By R.L. Bynum
Andrew Platek continues to produce steady performances for Siena, Texas Tech’s Kerwin Walton found his shooting range and Anthony Harris could be close to his season debut for Rhode Island.
Platek scored 11 points and three 3-pointers with four rebounds as Siena beat St. Bonaventure 76–70 in Albany, N.Y., on Monday night to capture the Franciscan Cup.
The Saints (6–5) snapped a two-game losing streak and will visit American at 1 p.m. Thursday (ESPN+) in their final non-conference game before opening MAAC play on Dec. 30 at Quinnipiac.
Platek is averaging 10.9 points per game while making 50.9% of his 3-point attempts.
After not playing in Texas Tech’s 77–70 home win Dec. 13 over Eastern Washington, Walton was productive over 15 minutes in the Red Raiders’ 102–52 home win Saturday against Jackson State. That came after combining for 13 minutes in the previous four games.
Walton made 2 of his 4 3-point attempts and finished with eight points, a rebound and a block and was +14 for the game.
Rhode Island coach Archie Miller announced last spring that Harris was transferring into his program but needed to get his academics in order. Academics were likely the reason that Harris didn’t play for Carolina last season after early January.
Miller has said a few times during the season that Harris remains part of the team’s plan, but a school official said Tuesday that there was no official update.
Harris has been taking courses from home during the fall semester. If he is in good academic standing, he can join the team after Rhode Island’s final exams conclude on Wednesday.
If that happens, Harris could make his debut for the Rams (4–8) in their Atlantic 10 opener at 1 p.m. on Dec. 31 against Duquesne (ESPN+). His last game was in Carolina’s 74–58 home win on Jan. 8 over Virginia when he scored five points and one 3-pointer.
Jeremiah Francis continues to start for Emmanuel College — a Division II school in Franklin Springs, Ga., 92 miles northeast of Atlanta — but hasn’t put up big numbers as the Lions are off to a 7–5 start.
In three games last weekend in Honolulu, Hawaii, Francis combined for 17 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in 90 minutes.
His season-high is 14 points and three 3-pointers in an 82–80 win on Dec. 7 against Southern Wesleyan.
Checking in on 4 former Heels
Jeremiah Francis, Emmanuel College guard
6–1, 190 pounds | Junior | UNC 2019–20 (1 season)
89–81 Dec. 10 win vs. King — Started; 26 minutes, 4 points, 1–8 FG, 0–3 3FG, 2–2 FT, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 turnovers, 2 steals, 2 fouls
X —76–71 Saturday loss vs. Saint Martin’s — Started; 29 minutes, 8 points, 3–10 FG, 0–4 3FG, 2–4 FT, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 turnover, 1 foul
X —105–98 Sunday win vs. Western Washington — Started; 31 minutes, 7 points, 3–11 FG, 0–1 3FG, 1–1 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 4 fouls
X — 62–59 Monday win vs. St. Edwards — Started; 30 minutes, 2 points, 1–4 FG, 0–2 3FG, 1 rebound, 4 assists, 1 turnover, 1 foul
Season statistics — 10 games, 10 starts, 6.7 points, 29.8% FG, 28.0 3FG, 2.5 rebounds; totals of 19 assists, 8 steals and 1 block
Up next — Noon Dec. 31 at Augusta; 4 p.m. Jan 4. vs. Barton
X — at 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)
75–64 Dec. 11 loss at Delaware — Started; 27 minutes, 12 points, 3–8 FG, 2–4 3FG, 4–4 FT, 2 rebounds, 2 turnovers, 3 fouls
76–70 Monday win vs. St. Bonaventure in Albany — Started; 25 minutes, 11 points, 4–8 FG, 3–6 3FG, 4 rebounds, 1 turnover, 1 foul
Season statistics — 11 games, 11 starts, 10.9 points, 50.6 FG%, 50.9 3FG%, 57.1 FT%, 2.5 rebounds; totals of 20 assists, 9 steals, 1 block
Up next — 1 p.m. Thursday at American, ESPN+; 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30 at Quinnipiac, ESPN3
Kerwin Walton, Texas Tech guard
6–5, 200 pounds | Junior | UNC 2020–22 (2 seasons)
77–70 Dec. 13 win vs. Eastern Washington — Didn’t play
102–52 Saturday win vs. Jackson State — 15 minutes, 8 points, 2–5 FG, 2–4 3FG, 2–2 FT, 1 rebound, 1 block, +14
Season statistics — 10 games, 146 minutes, 32 points, 10–28 FG, 5–20 3FG, 7–8 FT, 13 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks
Up next — 1 p.m. Wednesday vs. Houston Christian, ESPN+; 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 27 vs. South Carolina State, ESPN+
Photo courtesy of Siena Athletics
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