was both the D-III Player of the Year and an All-State First Team selection. Joining Ward on the All-State team was junior David Allison who guided Oglethorpe from the guard position this season.
 
Sophomore Joe Kennedy of Gainseville, Georgia collected Honorable Mention All-State status for his outstanding performance on the hardwood as well.
 
Junior Wade Weldon also joined Allison on the GABCA All-Academic Team for their dual work on both the court and in the classroom.
 
For the second straight year, head men's basketball coach Philip Ponder was named the GABCA Division III Coach of the Year.