Preview: No. 3 Anna Maria vs. No. 6 Emmanuel - GNAC Men's Basketball Quarterfinal

OVERVIEW

The third-seeded AMCATS of Anna Maria College will host No. 6 Emmanuel on Tuesday in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) men's basketball quarterfinal action at 7:00 p.m. in the Fuller Activities Center. LIVE STATS and LIVE VIDEO will be provided for the game.

FAMILIAR TERRITORY

Tuesday's game marks the fourth-consecutive GNAC tournament appearance for the AMCATS. After an appearance in the GNAC championship game two seasons ago, the team bowed out early in the quarterfinals last season. This season marks the return to hosting the quarterfinal—last season, the team played Johnson & Wales on the road.

HOW THEY GOT HERE

The AMCATS used the power of a nine-game conference winning streak midway through the season to compile a 12-6 conference record, good for a third-place finish in the league standings.

 The Saints won seven conference games, including a 10-point win against Suffolk on Saturday, to claim the sixth seed.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

The AMCATS won both meetings with the Saints this season. After a 65-48 win against the Saints on January 10^th at Emmanuel, the Saints and AMCATS battled in a strong performance on February 12^th. The AMCATS escaped with a one-point, 85-84 win in Paxton.

In the February meeting, the AMCATS completed an impressive 14 three-pointers, including six and five, respectively, from juniors Patrick Bradanese (Billerica, Mass.) and Tyler Delorey (Worcester, Mass.). The Saints had four players score in double-figures, led by Kyle Davis with 20 points and Josh Bushman with 14.

The AMCATS are 7-1 against the Saints since joining the GNAC and currently hold a six-game winning streak in the series. The two teams also met in the quarterfinals in 2013 and Anna Maria took an 85-76 win to advance.

SCOUTING THE AMCATS

Three different members of the Anna Maria squad average double-figures in the scoring column, providing an offensive triple-threat for opponents. Juniors Bradanese and Delorey provide strength on the perimeter—both shoot over 43 percent from three-point range—while graduate student Quantez Franklin (South Yarmouth, Mass.) adds experience in the post.

Bradanese averages 14.6 points per game and is trailed closely by Delorey, who adds 13.5 points per game. Franklin, who ranks third in all of NCAA Division III in field goal percentage (65.6 percent), adds 12.7 points per game. The AMCAT offense is managed by senior Michael Gorman (Methuen, Mass.), who dishes out a team-leading 5.2 assists per game.

Defensively, Franklin leads the team on the boards with 6.7 rebounds per game. The AMCAT defense ranks fifth in the league in points allowed, as AMCAT opponents average 73.5 points per game.   

SCOUTING THE SAINTS

Emmanuel sees success on both ends of the court from a number of their starters. Kyle Davis leads the team in scoring with 15.3 points per game. He also leads the league and ranks 18^th in the nation in offensive rebounds, clocking in at 3.54 per game. As a team, the Saints average a monster league-leading 15.96 offensive rebounds per game.

Defensively, Emmanuel holds opponents to 69.7 points per game. Davis totals 7.8 rebounds per game and adds a steal and a block per outing.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

The winner of Tuesday's quarterfinal will advance to the GNAC Semifinals on Thursday against the winner of the No. 2 Johnson & Wales/No. 7 Mount Ida game. The game will be played at the home of the higher seed.