The Mount Vernon Nazarene College men's basketball team will host the 2001 Food for the Hungry Holiday Invitational this weekend in conjunction with the community's annual Food for the Hungry Drive.
The Cougars (6-3) come into the tournament on three-game winning streak and having nailed 34 three-pointers in their past two games. MVNC knocked off Kenyon College 97-77 on Tuesday evening as senior forward Kenny Chaffin led six players in double figures with 17 points to go along with 11 rebounds.
Chaffin, who has posted six double-doubles already this season, leads the team in scoring (19.9 points per game) and rebounding (10.3 boards per game). Junior guard Phil Argento adds 14.0 points per game as he has nailed 27 treys already this season. Senior guard Andy Gast contributes 8.4 points per game, and senior point guard Chad Vorhis leads the team with 48 assists to go along with a 6.8 points per game average. The Cougars are shooting 43.3 percent from beyond the three-point arc (101-of-233) on the season.
MVNC will take on Mount Aloysius (Pa.) College at 8:00 p.m. on Friday evening. The Mounties (0-4) are led by senior guard Ryan Lestochi, who averages 21.5 points per game and shoots 96.3 percent from the free throw line (26-of-27). Barry Kellerher, a freshman forward, adds 9.5 points and a team-high 4.3 rebounds per contest, while sophomore guard Chuck Jackson has dished out a team-high 14 assists. Mount Aloysius is coming off a 93-78 loss at Malone College last weekend despite a game-high 30 points by Lestochi.
The other game on Friday will feature Indiana Wesleyan University (1-4) versus Madonna (Mich.) University (3-4) at 6:00 p.m. The Wildcats of Indiana Wesleyan are led by senior forward Aaron Wilson, who averages 18.0 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Sophomore guard Aaron Brothers adds 17.8 points and 4.3 rebounds per contest. Indiana Wesleyan will host Judson (Ill.) College on Wednesday evening before coming to Mount Vernon for the tournament.
Meanwhile, the Crusaders of Madonna come into the tournament looking to end a three-game losing skid after opening the season by winning three of their first four games. Senior guard Mike Massey leads Madonna in scoring (13.4 points per game) and three-pointers made (13). Freshman guard Steve Horn adds 11.3 points per game, while sophomore guard Joe Greene is the team leader with 25 assists. The Crusaders are coming off an 87-55 loss at Albion (Mich.) College on Tuesday despite 17 points by freshman guard Joe Kofahl.
On Saturday, the games will be at 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. MVNC will play at 3:00 p.m. regardless of Friday's outcome, but the Cougars' opponent will be determined by Friday's action.
Admission to the tournament is six non-perishable food items or $4 for adults or $2 for students each day. All proceeds will go to the Food for the Hungry Drive.
