By R.L. Bynum
The good news for Andrew Platek is that he has scored at least 18 points in consecutive games for the first time in his career, combining for seven 3-pointers. The bad news is that his Siena team narrowly lost both games to fall from first place in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference to third place.
Platek tied his career-high with 20 points (three 3-pointers and season-highs of four assists, four rebounds and eight field goals) in the Saints’ 71–66 overtime loss Friday at Manhattan. In Sunday’s 56–54 home loss to Niagara, Platek had 18 points, went 4 of 6 from 3-point range and pulled down three rebounds.
Siena (15–9, 9–4 MAAC) is a half-game back of second-place Iona and a game behind first-place Rider.
Sunday, Platek scored eight of his 13 first-half points during a 10–3 Siena run.
Jeremiah Francis continues to play consistently for Emmanuel College, a Division II school in Franklin Springs, Ga., which has won nine consecutive games. The Lions (16–7 overall) are second in Conference Carolinas at 12–3, 2½ games behind first-place UNC Pembroke.
In Wednesday’s 86–68 win at King, he collected 12 points, two 3-pointers, three rebounds and five assists. Francis contributed 13 points, two 3-pointers, four rebounds and five assists in the Lions’ 82–55 Saturday win at Southern Wesleyan.
Kerwin Walton started his third consecutive game Saturday for Texas Tech, but the Red Raiders couldn’t manage a third straight victory.
Walton scored six points but missed both 3-point attempts as Texas Tech lost 89–62 at No. 11 Baylor.
The Red Raiders (12–11, 1–9 Big 12) are in last place in the Big 12.
Dawson Garcia missed both Minnesota games last week, a 90–55 Wednesday loss at Rutgers and an 81–46 Saturday home defeat against Maryland, and has missed the last four, all losses.
Garcia, who leads the Gophers in scoring (14.9 points per game) and rebounding (6.3), has been dealing with a bone bruise in his right foot. He wasn’t in uniform for the game against the Terps and was walking with a limp.
The Gophers (7–15, 1–11 Big Ten) are last in the Big Ten by two games.
Checking in on 4 former Heels
Jeremiah Francis, Emmanuel College guard
6–1, 190 pounds | Junior | UNC 2019–20 (1 season)
86–68 Wednesday win at King — Started; 35 minutes, 12 points, 5–12 FG, 2–5 3FG, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 turnovers, 1 steal
82–55 Saturday win at Southern Wesleyan — Started; 32 minutes, 13 points, 4–7 FG, 2–5 3FG, 3–4 FT, 4 rebounds, 1 foul, 5 assists, 1 turnover, 2 steals
Season statistics — 21 games, 21 starts, 8.2 points, 38.0% FG, 29.7 3FG%, 76.3 FT%, 2.7 rebounds; totals of 53 assists, 21 steals and 1 block
Up next — 4 p.m. Saturday at Francis Marion; 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15 at North Greeneville
Dawson Garcia, Minnesota forward
6–11, 230 pounds | Sophomore | UNC 2020–21 (part of 1 season)
90–55 Wednesday loss at Rutgers and 81–46 Saturday loss vs. Maryland— Didn’t play (bone bruise in right foot)
Season statistics — 18 games, 18 starts, 14.9 points, 44.7 FG%, 32.3 3FG%, 71.6 FT%, 6.3 rebounds; totals of 33 assists, 10 steals, 11 blocks
Up next — 7:30 Tuesday at Illinois, Big Ten Network; 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Iowa, FS1
Andrew Platek, Siena guard
6–4, 208 pounds | Graduate student | UNC 2017–21 (4 seasons)
71–66 OT Friday loss at Manhattan — Started; 39 minutes, 20 points (tied career-high), 8–19 FG (season-high FGs), 3–8 3FG, 1–1 FT, 4 rebounds (tied season-high), 3 fouls, 4 assists (tied season-high), 1 turnover, 1 block, 3 steals
56–54 Sunday loss vs. Niagara — Started; 34 minutes, 18 points, 6–10 FG, 4–6 3FG, 2–4 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 foul, 1 assist, 1 turnover
Season statistics — 24 games, 24 starts, 11.4 points, 47.8 FG%, 46.3 3FG%, 59.5 FT%, 2.6 rebounds; totals of 37 assists, 23 steals, 5 blocks
Up next — 7 p.m. Friday at Mount St. Mary’s, ESPN3; 2 p.m. Sunday vs. Marist, ESPN+
Kerwin Walton, Texas Tech guard
6–5, 200 pounds | Junior | UNC 2020–22 (2 seasons)
89–62 Saturday loss at No. 11 Baylor — Started; 23 minutes, 6 points, 3–5 FG, 0–2 3FG, 1 rebound, 1 foul, 1 turnover
Season statistics — 21 games, 3 starts, 4.4 points, 50.8 FG%, 44.9 3P%, 83.3 FT%, 1.0 rebound; season totals of 10 assists, 3 steals, 4 blocks
Up next — 8 p.m. Wednesday at Oklahoma State, ESPN+; 7 p.m. Saturday vs. Kansas State, ESPN+
Photo via @SienaMBB
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