The numbers: 8-15 overall, 4-6 Ivy, 286th RPI, 305th Sagarin, 297th Pomeroy
The recent results: won 79-66 at Harvard (2/17), lost 58-46 at Dartmouth (2/18)
The upcoming schedule: at Columbia (2/24), at Cornell (2/25)

Offense showing signs of life
After having problems putting up points all season, Glen Miller’s offense finally got untracked back on February 11 against Columbia, putting up a season-best 86 points. The Bears followed that with a 79-point effort at Harvard on Friday — the second-highest scoring output of the season. But the offense bogged down the next night in Hanover, as Brown could manage only 46 points in a loss to Dartmouth. The offensive efficiency has gotten better in league play, up to 0.96 against Ivy opponents after a dismal 0.85 outside the league. After the Harvard game, Miller attributed the improvement to the addition of some high-post sets to the motion offense.

Jeppesen emerging as scorer
Keenan Jeppesen registered just two double-digit scoring games in 13 non-league games, but he has done so in nine of 10 Ivy games. The sophomore is averaging 15.8 points per league contest, which ranks fourth among Ivy players. Jeppesen has a quick first step and has used that to get to the basket with regularity. However, he does need to work on his stroke from the free throw line, where he is shooting just 69 of 115 (60.0 percent) on the season.

Getting it done at the line
The only thing keeping Brown afloat offensively has been the free throw line. The Bears have attempted 506 free throws on the season, compared to 361 for their opponents. Brown ranks 40th nationally in free throw rate, while allowing free throws at the 45th lowest rate. Owning the line has been a key in the eight wins, in which the Bears have enjoyed a 226-116 edge in free throw attempts — an average margin of 28.3 to 14.5. In the 15 losses that advantage slips to just 280-245, or an average of 18.7-16.3.

Skrelja breaks out
When Scott Friske picked up a pair of very early fouls on Friday at Harvard, Miller turned to freshman Chris Skrelja. Skrelja came into the weekend having scored 38 points in his entire collegiate career, but exploded for 19 points to lead Brown to the win. The freshman hit 8 of 11 shots — including 3 of 4 from three — and added 10 rebounds for his first collegiate double-double. Skrelja added seven points and five rebounds the next night at Dartmouth.

Huffman’s sophomore slump continues
After a hot start in the season-opening tournament at Central Connecticut, Damon Huffman has struggled with his shooting in his sophomore year. Last year’s Ivy League Rookie of the Year has seen his field goal shooting fall from 41.8 percent last season to 37.1 percent this year, and his three-point shooting plummet from 41.5 percent to 25.0 percent. It looked like he had turned things around early on in Ivy play, shooting 6 of 14 (42.9 percent) from three in the first three games, as Brown opened 2-1. But Huffman is just 5 of 30 (16.7 percent) from beyond the arc since.

Statistical odds and ends
Brown owned a huge 35-12 edge in free throws attempted in the first meeting with Dartmouth, but the Bears and Big Green each shot 21 free throws in the rematch on Saturday… Mark MacDonald is averaging 9.7 points and shooting 14 of 27 (41.9 percent) from three-point range in Ivy League games… After averaging 23.0 points in his final three non-league games, freshman Scott Friske’s scoring has fallen to 6.2 points per game in Ivy play.