MONTGOMERY, Ala. – For the second week in a row the Auburn Montgomery men's basketball team will travel to the state of Florida to play in an early season tournament as the Warhawks will take part in the 2018 Saint Leo Classic hosted by Saint Leo University of Friday and Saturday.
 
Game Information: Saint Leo (0-2)
Date: Friday, November 16, 2018
Time: 6:30 p.m. CT
Location: Saint Leo, Fla. | Marion Bowman Activities Center
Media Coverage: Live Stats | Live Video
 
Game Information: University of Tampa (2-0)
Date: Saturday, November 17, 2018
Time: 1:00 p.m. CT
Location: Saint Leo, Fla. | Marion Bowman Activities Center
Media Coverage: Live Stats | Live Video
 
About the Warhawks
The Warhawks are 1-1 on the season after opening 2018-19 with a 71-65 victory over Florida Tech last Friday and an 86-76 setback to Rollins College on Saturday at the NCAA South Region Tipoff hosted by FIT. It was the first meeting for AUM with both programs, which both compete in the Sunshine State Conference.
 
Both SLU and UT play in the SSC as well, while fellow Gulf South Conference member West Florida will compete as the fourth team in the tournament this weekend.
 
Three players are averaging double-digits in scoring to start the season, with newcomer Carlos Bell leading the way with 17.0 points per game. Bell recorded a double-double in his first contest with the Warhawks scoring 19 and pulling down 11 rebounds. He followed it up with a 15 point, six rebound performance against Rollins and was named the Warhawk of the Week for his efforts.
 
Junior guards Darrion Taylor and Tre Hansbrough are posting 11.0 points per game, with Taylor leading the way in assists with six on the year. Junior center Aaron Reddick has been a bright spot coming off the bench for the Orange & Black, having recorded seven of AUM's eight blocks on the season. Bell has the other block for the Warhawks.
 
This will be the first meeting in program history for the Warhawks against Saint Leo and Tampa. AUM is now 2-1 lifetime against the SSC, with a victory over Embry-Riddle last season to go with the two games this season.
 
About the Lions
SLU is 0-2 this season after falling to GSC foes the University of Alabama in Huntsville and the University of Montevallo this past weekend at the GSC vs. SSC Challenge, hosted by Tampa. The Lions will also play GSC opponent West Florida on Saturday.
 
Junior guard Isaiah Hill lead the team in scoring, averaging 11.5 ppg. Senior forward Junior Searcy is averaging 11.0 ppg and junior guard Kyran McClure is posting 10.0 ppg for the Lions. McClure also leads the team in assists with 10.
 
Junior forward Tyler Carter leads the team in boards with 12 while Hill is second on the team with nine. Saint Leo is shooting .391 on the season while their opponents are shooting .500 against the Lions.  
 
About the Spartans
UT is 2-0 on the season after also taking part in the GSC vs. SSC Challenge last weekend, earning victories over Montevallo and UAH. The Spartans defeated the Falcons 63-61 before defeating the Chargers 63-56 the following day.
 
Senior guard Pat Bacon leads the team in points per game, averaging 15.0 over two contests this season. Fellow guard Vincent Biffle is second on the team in points with 14.0 ppg, while also leading the team in rebounds with 11.0 rpg and assists with 3.5 apg.
 
The Spartans are averaging 63.0 points per game, shooting 42.7 percent on the year while opponents are averaging 58.5 ppb and shooting 40.0 percent.
 
Up Next
The Warhawks will play region rival Tuskegee University on Tuesday, Nov. 20 at 7:30 p.m. on the campus of the Golden Tigers. The two teams split the season series last season, with each team winning on their home courts. AUM earned a 68-66 victory on Nov. 21 while Tuskegee won 77-68 on Jan. 30.
 
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