VALPO (2-3) vs. WISCONSIN-MILWAUKEE (3-2)

WHEN: Wednesday, Dec. 10 - 7:05 p.m. CST

WHERE: ARC, Valparaiso, Indiana

TV: - (tape-delay) Channel 56 (airs same night at 9 p.m.) - Dick Harlan and Joe Arredondo announcing; Comcast Cable - Channel 43 in Valparaiso (airs Tuesday, Dec. 15 at 7 p.m.).

RADIO: WEFM (95.9, Michigan City), WVUR-FM (95.1, Valparaiso) - Todd Ickow and Drew Wolf announcing.

THE COACHES: Valparaiso is guided by Homer Drew, who has a career record of 507-309 in his 27th season and a record at Valpo of 238-187 in his 15th season. Wisconsin-Milwaukee is led by Bruce Pearl, who has a career mark of 274-69 in his 12th season and a record at UWM of 43-23 in his 3rd season.

SERIES RECORD: Valpo leads 6-4
LAST MEETING: 2002-03 - UWM won 75-61

LAST GAME: Valpo defeated Indiana State 59-53 on Monday in Valparaiso. Wisconsin-Milwaukee lost to North Carolina State 77-71 on Sunday in Raleigh, N.C.

NEXT UP: Valpo hosts Loyola on Saturday at 2:05 p.m.

The Crusaders face a challenging task Wednesday as they host Wisconsin-Milwaukee in the fourth of a five-game homestand. Valpo (2-3) defeated Indiana State 59-53 on Monday as Kikas Gomes led the way with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Gomes scored 12 straight points during a four-minute span late in the game. Dan Oppland added 16 points, including 11 in the first half. The Crusaders limited the Sycamores to 33 percent shooting.

Wisconsin-Milwaukee (3-2), the defending Horizon League Tournament Champions, are in the middle of a four-game road swing.

BERDIEL TIED FOR MID-CON ASSIST LEAD: Junior Ali Berdiel is tied for the Mid-Con lead in assists through Dec. 8. The 6'6" guard averages 6.2 apg. (31 in 5 games). Berdiel dished out seven assists in Monday's win over Indiana State.

COLCLASURE LEADS MID-CON IN ASSIST/TURNOVER RATIO, RANKS 3rd IN 3-PT PERCENTAGE: Seth Colclasure, a sophomore guard, leads the Mid-Continent Conference in assist/turnover ratio through games of Dec. 8. Colclasure has dished out 14 assists and committed just four turnovers. He also ranks 3rd in the league in 3-point field goal percentage, draining .563 (9-16) from beyond the arc.

GOMES RANKS 3rd AMONG MID-CON REBOUNDING, BLOCKED SHOTS LEADERS: Kikas Gomes stands 3rd in the Mid-Con with 8.6 rebounds per game and is tied for 3rd in blocked shots (1.4) pg.) through Dec. 8.

VALPO'S SCHEDULE 15th MOST DIFFICULT: After playing Cincinnati, Marquette and South Florida in its first three games, Valpo's schedule is the 15th most difficult, according to the RPI report.

LOYOLA CONCLUDES HOMESTAND: Valpo's five-game homestand concludes on Saturday vs. Loyola with a special 2:05 p.m. tipoff.

CHAMPIONSHIP RUN NATION'S BEST: By winning eight of the last nine Mid-Con regular season titles, Valpo has won the most championships of any school in the nation during that span.

GOMES EARNS PRESEASON HONORS: Kikas Gomes was selected Preseason Second Team All-Mid-Con by the league's Coaches, SIDs and Media. Last season, the 6'8" senior from Angola was accorded honorable mention All-Mid-Con status after averaging 9.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.