In almost every game the Redhawks play, they are undersized - if not height-wise, in terms of bulk.
Nevertheless, they've generally managed to do well on the boards despite what one might presume is a disadvantage.
In the first half of the Elgin Baylor Classic against the University of Idaho this evening, they've controlled the boards with a 19 to 9 advantage overall on their way to a 37-29 halftime lead.
The more important advantage has been on the offensive boards where the Redhawks have established a 9 to 4 advantage, which has led to a 8 to 2 advantage in second chance points.
Rebounding aside, something that can't be overlooked in the context of their season is the Redhawks' outstanding 53.3 percent shooting in the first half, including shooting 3-for-7 from the 3-point line. That's a remarkable change for a team that has typically been in the 30 percent range, if not under that, this season. Perhaps a bit more surprising is the fact that they've done that with only two first half assists on 16 made field goals - they're getting to the basket, hitting pull-up jumpers, and driving to the basket one-on-one.
Forward Aaron Broussard leads the way at halftime with nine points on 4-for-6 shooting and a game-high four rebounds, looking more aggressive than usual in asserting himself offensively. Sterling Carter is follows him with seven points and has found his way to the basket for driving layups rather than solely living from beyond the arc.
For Idaho, Renton native Shawn Henderson is leading the way with 12 points.