Tuesday, February 11, 2020

WHAT A WEEK FOR SHABAZZ: There may not be a better scorer in Division II men’s basketball right now than Alaska junior guard Shadeed Shabazz.

The junior guard picked up his third GNAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week award as he averaged an incredible 40 points per game to go along with 14 rebounds, 13 assists, two blocks and five steals as the Nanooks scored road wins over Western Washington on Thursday and Simon Fraser on Saturday. In the process, Shabazz shot 58.7 percent from the field, 68.4 percent from three-point range and 86.7 percent from the free-throw line.

In the 96-85 win over the Vikings, Shabazz tied the Carver Gym record and his season-high with 43 points to go along with six rebounds, seven assists, a block and four steals. He was nearly as potent in the close 87-85 win over the Clan, scoring 37 points to go with eight rebounds, six assists, a block and a steal.

Shabazz currently ranks fifth in Division II in scoring with 26.7 points per game. He has scored 30 or more points in eight of the Nanooks’ last 10 games. In conference games, Shabazz is averaging 31.6 points per game and has scored less than 30 points just three times.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON TEAM OF THE WEEK HONORS: With just three weeks remaining in the GNAC men’s basketball regular season, a new team has emerged in the GNAC Championships conversation.

The Central Washington men’s basketball team ended its four-game homestand with a 64-59 victory over a red-hot Northwest Nazarene team on Tuesday and a 67-56 win over Montana State Billings on Thursday as the Wildcats continue their playoff push and earn GNAC Team of the Week honors.

Central Washington shot just 36.7 percent from the field against NNU but outscored the Nighthawks 36-29 in the second half to escape with the win and snap the Nighthawks’ seven-game win streak. The Wildcats then put together a complete game against MSUB, connecting on 42.4 percent from the field and 50 percent from three-point range while scoring 41 points off the bench.

“That was a big-time gutsy win by our guys,” head coach Brandon Rinta said about Tuesday’s win over the Nighthawks. “It wasn’t pretty. Any time you can shoot 36 or 37 percent from the floor and still win shows toughness.”

SPARLING REACHES MAJOR MILESTONE: The dean of GNAC men’s basketball coaches, Alaska head coach Greg Sparling picked up his 400th career victory with Thursday’s 96-85 win at Western Washington.

Now in his second season in Fairbanks, Sparling picked up the majority of his wins (386) during a 24-year career at Central Washington. He is the longest-tenured head coach in the GNAC and has 284 overall wins and 183 conference wins in the GNAC era.

Sparling entered the season at No. 29 on the list of winningest Division II basketball coaches and is the only GNAC coach to date to surpass the milestone.

ALL-TOURNAMENT PERFORMERS: The following GNAC players have earned all-tournament team honors during the 2019-20 season...

GNAC/CCAA Challenge (Nov. 8-9, Bellingham): Jalen Green (WWU), Logan Schilder (WWU), Wilfried Balata (SFU).
Alaska/Hawaii Challenge (Nov. 9-10, Anchorage): Tobin Karlberg (UAA), Oggie Pantovic (UAA), Shadeed Shabazz (UAF).
Otter Classic (Nov. 15-16, Seaside, Calif.): Shadeed Shabazz (UAF).
SF State Gator Invitational (Nov. 29-30, San Francisco): Darius Lubom (WOU, Most Valuable Player), Dalven Brushier (WOU).
Chuck Randall Classic (Nov. 29-30, Bellingham): D’Angelo Minnis (WWU, Most Valuable Player), Luke Lovelady (WWU), Jasdeep Singh (SFU), Wilfried Balata (SFU).
Seawolf Thanksgiving Classic (Nov. 29-30, Anchorage): Niko Bevens (UAA), Tyler Brimhall (UAA), Oggie Pantovic (UAA).
D2 Power Invitational (Dec. 19-21, Honolulu): First Team - Jasdeep Singh (SFU). Second Team - Oggie Pantovic (UAA), Wilfried Balata (SFU), Demonte Malloy (SMU).

THIS WEEK'S GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Shadeed Shabazz
Alaska
G • 6-1 • Jr. • Seattle, Wash.

Shabazz averaged an astounding 40 points per game to go along with 14 rebounds, 13 assists, two blocks and five steals as the Nanooks swept road games at Western Washington and Simon Fraser. He shot 58.7 percent from the field, 68.4 percent from three-point range and 86.7 percent from the free-throw line as UAF moved into a tie for second place in the GNAC standings. Shabazz opened by tying both his season-high and the Carver Gym record with 43 points in Thursday’s 96-85 win at Western Washington. He also had six rebounds, seven assists, a block and four steals as he made 14 of 24 from the field, 7 of 9 from long-range and 8 of 9 from the free-throw line. On Saturday at Simon Fraser, Shabazz finished with 37 points on 13 of 22 from the field and 6 of 10 from three-point range in the 87-85 win. He also added eight rebounds, six assists, a block and a steal.

