NEWS

Reed Bailey in the game vs. Charleston Southern.

DAVIDSON WILDCATS (11-4, 1-1 A-10) vs. FORDHAM RAMS (8-8, 0-3 A-10)

SERIES HISTORY
Series Record: Davidson leads, 16-4
First Meeting: Dec. 29, 1966 | Davidson won, 74-60
Last Meeting: March 12, 2024 | Fordham won, 71-63 ot
Davidson Record at Home: 8-2
Davidson Record on Road: 7-1
Davidson Record at Neutral Site: 1-1
Matt McKillop‘s Record: 3-2

WILDCAT SCRATCHES
• Davidson picked up its first A-10 win of the season and 13th over Duquesne all time with a 77-71 victory over the Dukes last Saturday.
• The ‘Cats are a perfect 9-0 on McKillop Court this year.
• Davidson’s big three – Reed Bailey, Connor Kochera and Bobby Durkin – are averaging 18.3, 15.2 and 14.9 points per game, respectively.
• Joining Davidson’s starting lineup on Dec. 21, fifth year Zach Laput is averaging 8.9 points per game, and is coming off a season-high 17 point performance against Duquesne.
• Davidson’s Bobby Durkin currently ranks first in the Atlantic 10 in 3-point percentage (45.8%) and second in 3-pointers per game (3.27). Those same metrics also rank 13th and 22nd nationally. 

LAST TIME OUT | DAVIDSON 77, DUQUESNE 71 | JAN. 4, 2025 | JOHN M. BELK ARENA
• Reed Bailey scored 22 points, and Davidson started the second half on a 20-6 run to rally past Duquesne 77-71 in Atlantic 10 men’s basketball action last Saturday in John M. Belk Arena. 
• To go along with his sixth 20-point effort of 2024-25, Bailey went 7-of-12 from the floor, 8-of-10 at the charity stripe and grabbed eight rebounds.
• Zach Laput added a season-high 17 points for the ‘Cats, while Bobby Durkin finished with 13.
• The ‘Cats, who had 17 assists on 26 made field goals, pushed the lead to as many as 11 on back-to-back triples from Roberts Blums and again on a Joe Hurlburt two-handed dunk.

THREE’S COMPANY
• A look back at last season’s calendar shows three match ups between the Fordham Rams and Davidson Wildcats. 
• Although the ‘Cats took the first two meetings in the regular season (79-69, 68-53), the Rams came out on top in the opening game of the 2024 Atlantic 10 Tournament with a 71-63 overtime victory from inside the Barclays Center. 
• Familiar foes to one another, Davidson and Fordham have met at least twice a season on seven occasions, including a four-year stretch from 2016-17 to 2019-20.
• The Wildcats also took on the Rams three times during the 2021-22 campaign, when Davidson captured the Atlantic 10 regular season title.

THE REED BAILEY OF IT ALL
• Among those returning on McKillop’s squad include Preseason All-Conference Third Team selection Reed Bailey.
• Bailey scored in double figures in 21 games during his sophomore season, including 10 of the last 12 games. The forward recorded five 20-point performances and averaged 16.5 points per game over that same 12-game stretch.
• The junior big man also finished the 2023-24 campaign as one of the most consistent free throw shooters in the league, making 135 shots at the stripe (6th) and shooting 80.4 percent (10th) at the line.
• So far this season, Bailey has averaged 18.3 points per game, set a new career high with 26 points against Temple and recorded six 20-point games.

FACTS, FIGURES & FINDINGS
• Reed Bailey’s 18.3 points per game ranks third in the A-10 and 57th nationally. His 85 made free throws checks in at 18th nationally. 
• Connor Kochera (14th) and Bobby Durkin (18th) also sit top-20 among the league’s leading scorers. 
• Davidson is 8-1 this season when four ‘Cats reach double-figures in scoring.
• When Zach Laput has reached double-digits this season, the Wildcats are 6-1.
• In his career at Davidson, the ‘Cats are 4-1 in games where Bobby Durkin leads the way in scoring. 
• Mike Loughnane has paced the ‘Cats in assists in five games this season. Davidson is 5-0 when the point guard has done so.
• The ‘Cats rank among the nation’s best in assist/turnover ratio (22nd/1.62).

LEAD BY EXAMPLE
• In addition to Connor Kochera and Reed Bailey’s leadership, senior walk on Michael Katsock was also named a team captain prior to the Wildcats game against George Mason (12/31). 
• During team dinner, the coaching staff named Katsock the program’s third team captain for the remainder of the season.
• “He has been superb,” said head coach Matt McKillop. “He does everything you ask. He helps in so many ways and he is selfless in so many way. His effort, his attitude made this something that he absolutely earned. I’m thrilled he’s going to finish his career as a captain of the Davidson basketball team.”