OK, so it’s not Division I.
So what.
Mike Mallory, Trey Seymore and Malik Petteway are all Waterbury hoopsters, and they’re all succeeding in college basketball. Mallory is the senior leader of Southern Connecticut State University. Seymore has helped get Texas A&M Commerce to the No. 13 ranking in the latest NCAA DII Media Poll (sponsored by D2SIDA). Petteway just had a big night for Northwest Florida State College, ranked 18th nationally in Division I of the National Junior College Athletic Association.
Here’s more about three guys who certainly make Brass City hoop fans proud:
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| Mallory (SCSU athletics) |
Mallory
What’s there to say, really?
On Monday, the former Holy Cross and Marianapolis Prep standout was named Northeast-10 Conference Player of the Week, the second time he has earned the honor this season.
All Mallory did was light up Saint Michael’s College for a season-high 40 points, including eight 3-pointers.
The second game of the week against Stonehill College was much more intense. SCSU was down 17 at one point, but Mallory scored 21 of his game-high 24 points in the second half as the Owls came back to win.
With the 40-point game against Saint Michael’s, Mallory has hit the mark three times in his career. Even more impressive, he’s now fourth on the NE-10’s all-time scoring list.
Who did Mallory pass? Just a former AIC standout by the name of Mario Elie.
Yup, the same Mario Elie who won three NBA championships and buried key shots for the Houston Rockets in their run to back-to-back titles. That’s some pretty good company for Mallory to be in.
The Division II Sports Information Directors Association Regional Poll had SCSU at third entering the week. On Tuesday, the Owls smacked Merrimack, the region’s second-ranked team, by a score of 89-65. Mallory fill the stat sheet with 11 points, five rebounds, six assists, four steals and two blocks.
Mallory is a very valuable asset for SCSU, and a big reason why the Owls are 12-4, 8-1 in the NE-10.
Seymore
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| Seymore (Texas A&M Commerce athletics) |
Coming into this week, Texas A&M Commerce was ranked 13th nationally in NCAA Division II by the D2SIDA.
One big reason for the jump into the poll is Seymore, a former Kennedy High standout and transfer from Coppin State (Division I). The second-leading scorer on the team, all Seymore has done is hit for double figures in 14 of 15 games. He has surpassed 20 points five times, including games of 26 and 25 recently.
Seymore scored Commerce’s first five points in a big game last Saturday at Angelo State. The game turned out to be a thriller, with Commerce claiming a 97-89 victory. The game was tied 12 times in the second half alone.
Seymore should have called “glass” on his three-point attempt in overtime. His banked 3-pointer helped Commerce get off to a fast start in the extra period. Seymore had five rebounds to go along with his 25 points.
In a battle of 13th-ranked teams on Tuesday, Commerce lost 81-63 at Tarleton State. Tarleton was ranked 13th in the National Association of Basketball Coaches’ Poll. Seymore again led Commerce with 19 points and four rebounds.
Seymore has fit in nicely as a senior transfer at Commerce, and the Lions are 12-3, including a 5-2 mark in the ultra-tough Lone Star Conference.
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| Petteway (NW Florida State athletics) |
Petteway
This former Sacred Heart big man plays for one of the best juco programs in the country, and he played a major role in the team’s conference opener.
Petteway posted a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds in NWF State’s 76-66 win over Pensacola State on Wednesday night. The game was the first this season in the Panhandle Conference for NWF State. Petteway also had an assist and a steal in his 33 minutes of play. He was an efficient 9-for-11 from the floor.
The 19 points were a season-high for Petteway. His 10 rebounds were one below his season-high of 11, which he has achieved twice.
Petteway is shooting 64.9 percent from the floor, 70 percent of his foul shots and averages 6.5 rebounds per game.
