TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- The Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology men's basketball team returns to HCAC action in the new year, hosting Berea on Saturday, January 3, at 3 PM. 

ROSE-HULMAN NOTES:
* Rose-Hulman stands at 7-4 overall and undefeated at the top of the conference at 4-0 in the HCAC this season. 
* The Fightin' Engineers come off a hard-fought victory over Olivet with a final score of 85-81. 
* Joey Schmitz currently leads the team with 15.0 points per game, shooting 50.4% from the floor and 43.8% from beyond the arc.
* Schmitz also leads the team in steals with 23 and minutes, averaging 31.3 minutes per game. 
* Cole Pride has also been a standout, recording 13.4 points per game, 5.1 rebounds per game, and a team-high 18 blocked shots. 
* Christian Torres leads the team on the glass with 8.3 rebounds per game, while also totaling 10.6 points per game this season and an impressive 63% field goal percentage.
* Daniel Savovic has been another difference maker with 10.5 points per game and 30 assists.
* The Fightin' Engineers are currently shooting 48% as a team and 32.4% from beyond the arc. 
* Rose-Hulman has been selected to finish second in the HCAC Preseason Poll, earning 72 points and three first-place votes. 
* The team returns Second Team All-HCAC and HCAC Newcomer of the Year honoree Joey Schmitz for his sophomore season.
* Cole Pride, Daniel Savovic, and Kobe Stoudemire have also been named players to watch by the HCAC. 
* The team is led by Head Coach Nick Sales in his fourth season with the Fightin' Engineers. 
* After hosting Berea, Rose-Hulman will hit the road to take on Mount St. Joseph University on Wednesday, January 7, at 7:30 PM. 

BEREA NOTES:
* Berea stands at 5-6 overall this season and 1-3 in the HCAC. 
* The team comes off a win against Thomas College with a final score of 83-56.
* Berea is led by Bryce Riley with 15.7 points per game and 7.6 rebounds per game.
* Jae'dyn Gist is another effective scorer with 10.1 points per game this season.  
* Jaylen Black is another standout, leading the team with 29 assists and 21 steals this year. 
* As a team, Berea is currently shooting 41.7% from the field and 29% from beyond the arc this season.
* The Mountaineers were selected to finish seventh in the HCAC Preseason Poll, earning 36 points. 
* The team is led by Head Coach Austin Newton in his fourth year with Berea. 
* After facing Rose-Hulman, Berea will continue conference play, traveling to face Earlham on Wednesday, January 7, at 7:30 PM. 

BEREA SERIES HISTORY:
* Rose-Hulman leads the all-time series between both teams with a record of 6-4 overall against Berea. 
* The Fightin' Engineers fell short to the Mountaineers in their last meeting, during the 2024-25 season, with a final score of 86-53.
* The last time Rose-Hulman defeated Berea was in their first meeting of the 2024-25 season with a final score of 75-73. 
* Rose-Hulman has a home record of 0-1 when hosting the Mountaineers all-time. 

HCAC STANDINGS:
1) Rose-Hulman (7-4, 4-0 HCAC)
2) Hanover (7-4, 3-1 HCAC)
3) Transylvania (6-5, 3-1 HCAC)
4) Franklin (6-4, 2-2 HCAC)
5) Anderson (4-7, 2-2 HCAC)
6) Mount St. Joseph (4-7, 2-2 HCAC)
7) Manchester (2-9, 2-2 HCAC)
8) Berea (5-6, 1-3 HCAC)
9) Bluffton (3-7, 1-3 HCAC)
10) Earlham (1-10, 0-4 HCAC)