Tuesday, December 12, 2017

A LIGHT WEEK: With finals on the docket for many schools, it was a relatively quiet week in the GNAC with just a total of 10 games, including four exhibition contests. Montana State Billings was the busiest team in the league as the Yellowjackets played three games last week. They went 2-1 in that stretch, taking an 89-66 win over Montana Tech on Wednesday and an 85-74 win over Providence (Mont.) on Friday. Alaska Anchorage went 1-1 in a pair of exhibition contests against Cal Miramar, winning on Tuesday 106-70.

RUSH TO THE FINISH BEFORE BREAK: While last week was light, this week will be an active one with 20 games taking place between Dec. 12 and Dec. 19. Montana State Billings will play in four of those games, hosting Central Washington in a GNAC contest on Thursday before playing against Hawaii Hilo, Chaminade and Hawaii Pacific in the Hoops In Hawaii Holiday Classic. Western Washington will play three games, hosting Cal State East Bay on Tuesday before heading to Hawaii for games against Harding and Tampa.

The December schedule before Christmas will also include six GNAC contests. In addition to its game at Montana State Billings, Central Washington will host Northwest Nazarene on Dec. 19 in Wenatchee, Wash. Alaska and Alaska Anchorage will head south for GNAC games at Concordia and Western Oregon.

VIKINGS PICK UP NATIONAL TEAM OF WEEK HONORS: Thanks to its upset win over then No. 13 ranked Western Oregon on Dec. 2, Western Washington’s men’s basketball team has been named as the first honorees in the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) new National Team of the Week program for the week of Nov. 27-Dec. 3.

The Vikings rolled to a 2-0 record in the first weekend of GNAC play, winning a pair of games by a combined 54 points. The impressive week started on Thursday with a 99-72 victory over Concordia in the Vikings’ GNAC opener. They followed that performance on Saturday by handing the Wolves their first loss of the season by a score of 85-58. In the two contests, Western Washington shot a combined 58.5 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from long distance.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAMS: The following GNAC Players have been recognized with all-tournament team honors during the 2017-18 season...

PacWest/GNAC Conference Challenge (Nov. 10 & 11 at Bellingham, Wash.): Iziah Sherman-Newsome (SFU), Kedar Salam (SFU), Deandre Dickson (WWU), Daulton Hommes (WWU), Logan Schilder (WWU)

Alaska/Hawaii Challenge (Nov. 10 & 11 at Anchorage): Davis Kimble (UAF), LaDonovan Wilder (UAF), Jacob Lampkin (UAA).

GNAC/CCAA Challenge (Nov. 10 & 11 at Portland): Jarrett Gray (CU, Most Valuable Player), Christopher Edward (CU), Jawan Stepney (CWU).

Sodexo Classic (Nov. 17-18 at Seattle): Coleman Wooten (SPU, Most Valuable Player), Sam Simpson (SPU), Fuquan Niles (CWU).

Chuck Randall Classic (Nov. 24-25 at Bellingham, Wash.): Deandre Dickson (WWU), Daulton Hommes (WWU), Michael Kluting (UAF), Joe Lendway (UAF).

GCI Great Alaska Shootout (Nov. 22-25 at Anchorage): Jacob Lampkin (UAA).

THIS WEEK'S GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sven Jeuschede
Montana State Billings
G • 6-3 • Jr. • Roesrath, Germany

Jeuschede averaged 22.7 points and 3.3 rebounds per game, shooting 56.8 percent from the field to lead the Yellowjackets to a 2-1 week. He opened with a 20-point performance in Wednesday’s 89-66 win over Montana Tech and matched that in Thursday’s 85-74 victory over Providence (Mont.), shooting 7 of 13 from the field in both games. Jeuschede finished with a 28-point performance in a 95-87 loss to Rocky Mountain on Saturday, connecting on 11 of 18 from the field and 6 of 11 from three-point range.

Also Nominated: Jared Mathews (Saint Martin’s), Tanner Omlid (Western Oregon).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA
• Alaska played in just one game last week, a 102-73 exhibition win over Cal Miramar.

• Junior guard Alex Baham led four UAF played in double figures in the game with 27 points, connecting on 9 of 13 from the field and 7 of 10 from three-point range. Baham enters the week as UAF’s second leading scorer at 11.3 points per game and is shooting 48.8 percent from the three-point arc.

