Platek hot from 3 early in loss at Georgetown; Francis has season-high; Walton’s playing time scarce

By R.L. Bynum

Andrew Platek hit three 3-pointers in the first 4:25 and scored all of his 12 points in the first half, but Siena couldn’t pull its third upset of a major conference opponent.

The Saints (5–4), who have beaten Florida State and Seton Hall, had their two-game win streak snapped in the 75–68 Wednesday loss at Georgetown after blowing a six-point lead with 10:46 left.

“We still haven’t played a full two halves of basketball where we’re at our best,” Platek, who had one 3-pointer in the previous three games, told the Albany Times-Union. “We’ve got to shore up these mistakes and it starts with me and Jackson [Stormo].”

Stormo, a 6–9 graduate transfer from Pepperdine, led Siena with 21 points.

Platek’s early flurry came after he had two consecutive tough games. He was scoreless in a 60–55 win against Seton Hall on Nov. 27 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., and had three points in a 74–70 Dec. 2 home win over Canisius.

Siena led by six points with 10:46 left, but the Hoyas took control with a 12–0 run.


Jeremiah Francis scored a season-high 14 points and tied his season-high with three 3-pointers as Emmanuel College (4–4) ended a two-game losing streak with an 82–80 road win Wednesday over Southern Wesleyan.

Francis had combined for 10 points in the two losses, 72–56 on Dec. 3 at Pembroke State and 76–71 at Chowan on Monday. He has started all six games in which he’s played for the Division II school in Franklin Springs, Ga., 92 miles northeast of Atlanta.


Junior Kerwin Walton obviously transferred to Texas Tech, hoping to get more chances to play. It isn’t working out that way so far this season.

He’s scoreless in a combined six minutes in the Red Raiders’ most recent two home wins, a 79–65 Nov. 30 victory over Georgetown and Wednesday’s 78–71 win over Nicholls.

“Kerwin works as hard as anybody,” Texas Tech coach Mark Adams said before Wednesday’s game. “Even away from practice, he’s in the gym just shooting all the time. Everybody on our team has confidence in him and knows he can shoot the 3-ball, maybe more so than he does, so we keep reminding him, ‘Keep shooting, keep shooting,’ and it’s all going to fall into place. Yeah, he’s maybe pressing a little bit too hard.”

Walton hasn’t scored in the last five games, missing all five shots, after opening the season with nine points against Northwestern State and scoring five against both Texas Southern and Louisiana Tech.

Checking in on 4 former Heels

Jeremiah Francis, Emmanuel College guard

6–1, 190 pounds | Junior | UNC 2019–20 (1 season)

72–56 Dec. 3 loss at Pembroke State — Started; 24 minutes, 4 points, 1–8 FG, 0–2 3FG, 2–2 FT,4 rebounds, 1 foul, 1 assist, 2 turnovers
76–71 Monday loss at Chowan — Started; 25 minutes, 6 points, 3–8 FG, 0–2 3FG, 0–1 FT, 1 rebound, 4 fouls, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 1 steal
82–80 Wednesday win at Southern Wesleyan — Started; 34 minutes, 14 points, 3–4 FG, 3–4 3FG, 5–6 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 foul, 3 assists, 2 turnovers, 2 steals
Season statistics —
6 games, 6 starts, 7.7 points, 34.1% FG, 46.7 3FG, 2.0 rebounds; totals of 9 assists, 4 steals and 1 block
Up next — 4 p.m. Saturday at King; 5:45 Saturday, Dec. 17 vs. Saint Martin’s in Honolulu


Anthony Harris, Rhode Island guard

6–4, 190 pounds | Junior | UNC 2019–22 (3 seasons)

Because of academic concerns, his season likely won’t start until the Rams’ Dec. 31 Atlantic 10 Conference opener against Duquesne.


Andrew Platek, Siena guard

6–4, 208 pounds | Graduate student | UNC 2017–21 (4 seasons)

60–55 Nov. 27 win vs. Seton Hall at Lake Buena Vista, Fla. — Started; 15 minutes, 0 points, 0–2 FG, 0–1 3FG, 0–0 FT, 4 rebounds, 3 turnovers
74–70 Dec. 2 win vs. Canisius — Started; 20 minutes, 3 points, 1–2 FG, 1–2 3FG, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 block
75–68 Wednesday loss at Georgetown — Started; 31 minutes, 12 points, 4–8 FG, 4–7 3FG, 4 rebounds, 2 fouls, 3 assists, 2 turnovers, 2 steals
Season statistics — 9 games, 9 starts, 10.8 points, 52.2 FG%, 52.3 3FG%, 40.0 FT%, 2.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists; totals of 20 assists, 9 steals, 1 block
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday at Delaware, FloHoops; 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 19, vs. St. Bonaventure, ESPN+


Kerwin Walton, Texas Tech guard

65, 200 pounds | Junior | UNC 2020–22 (2 seasons)

79–65 Nov. 30 win vs. Georgetown — 4 minutes, 0 points, 0–1 FG, 0–1 3FG, 1 turnover
78–71 Wednesday win vs. Nicholls — 2 minutes, 0 points, 1 turnover
Season statistics —
8 games, 106 minutes, 19 points, 7–20 FG, 2–13 3FG, 3–4 FT, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 1 block
Up next — 8 p.m. Tuesday vs. Eastern Washington, ESPN+; 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17 at Jackson State


Photo by Chris Bernacchi, special to Siena Athletics

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