Also Nominated: Jeryn Lucas (Central Washington), Xavier Smith (Concordia), Jayden Bezzant (Northwest Nazarene), CJ Jennings (Saint Martin’s), Shaw Anderson (Seattle Pacific), Michael Provenzano (Simon Fraser), Dalven Brushier (Western Oregon).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA
• Alaska moved into a tie for second place in the GNAC standings with a pair of road wins, knocking off Western Washington on Thursday, 96-85, and Simon Fraser on Saturday, 87-85.

• Junior guard Shadeed Shabazz earned GNAC Player of the Week honors after he averaged 40 points per game in the wins with 14 rebounds, 13 assists, two blocks and five steals. He shot 58.7 percent from the field, 68.4 percent from three-point range and 86.7 percent from the free-throw line. Shabazz opened by tying both his season-high and the Carver Gym record with 43 points at Western Washington. He also had six rebounds, seven assists, a block and four steals as he made 14 of 24 from the field, 7 of 9 from long-range and 8 of 9 from the free-throw line. At Simon Fraser, Shabazz finished with 37 points on 13 of 22 from the field and 6 of 10 from three-point range in the 87-85 win. Shabazz leads Division II with 3.77 steals per game. He is also first in the GNAC and fourth in Division II with 26.8 points per game.

• Head coach Greg Sparling earned his 400th career win with Thursday’s victory at Western Washington. Sparling earned 386 of his wins at Central Washington where he spent years as the head coach. He is the longest-tenured head coach in the GNAC and has 284 overall wins and 183 conference wins in the GNAC era.

• Alaska enters the week averaging 77.3 points and 30.2 rebounds per game. The Nanooks are third in the GNAC and 21st in Division II with a .778 free-throw percentage. They are also third in the GNAC with 8.14 steals per game.

• The Nanooks are home for their next four games, beginning with Central Washington on Thursday and Northwest Nazarene on Saturday.

ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• Alaska Anchorage took a pair of tough losses last week, falling 92-81 at Simon Fraser on Thursday and an 85-81 overtime loss at Western Washington on Saturday.

• Sophomore guard Tobin Karlberg led the Seawolves with 37 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists in the two games, shooting 54.2 percent from the field. Karlberg finished with 17 points, four rebounds and five assists at Simon Fraser and then added 20 points and seven rebounds at Western Washington, connecting on 7 of 11 from the field, Karlberg is averaging 12.4 points per game and is seventh in the GNAC with 2.24 three-pointers made per game.

• Junior guard Oggie Pantovic made the most of his only game of the week, finishing with 33 points and 12 rebounds at Western Washington on 12 of 29 from the field and 7 of 9 from the free-throw line. Pantovic did not play Thursday at Simon Fraser as visa issues prevented him from entering Canada. Pantovic leads UAA with 14 points per game and is seventh in the GNAC with a .558 field goal percentage.

• Senior guard Niko Bevens contributed 30 points, shooting 45.5 percent from the field and 53.3 percent from three-point range. Bevens scored 19 points on 5 of 8 from outside at Simon Fraser before scoring 11 at Western Washington. Bevens averages 13.2 points per game. He is 29th in Division II with a .442 three-point percentage. Bevens also leads the GNAC and ranks 14th in Division II with 3.52 three-pointers made per game.

• Alaska Anchorage is averaging 78.4 points and 32.7 rebounds per game. The Seawolves lead the GNAC and rank 15th in Division II with 18 assists per game while also ranking 19th in Division II with a .402 three-point percentage.

• Alaska Anchorage returns home this week to host Northwest Nazarene on Thursday and Central Washington on Saturday.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington kept itself relevant in the GNAC Championships conversation with a 64-59 win over Northwest Nazarene on Tuesday and a 67-56 victory over Montana State Billings on Thursday.

• The wins moved the Wildcats into a tie for sixth place with Alaska Anchorage in the GNAC standings and earned them selection as the GNAC Team of the Week.

• Senior guard Jeryn Lucas led Central with 55 points in the two games, shooting 64.3 percent from the field and 68.8 percent from three-point range in 57 minutes off the bench. Lucas finished with 28 points and five rebounds against Northwest Nazarene. He added a 27-point performance against MSUB as he made 10 of 12 from the field and 7 of 8 from beyond the arc. Lucas leads the Wildcats with 13.3 points per game, ranks fifth in the GNAC with 2.50  three-pointers made per game and is eighth with a .433 three-point percentage.

