Men’s Basketball to Lift Lid on 2020-21 Against Nichols

GAME ONE // FRIDAY, FEB. 26 // 6:00 PM NICHOLS ATHLETIC CENTER // DUDLEY, MASS. LIVE STATS // VIDEO GAME 2 // SATURDAY, FEB. 27 // 1:00 PM SMITH COURT // BOSTON, MASS. LIVE STATS // VIDEO // PROGRAM
EYES ON THE GAME SERIES RECORD // SUFFOLK LEADS, 33-13 LAST MEETING // DECEMBER 10, 2009, L, 65-57 LAST SUFFOLK WIN // JANUARY 27, 1998, W, 54-51 CURRENT SUFFOLK STREAK // L3

BOSTON – Suffolk men's basketball is eager to dust off the rust and get going on its condensed 2020-21 season as a home-and-home series with Nichols is in store over the weekend. The Rams road trip to Dudley, Massachusetts, Friday, Feb. 26 for the season debut set to tip-off at 6:00 p.m. at the Nichols Athletic Center. The blue-and-gold will then welcome the Bison to the Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court the next Day, Saturday, Feb. 27 for a matinee match at 1:00 p.m.

SPECTATOR SECTION
With a strict no spectator policy set for the 2020-21 athletic season, here's how fans can follow Suffolk game-day action.

SOCIAL SAYINGS
Ram Nation has a chance to keep up with all the latest news and notes on Suffolk Athletics, its student-athletes and teams by following the Rams on  Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Fans are encouraged to use the hashtag #RamNation a behind-the-scene look at Suffolk Athletics.

For an insider look at Suffolk women's basketball, Ram Nation can subscribe to @suffolkmbb on Instagram and Twitter.

RAMS REWIND
Suffolk's 74th season see-sawed between highs and lows. The Rams (14-12) downed Tufts, 89-78, a win 32 years in the making, and hit one the campaign's peak with an 81-68 upset over then-No. 19 Albertus Magnus Feb. 1. It was the Falcons that put a stop to the blue-and-gold's season in the league's semifinals and the GNAC book of Suffolk men's basketball closed.

RAMS RETURNERS
Suffolk will look upon its trio of seniors – Nate Hale, Alex Jacovides and Brendan Mulson - to pave the path. 

Hale emerged on Suffolk's scene as a junior transfer last season and anchored the Rams' offense with 11.6 ppg. Mulson, meanwhile, has been a staple in the blue-and-gold's line-up since his rookie campaign, chipped in 8.4 ppg and 5.5 rpg. Jacovides has been Suffolk's sharp shooter from the downtown, shooting at a career clip of 47.4 from behind-the-arc.

In addition to the senior trifecta, junior William Rowe had a standout sophomore season in 2019-20 with 8.4 ppg and 4.7 rpg.

RAMS ROOKIES
Suffolk men's basketball will get a boost from a trio of newcomers for the 2020-21 season. 

The group is comprised of two sophomores, WPI transfer John Gates and former Rams' manager Cam Munroe, and true freshman Jason Mahoney. 

MORE READING: Rams Rookies: 2020-21 Men's Basketball

GEOGRAPHY 101
Suffolk's geographical makeup spreads seven states and two countries with a quartet hailing from the Bay State.  Connecticut, Florida, New Hampshire, New York, Virginia and Rhode Island are represented by one Ram and one student-athlete made the trip to Beantown from Bermuda.

CLASS CATEGORIES
Each of Suffolk's classes are represented on the Rams' well-balanced roster. Five sophomores make-up the bulk of the bulk of the 11-man until with three seniors, a pair of juniors and one true freshmen.

POSITIONS PIECES
Ten of Suffolk's players are primarily guards with one true forward.

ON THE BENCH
Jeff Juron, returns to the bench for his sixth season at the helm of the Rams. 

Back on Juron's staff is long-time assistant Dana Harris with Joe Sharkey and Denis Tobin back on Suffolk's sidelines for their second season.

OPENING ACT

• Since 1967-68 Suffolk is 23-29 in the first game of the season.
• The Rams have lifted the lid in the win column in three straight seasons, including last year's 94-81 decision over Salem State at the Babson Tip-Off Tournament.
• The blue-and-gold is 3-2 in the season opener in the Jeff Juron era.
• Suffolk is 5-11 when playing a true road contest in its season debut.
• The Rams will open their campaign away from home for the second straight season with its first true road tilt since 2016-17.
• Game one is a road battle under Juron's leadership for just the second time.
• Suffolk is 0-1 when playing its season opener away from home with Juron on the bench. 
• On day one at home Suffolk is 6-4 and the Rams hold a 7-11 neutral site mark in its season debut.
• Prior to the 1976-77 campaign, the location of Suffolk's season opener was undisclosed with the Rams going 5-4 through those contests.
• Suffolk will meet Nichols in game one for the first time.

BISON BREAKDOWN
Nichols 2019-20 saw the Bison go 21-9 overall, claim its fourth consecutive Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) crown and reach the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament. 

Even with the departure of D3Hoops.com All-American DeAne Bruton, the Bison brings back a dozen letterwinners from last season highlighted by All-CCC Second-Team selection Matt Morrow. Morrow averaged a double-double with the second-most ppg output at 15.3 and a team-best 11.1 rpg. Jaekwson Spencer is also a noteworthy Nichols returner after a 12.4 ppg, 6.7 rpg effort a year ago.

INSIDE THE SERIES

• The Suffolk, Nichols rivalry dates back to 1959.
• The Rams hold a commanding 33-13 lead in the all-time series.
• Suffolk and Nichols will meet for the first time since December 10, 2009, which Bison won, 65­-57
• The blue-and-gold look to snap a three-game skid versus the Bison.
• Suffollk's last victory over Nichols came in 54-51 fashion Jan. 27, 1998.
• In Boston, Suffolk boasts a 20-7 record against the Bison.
• The blue-and-gold is 12-6 versus Nichols in Dudley.
• Suffolk and Nichols have needed extra time to decide a winner twice. The Rams won both contests, one in Dudley, 104-96 (Dec. 9, 1966) and one in Boston, 67-64 (Dec. 11, 1964).
• The Rams will battle Nichols for the first time in the Jeff Juron era.

EYES ON THE GAME

SUFFOLK SOUNDS
During the longer than usual off-season, men's basketball was well represented on Suffolk Sounds, the official podcast of Suffolk Athletics, as head coach Jeff Juron and junior William Rowe joined the show as guests.

MASK UP FOR SUFFOLK CARES
Suffolk University is asking members of Ram Nation to come together to help raise funds for students most in need by purchasing a reusable Suffolk branded face mask for $10. Net proceeds will support the Suffolk CARES program.  

The 3-ply face mask cover comes in four different designs – University, Suffolk Law, Rams, Logo Repeating. The non-medical grade masks are heavyweight, 100 percent polyester, washable and reusable. Masks can be purchased here.