Terriers looking to round out the Cancun Challenge

By: Max Bevington

After a mixed first two performances in the Cancun Challenge — a historic win over South Carolina and an overwhelming loss to West Virginia — the Boston University men’s basketball team (3-3) will be looking to end on a high note in their two remaining games.  

The Terriers will start off by facing Northern Colorado (2-3) on November 26, with the matchup being the team’s first game in Cancun.  

The Bears’ losses include a blowout in their first game of the year at the University of Texas-Austin and two nail-biters against Northern Iowa and West Virginia.  

Despite currently having a losing record and being on a two-game losing streak, the Bears have been very consistent on both sides of the court this season.  

So far this season, Northern Colorado has been scoring an average of 73 points per game while only allowing an average of 62.8 points per game.  On the other hand, the Terriers have been averaging 68.5 points per game while allowing 67.7 points per game on defense.  

Northern Colorado is led on the offensive side of the ball by sophomore guard Bodie Hume, who averages 17.6 points per game.  The Terriers continue to be led on offense by sophomore wing Walter Whyte, who is averaging 15.8 points per game this season after returning from an ankle injury.  

The Bears are also outmatching BU in field goal percentage and rebounds.  Northern Colorado has shot 45 percent from the floor this season, slightly higher than the Terriers FG percentage of 43.5 percent. 

In terms of rebounds, the Bears, led by senior forward Kai Edwards, have been averaging 36.6 rebounds per game, which is also slightly higher than the Terriers’ 34.8 boards.  The Terriers have been led in rebounds by senior forward Max Mahoney, who is averaging 7 rebounds per game.  

The Bears are favored in this game, with the ESPN Basketball Power Index Matchup Predictor giving Northern Colorado a 68.6% chance of victory.  

After facing Northern Colorado, BU will go on to face either UT-Martin or Gardner-Webb.  

If the Terriers prevail against Northern Colorado, they will face the winner of the UT-Martin-Gardner-Webb matchup in the Mayan division championship game.  On the other hand, if the squad falls, they will take on the loser of UT-Martin vs. Gardner-Webb in the third-place consolation matchup.  

Both UT-Martin (2-3) and Gardner-Webb (0-5) have losing records.  Despite this, UT-Martin has had great offensive success this season, averaging 81.6 points per game, but are also allowing 84.2 points to opposing teams.  

Gardner-Webb has had very little success on either side of the ball, with an average of 60.8 points per game scored and 73.2 points allowed.  

The Terriers will finish off the Cancun Challenge on November 27. 

Featured image courtesy of Hannah Yoshinaga.