General 1/16/2025 9:05:00 AM

OAKWOOD HOSTS RUST COLLEGE TODAY IN CRITICAL HBCUAC DOUBLEHEADER

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – With just over a month left in the regular season, Oakwood University will host Rust College today in a critical HBCU Athletic Conference doubleheader inside Ashby Auditorium.

The women's game begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by the men's game.

Men's preview

The Ambassadors, in the middle of a 14-game losing streak, are in desperate need of a win.

Simon Jacob's team hasn't won a game since beating Washington Adventist back on Nov. 2 and currently are in last place with a 1-16 overall record and an 0-10 mark in league play.

Rust isn't much better.

The Bearcats, currently next to last, are 3-12 overall and 2-9 in league play and are currently riding a four-losing streak.

Rust downed Oakwood 80-74 on Dec. 10 in arguably its best game of the season.

The Bearcats shot 59 percent (27-of-46) from the field, and outscored the Ambassadors 22-9 from the free throw line to come away with the victory.

Jordan Bell and Jamarkus Alexander combined for 39 points on 16-of-26 shooting to lead the Ambassadors, while the rest of the team combined to make just 13 of 35 field goal attempts.

Bell is averaging 15.6 points and 6.2 rebounds to lead Oakwood. He also had a team-high 15 steals and 21 blocks.

Alexander is averaging 11.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and is second on the team with 19 3-pointers.

Rust is led by Isiah McCallum (15.2), Jordan Fordyuce (14.5), Jayden Stephens (12.9) and Jordin Jackson (11.4). Jackson, McCallum and Fordyuce combined for 52 points in the first meeting.

Women's preview

Oakwood coach Ronnie Abrams believes his team is starting to hit its stride.

The Ambassadors, who have won three straight games, are currently tied for 5th place in league play at 4-6 and 6-9 overall.

The emergence of Kamaria Murray has given Oakwood a third scorer to go along with Saniya Keys and Trenisha Adams.

Keys is averaging a league-best 18.3 points per game, while grabbing 11.6 rebounds. Adams is pouring in 12.5 points and 3.2 rebounds. She leads the team with 48 3-pointers, 53 assists and 36 steals.

Murray is averaging 10.1 points and 4.2 rebounds. She has 40 assists and 27 steals.

Adams, Keys and Murray combined for 41 of Oakwood's 52 points in a 61-52 loss to Rust back on Dec. 10.

The Bearcats (6-11, 5-6) are currently in fourth place in the league.

Patsy Johnson (15.6), Michaela Payton (13.1) and Amber Scott (10.1) are the Bearcats' top scorers. Payton is also averaging 12 rebounds and 2.7 blocks, while shooting 55 percent (74-of-135) from the field. The trio combined for 45 of the Bearcats' 61 points in the first meeting.

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Players Mentioned

#21 Trenisha Adams: SG; 5' 5"; Junior

#35 Saniya Keys: C/F; 6' 0"; Freshman

#24 Kamaria Murray: G; 5' 8"; Freshman

#2 Jordan Bell: PF; 6' 6"; Senior

#4 Jamarkus Alexander: SG; 6' 4"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#21 Trenisha Adams
: 5' 5"; Junior
: SG

#35 Saniya Keys
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: C/F

#24 Kamaria Murray
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: G

#2 Jordan Bell
: 6' 6"; Senior
: PF

#4 Jamarkus Alexander
: 6' 4"; Junior
: SG