• Senior guard Davon Bolton registered 20 points in the two games, connecting for 10 in each contest.  He made 3 of 6 from the field and 2 of 6 from three-point range against Northwest Nazarene. Bolton enters the week averaging 9.4 points per game.

• The difference for the Wildcats came at the free-throw and three-point lines. Central made 28 of 33 from the free-throw line, while NNU and MSUB only reached the line a total of 13 times. The Wildcats shot 39.5 percent from three-point range (17-43) compared to just 20 percent (9-45) from opponents.

• Central Washington is averaging 75 points and 35.2 rebounds per game. The Wildcats rank third in the GNAC in three-point defense (.343) and rebounding defense (32.1) while ranking 28th in Division II with 15 personal fouls per game.

• Central Washington heads north to Alaska, taking on the Nanook in Fairbanks on Thursday and the Seawolves in Anchorage on Saturday.

CONCORDIA
• Concordia snapped a six-game losing streak with an 83-72 win at Saint Martin’s on Thursday before taking a 91-55 loss to league-leading Seattle Pacific on Saturday.

• Senior guard Xavier Smith scored 28 points and had seven assists and five steals to lead the Cavaliers. Smith did most of his damage at Saint Martin’s, leading the team with 24 points, five steals and three assists on 6 of 16 from the field and 4 of 9 from three-point range. Smith is averaging 8.6 points per game.

• Senior guard El-roi Butler came off the bench for 21 points and 14 rebounds in the two games. Butler was most effective at Saint Martin’s, finishing just short of a double-double with 18 points and nine rebounds. Butler is averaging 5.5 points per game.

• Senior guard Dom Bradley also had 21 points in the two games, shooting 52.9 percent from the field. His week was headlined by a 15-point performance at  Seattle Pacific on 6 of 12 from the field and 3 of 6 from three-point range. Bradley is averaging 5.2 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.

• Concordia enters the week averaging 70.2 points and 33.4 rebounds per game.

• Concordia returns home this week to host Simon Fraser on Thursday and Western Washington on Saturday.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings dropped both games on its road trip last week, falling 67-56 at Central Washington on Thursday and 88-80 at Northwest Nazarene on Saturday.

• Sophomore forward Brendan Howard led MSUB once again with 37 points and 14 rebounds on the road trip, shooting 56 percent from the field. Howard finished with 21 points and eight rebounds at Central Washington, connecting on 7 of 13 from the field and 6 of 6 from the free-throw line. He then added 17 points and five rebounds at Northwest Nazarene on 7 of 12 from the field. Howard is second in the GNAC and 27th in Division II in scoring at 21.6 points per game. He is also third in the conference with 7.6 rebounds per game.

• Senior guard Tyler Green added totals of 29 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Green connected for 21 points at Central Washington, shooting 9 of 17 from the floor, to go with four rebounds and two assists. He scored eight points at  Northwest Nazarene with three boards and two assists. Green is averaging 15.6 points per game and leads the GNAC with a .893 free-throw percentage. He also ranks 10th in Division II with 202 three-point attempts and 16th with 3.45 three-pointers made per game.

• Junior forward Zharon Richmond finished the week with 19 points and 12 rebounds, finishing with four points and nine rebounds at Central Washington before contributing 15 points, three rebounds and three assists at Northwest Nazarene. Richmond is averaging 17.6 points per game.

• Montana State Billings is averaging 76.2 points per game and is second in the GNAC with 38 rebounds per game. The Yellowjackets rank third in Division II in fewest fouls (288) and sixth in personal fouls per game (13.1).

• Montana State Billings returns home this week to host Seattle Pacific on Thursday and Saint Martin’s on Saturday.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene saw its seven-game win streak come to an end with a 64-59 loss at Central Washington on Tuesday but rebounded to take an 88-80 win from Montana State Billings at home on Saturday.

• Senior guard Jayden Bezzant led the way for the Nighthawks with 39 points and nine rebounds in the two games. Bezzant  opened the week with 15 points and six rebounds at Central Washington. He then scored 24 points against Montana State Billings on 11 of 21 from the field. Bezzant is averaging 14.3 points per game in 12 games.

• Junior guard Ezekiel Alley added 31 points on the week. Alley scored 13 points to go with three rebounds and two steals at Central Washington before coming up with 18 points against Montana State Billings, connecting on 7 of 13 from the field and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line. The spark plug off the bench for the Nighthawks, Alley leads the team and is sixth in the GNAC with 15.8 points per game.

