Rase's 10 three's set new school mark

Rio Grande --- University of Rio Grande senior guard P.J. Rase etched his name in the Rio Grande record books with an amazing shooting performance in the first game of the Mid-South Conference Thanksgiving Challenge at the Frankfort Civic Center last Friday.

Rase's shooting exploits led the RedStorm to a 95-51 victory over Virginia Intermont in Rio's most complete effort of the season.

Rase, the Wheelersburg, OH native, made 10-of-15 shots from long range totaling 34 points. The 10 three-pointers are a new school record.  What's even more eye-popping about the accomplishment is that Rase played only 24 minutes in the game. 

Rase commented after the game that he liked the surroundings and the shooting background at the Frankfort Civic Center and he complimented his teammates for getting him the ball in good position to score. "I liked it when I first walked in," Rase said.  "Me and Doug (Campbell) were talking during warm-ups, we were both shooting it pretty well and he told before the game ‘you can hit 10 three's tonight, I was like I don't know about that,' but I guess I did."

"I was able to get open and the guys were looking for me, setting screens and they noticed in warm-ups that I was shooting good," Rase added. "Like I said, they did the hard part, they were working hard to get me open and find me and I just happened to knock them down tonight."

Rio Grande head coach Ken French knows what kind of shooter he has in Rase and knows that this is a tremendous accomplishment.  "P.J. has proven in the past that he has had games where he can get hot and knock down a bunch of threes in a short amount of time," French said. "I don't know if I ever seen him as on as what he was on Friday against Virginia Intermont."

"It's a great accomplishment for him, it proves that he is one of the better shooters, not only in the Mid-South, but in the country in my opinion," French added. "I'm proud of him; his teammates understand his role on our team, how well he can shoot the ball and how hard he has worked at that aspect of his game, I think it shows."

"You're talking about somebody that was one of the better shooters in the American Mideast Conference and has elevated his game as we have had to try to elevate our program and I'm very proud of him," French said. "As a senior guard, he's having the type of a year for a senior year that you want to have; he's playing his best basketball right now and it's a great accomplishment for him and our program." 

For the season Rase is shooting an impressive 45.7 percent (32-of-70) from beyond the three-point arc. He is leading Rio Grande in scoring at 17.8 points per game. The previous single game high this season for trifectas for Rase was four. His previous high in a game was seven, which came against Houghton on January 17, 2009. He knocked down six treys in a game on three different occasions last season. 

Rio is 4-5 on the season and will return home to face Brescia University on Saturday at the Newt Oliver Arena. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m.