Case Western Reserve University’s men’s basketball team started their season off hot with a three-game win streak. The Spartans entered the 2022-23 season ranked 19th in the D3hoops.com Preseason Top 25 poll and look to build on the success of last season, in which they finished 20-7 and pushed into the third round of the NCAA Division III championship tournament. 

On Tuesday Nov. 8, the team hosted the Denison University Big Reds in the season opener. The Spartans pulled off a 78-72 victory despite only shooting 5-24 (20.8%) on three-pointers and trailing 35-32 at the half. 

Fourth-year forward Cole Frilling led the team in scoring with 24 while also notching 10 of the team’s 37 rebounds. Second-year guard Sam Trunley, third-year guard Luke Thorburn and second-year forward Umar Rashid also scored in the double digits for the Spartans, recording 11, 14 and 11 points, respectively. Graduate student and starting guard Danny Frauenheim contributed with a team-leading seven assists to go along with 8 points, 3 rebounds and 1 steal. 

Three days later, the team faced off against the Oberlin College Yeomen to kick off the 2022 Bill Sudeck Tournament held at CWRU. After giving up a 3-pointer to open the game, the Spartans went on a 7-point run and didn’t look back. The team led for the remainder of the game, as much as by 22 in the second half, winning their second game of the season 78-66. The Spartans bounced back from their poor shooting performance against Denison, finishing the game shooting 29-58 (50.0%) from the floor and 11-31 (35.5%) from deep. 

Frilling posted his second double-double of the season, scoring 28 and grabbing 10 rebounds, while Trunley and Rashid combined for 23. For the second straight game, Frauenheim led the team with 8 assists. 

The following afternoon, the Spartans faced the Dickinson College Red Devils in the Bill Sudeck Tournament Championship Game. After a back-and-forth battle in the first half, the Spartans ended the opening frame with a 28-27 lead. Early in the second half, CWRU went on an 8-point run and secured their lead for the remainder of the game. Overcoming a difficult shooting day, the Spartans managed to hold off the Red Devils, taking the championship 71-60.

Frilling notched his third straight double-double, dropping 22 points with 10 rebounds. Thorburn had the first double-double of his collegiate career, totaling 16 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Frauenheim also dropped 16 points while Rashid recorded 2 blocks, 5 rebounds and 1 assist to anchor the defense. 

Frilling was named the MVP of the tournament and was selected to the D3hoops.com Team of the Week for his three double-doubles. Frauenheim was also named to the All-Tournament team. 

The Spartans will embark on their first road trip of the season, facing SUNY Buffalo State College on Nov. 18, Medaille University on Nov. 19 and Capital University on Nov. 29.