January 28, 2015
Contact:   Craig Fata, Vice President
(844) THE-MPBA / craig.fata@theMPBA.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – The top two teams in the Midwest Professional Basketball Association are set to square off Thursday at Parkland College in Champaign, as the Champaign Swarm (3-0) host the Bloomington Flex (4-1) at 7:30 p.m. in the first of four meetings between the two clubs this season.

                    The Swarm, the only unbeaten team left in the MPBA, boast six players averaging double figures in scoring, led by Arnold Louis’ 18.0 points per game.  Louis and Mark St. Fort each average 9.0 rebounds per game for Champaign, which has out-rebounded its opponents by an average of 17 per game.  The Swarm have also held their opponents to just under 39% shooting from the floor, which has translated to an average margin of victory of about 22 points per game.

                    “They look pretty tough,” said Flex head coach Carlnel Wiley.  “Statistically, they’ve been dominant, and on film, they meet the eye test.  We anticipate a great challenge and the start of a great rivalry,” Wiley said.

                    Early MVP candidate Justin Bocot continues to lead the Flex with a 27.6 per-game scoring average, while both Matt Salley and Anthony Slack are in the top five in the MPBA in total rebounds, averaging 8.2 and 8.0, respectively.  Guard Fabyon Harris has turned it on as of late, upping his scoring average to 16.4 per game after putting up 26 against Gateway on Sunday.

                    Both the Flex and Swarm sit atop the league rankings for scoring average and points allowed average.  Champaign averages 117.3 points per game offensively to lead the MPBA, while the Flex are at number two with 108.4 per game.  Bloomington, meanwhile, leads the league in scoring defense, giving up an average of just 92.6 points per game.  Champaign is next, allowing 95.0 points a contest.

                    The game will be streamed live and in high definition for free on the MPBA website.