The men’s basketball team is going to have an outstanding 2009–10 season. In the game on Tuesday night against Kalamazoo College, the team won by a 20-point margin – the largest differential since the 1991–92 season, in which Oberlin beat Earlham by 27 points, 83-56.

This victory was not especially easy. Kalamazoo hit the court on fire and had a 14-2 lead four minutes into the game. The game was tied at halftime with a score of 36- 36, but the Yeomen pulled through to end the second half with a final score of 71-51.

This was the third win for the Yeomen this season. Led by Head Coach Isaiah Cavaco, Oberlin had a shooting percentage of 70.6 percent — the highest of any team Cavaco has ever coached. It also happens to be just three percentage points below the all-time NCAC record of 73.9 percent set on Jan. 13, 1993.

When asked about the team’s objectives for the remaining games of the season, junior captain Pat Bernhard said, “[We want] to beat every team in the conference and get home-court advantage for the conference tournament.”

This is the first season in which the entire roster consists of players recruited by Cavaco and his staff. The Yeomen have come a long way under his guidance and hope to be contenders in the NCAC tournament.

“We have definitely shown that we are capable of being very competitive in this league,” said Bernhard, “and every single conference game will give us a chance to prove that further.”

The first-years have adjusted well to the team and the returning players have facilitated that transition. Added to the roster this season were first-years Andrew Fox of Arizona, Charlie Crawford-Silva of Connecticut and Johnathan Nelson of Arizona. The first-years have stepped up with talent and dedication. Nelson was the second leading scorer in Tuesday’s game, with 13 points in the first half.

The Yeomen will look to improve upon their 3-5 record against Alma University on Friday night.