• Senior forward Olamilekan “Spider” Adetunji had 16 points, 20 rebounds, four steals and three blocks last week, topped by a double-double of 12 points and 13 rebounds against Montana State Billings on 6 of 11 from the field. Adetunji is averaging 8.1 points per game and is second in the GNAC with 8.3 rebounds per game.

• Northwest Nazarene is averaging 74.9 points per game and is third in the GNAC with 37.3 rebounds per game. The Nighthawks are 28th in Division II in fewest turnovers (257).

• Northwest Nazarene takes the Alaska road trip this week, playing in Anchorage on Thursday and in Fairbanks on Saturday.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s dropped both home games last week, taking an 83-72 loss to Concordia on Thursday and an 80-52 defeat to Western Oregon on Saturday.

• Junior guard CJ Jennings led the Saints with 44 points, six assists and four steals on the homestand. Jennings opened with 24 points against Concordia with four rebounds, three assists and two steals on 8 of 17 from the field and 4 of 8 from three-point range. Jennings added 20 points with three rebounds, three assists and two steals against Western Oregon. Jennings leads the Saints and is eighth in the GNAC with 15 points per game.

• Freshman guard Alex Clinton contributed 32 points and four assists, shooting 50 percent from the field. Clinton made his biggest impact against Concordia, finishing with 24 points on 9 of 17 from the field. Clinton enters the week averaging 7.8 points per game.

• Junior guard/forward Logan Rooney added 16 points and 17 rebounds last week. He just missed a double-double against Concordia with nine points and 10 rebounds. Rooney then added totals of seven points and seven rebounds against Western Oregon. Rooney is averaging 8.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game.

• Saint Martin’s enters the week averaging 73.4 points per game and is fourth in the GNAC with 36.8 rebounds per game.

• The Saints will travel to Seattle Pacific on Tuesday before taking the trip to Montana State Billings for a Saturday contest.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• Seattle Pacific is back on a three-game win streak after a pair of home victories, beating Western Oregon on Thursday, 83-82, and Concordia on Saturday, 91-55.

• Sophomore guard Divant’e Moffitt paced the Falcons once again with 37 points and 10 assists. Moffitt opened his week with 18 points, three rebounds and five assists against Western Oregon. He then finished with 19 points and five assists against Concordia while shooting 7 of 11  from the field. Moffitt also made 10 of 11 from the free-throw line. Moffitt is fourth in the GNAC in scoring at 16.7 points and 3.41 assists per game. He also ranks 10th with a .823 free-throw percentage.

• Freshman forward Shaw Anderson connected for 36 points in the two games, shooting 62.5 percent from the field and 75 percent from three-point range. Anderson led the Falcons with 22 points against Western Oregon, connecting on 6 of 9 from the field, 5 of 5 from three-point range and 5 of 7 from the free-throw line. He then added a 14-point performance against Concordia on 4 of 7 from three-point range. Anderson is averaging 13.3 points per game and ranks sixth in the GNAC with a .568 field goal percentage.

• Junior guard Harry Cavell finished with 31 points and led SPU with 16 rebounds. Cavell opened the week with 14 points, seven rebounds and three assists against Western Oregon as he made 5 of 8 from the field. He just missed a double-double against Concordia with 17 points and nine rebounds on 4 of 7 from the field and 6 of 6 from the free-throw line. Cavell averages 12.7 points per game and is seventh in the GNAC with 6.9 rebounds per game.

• Seattle Pacific is fourth in the GNAC with 80 points per game and is averaging 33.9 rebounds per game. The Falcons are second in the GNAC and 19th in Division II with a .498 field goal percentage while also leading the GNAC and fifth in Division II with a .805 free-throw percentage.

• The Falcons remained at No. 5 in the latest D2SIDA West Region Rankings for the fourth consecutive week and received votes in the NABC Division II Coaches Poll.

• Seattle Pacific will host Saint Martin’s on Tuesday before heading east to face Montana State Billings on Thursday.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser split its contests against the Alaska schools last week, knocking off Alaska Anchorage 92-81 on Thursday before taking a close 87-85 loss to Alaska on Saturday.

• Senior guard Othniel Spence finished with 38 points, eight rebounds and six assists in the two games. He shot 50 percent from the field and 46.7 percent from three-point range. Spence scored 14 points against Alaska Anchorage to go with seven rebounds, three assists and two steals.  He then led SFU with 24 points against Alaska on 8 of 14 from the field and 5 of 6 from three-point range. Spence is averaging 13 points per game and is ninth in the GNAC with 2.22 three-pointers made per game.

