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TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology looks to secure a bid into the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Tournament in Wednesday's 7:30 p.m. home matchup against Franklin College.
The Fightin' Engineers would secure their fifth consecutive winning season and a trip to the six-team HCAC Tournament with a win over Franklin on Wednesday. Rose-Hulman is the three-time defending champion of the conference tournament, with NCAA Tournament appearances in 2012, '13 and '14.
Rose-Hulman has won three of its last four games entering Wednesday's matchup. The Fightin' Engineers defeated Earlham, Manchester and Hanover, before falling 62-59 at home to Bluffton on Saturday.
The balanced scoring attack features three four players averaging between 9.9 and 10.2 points per contest. Senior Corey Povaleri is the leading scorer at 10.2 points per game. Junior Jimmy Miller adds 10.1 ppg, with junior Tyler Duffy (10.0) and junior Matt Loesing (9.9) providing balance.
Sophomore Wade Stallings rounds out the projected starting lineup at 5.2 points per game. Sophomore Collin Wojcik adds 9.3 points per game as the leading scorer off the bench. Senior Michael Hallstein joins juniors Dillon Reynolds and Mitch Williams in providing depth.
Franklin looks to snap a five-game losing streak on Wednesday night, including a narrow 84-83 loss at Earlham in the team's most recent game. Aaron Mann leads the team in scoring at 16.1 points per game. Trae Washington (12.3 ppg) and Robbie Prather (10.5 ppg) also average double figures in scoring for the Grizzlies.
Rose-Hulman will also celebrates Fall Sports Honors Night at halftime of the game, recognizing all fall sports athletes who earned all-conference or academic all-conference recognition in the 2014-15 season. The conference championship teams in men's cross country, men's soccer and men's swimming and diving will also be recognized.
After Wednesday's game, Rose-Hulman returns home for its annual Senior Day Game on Saturday at 3 p.m. against Mount St. Joseph. The six-team HCAC Tournament will take place Feb. 27-Mar. 1 if the Fightin' Engineers earn a tourney bid.