• Senior guard Michael Provenzano added 34 points and 10 assists, shooting 61.9 percent from the field. Provenzano led the Clan with 22 points against Alaska Anchorage with four assists, shooting 8 of 10 from the field and 6 of 6 at the free-throw line. Against Alaska, Provenzano came up with 12  points and six assists while making 2 of  3 from outside. Provenzano is averaging 12.1 points per game and is third in the GNAC with 4.14 assists per game.

• Junior forward Jasdeep Singh finished with 23 points and 16 rebounds in the two games. He just missed a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds on 5 of 9 from the field. Singh then scored 13 points against  Alaska with seven rebounds. Singh is fifth in the GNAC with 16.4 points per game.

• Simon Fraser is third in the GNAC with 80.1 points per game and averages 36.8 rebounds per game. The Clan leads the GNAC and ranks 28th in Division II with 8.65 steals per game.

• Simon Fraser hits the road for two games this week, playing at Concordia on Thursday and at Western Oregon on Saturday.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon split on its Puget Sound road trip last week, taking an 83-52 loss to Seattle Pacific on Thursday before beating Saint Martin’s on Saturday, 80-52.

• Senior guard Dalven Brushier led the Wolves on the road trip with 38 points and 15 rebounds, shooting 52 percent from the field and 47.1 percent from three-point range. Brushier opened his week with 13 points and five rebounds at Seattle Pacific. He then notched a double-double of 25 points and 10 rebounds at Saint Martin’s, making 9 of 16 from the field and 5 of 10 from three-point range. Brushier leads the Wolves and ranks third in the GNAC with 17.9 points per game. He also ranks seventh with 3.15 assists and 2.75 three-pointers made per game.

• Senior guard Jaylyn Richardson connected for 30 points in the two games. Richardson started the week with 17 points at Seattle Pacific, making 6 of 10 from the field and 4 of 6 from three-point range. He added a 13-point performance at Saint Martin’s. Richardson is averaging 13.3 points per game.

• Junior guard/forward Emanuel Gant came up with 27 points, 12 rebounds and five assists on 47.4 percent from the field and 75 percent from three-point range. Gant topped his week with 19 points against Seattle Pacific on 7 of 13 from the field. He then scored eight points with nine rebounds, three assists and four steals at Saint Martin’s. Gant is averaging 10.5 points per game in 11 games this season.

• Western Oregon leads the GNAC and is 19th in Division II with 87.4 points per game. The Wolves also lead the GNAC in field goal and three-point percentage, ranking seventh in Division II with a .415 three-point percentage and 17th with a .498 field-goal percentage. Western is also second in the GNAC and sixth in Division II with a .804 free-throw percentage.

• Western Oregon returns home this week to host Western Washington on Thursday and Simon Fraser on Saturday.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Western Washington took a split against the Alaska schools, taking a 96-85 loss to the Nanooks on Thursday before scoring an 86-79 overtime victory over the Seawolves on Saturday.

• Senior center Logan Schilder had an impressive week as he finished with 36 points, 20 rebounds and 12 blocks, shooting 70 percent from the field and 50 percent from three-point range. Schilder scored 19 points against Alaska on 9 of 11 from the field to go with five rebounds and four blocks. Against Alaska Anchorage, Schilder was just short of a massive triple-double as he finished with 17 points, 15 rebounds, eight blocks and four assists. He also made 6 of 6 from the free-throw line in the game. Schilder is averaging 10 points per game. He ranks fourth in the GNAC with 7.2 rebounds per game. He also leads the league and is 16th in Division II with 2.11 blocks per game.

• Freshman guard D’Angelo Minnis contributed 38 points and five assists in the two games, making 51.9 percent from the field. Minnis opened with a 16-point performance against Alaska on 7 of 14 from the field to go with four assists. He then connected for 22 points against Alaska Anchorage on 7 of 13 from the field and 3 of 6 from three-point range. Minnis averages 11.8 points per game and is 10th in Division II with 2.91 assists per game.

• Sophomore forward Jalen Green finished with 34 points and 17 rebounds in the two games. He scored 17 points in each game, adding eight rebounds against Alaska while shooting 8 of 11 from the field. Green then had nine rebounds against Alaska Anchorage. Green is averaging 14 points per game and is 10th in the GNAC with 6.4 rebounds per game.

• The Vikings rank second in the GNAC with 80.6 points per game and lead the league with 38.1 rebounds per game. Western also leads the GNAC and is third in Division II with 5.3 blocked shots per game.

• Western Washington heads to Oregon this week for games at  Western Oregon on Thursday and at Concordia on Saturday.