• Junior guard Davis Kimble had 18 points and seven rebounds in the victory. Junior forward Amenofis Mitchell added 12 points and junior guard Joe Lendway finished with 10 points.

• Kimble is the Nanooks’ leading scorer, averaging 12.9 points per game. He is also second in the GNAC with 4.63 assists per game. Sophomore forward Michael Kluting enters the week ranked sixth in the GNAC with 7.1 rebounds per game and is fourth in the league with 2.63 offensive rebounds per game.

• Alaska enters the week averaging 74.2 points and 33.1 rebounds per game. The Nanooks are second in the GNAC and 20th in Division II with 18.3 rebounds per game.

• Alaska will finish its pre-Christmas schedule with two conference games, playing at Concordia on Sunday and at Western Oregon on Tues., Dec. 19.

ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• Alaska Anchorage hosted Cal Miramar for two exhibitions last week. The Fighting Falcons came in on Monday and shocked the Seawolves, 65-39. Alaska Anchorage rebounded the next night for the 106-70 win.

• Senior guard DJ Ursery and junior guard Josiah Wood each scored 15 points in Monday’s loss. Ursery made 5 of 10 from the field and 5 of 5 from the free throw line while Wood went 9 for 9 from the free throw line.

• After not playing on Monday, senior forward Jacob Lampkin led the Seawolves in Tuesday’s win with 16 points and eight rebounds on 7 of 9 from the field. He paced an effort that saw UAA make 58.1 percent from the field and 50 percent from three-point range. Lampkin is UAA’s leading scorer at 15.1 points per game and is third in the GNAC and 28th in Division II at 9.7 rebounds per game.

• Alaska Anchorage enters the week averaging 63.1 points and 34.2 rebounds per game. The Seawolves are second in the GNAC with a .758 free throw percentage and leads the GNAC and sixth in Division II in scoring defense with 62.2 points allowed per game.

• Alaska Anchorage finishes its pre-Christmas schedule with two GNAC road games, playing at Western Oregon on Sunday and at Concordia on Tues., Dec. 19.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• In its only game of the week, Central Washington shot 53.8 percent from the field in Saturday’s 118-67 rout of Canadian rival Langara.

• Freshman forward Malcolm Cola led five CWU players to score double figures, finishing with a double-double of 19 points and 13 rebounds in 18 minutes off the bench. He made 8 of 13 from the field.

• Freshman guard Khalil Shabazz added 18 points in the win, shooting a perfect 8 of 8 from the field and 3 of 3 from the free throw line. Shabazz enters the week ranked fifth in the GNAC with 17.3 points per game. He is also second in the GNAC and 10th in Division II with 2.88 steals per game.

• Senior forward Fuquan Niles finished with 11 points, nine rebounds and two blocks in the win. Niles is fifth in the GNAC with eight rebounds per game. He leads the GNAC and is ranked seventh in Division II with 3.13 blocks per game. In addition, Niles is seventh in Division II with 25 total blocks.

• Central Washington is averaging 81.8 points and is second in the GNAC with 42.2 rebounds per game. The Wildcats are second in the GNAC with a 6.6 rebound margin and is second in the league and 20th in Division II with 4.6 blocks per game.

• The Wildcats will play two conference games before Christmas. Central Washington will play at Montana State Billings on Thursday and will host Northwest Nazarene in Wenatchee, Wash., on Tues., Dec. 19.

CONCORDIA
• Concordia did not play last week. The Cavaliers will play three games prior to Christmas, hosting Warner Pacific on Tuesday before hosting conference games against Alaska on Sunday and Alaska Anchorage on Tues., Dec. 19.

• Senior forward Christopher Edward is leading the Cavaliers on both ends of the floor. Edward is tied for seventh in the GNAC in scoring, averaging 17.1 points per game. He leads the GNAC and is sixth in Division II in rebounding at 12.1 rebounds per game. He also leads the GNAC and is fifth in Division II with 9.11 rebounds per game while ranking 24th nationally with a .629 field goal percentage.

• Junior guard Jarrett Gray is Concordia’s leading scorer and ranks third in the GNAC with 18.2 points per game. Gray also leads the GNAC and is 15th in Division II in minutes played at 37.89 minutes per game. Junior guard Cody Starr leads the GNAC with 5.56 assists per game and is third in the league with 31.67 minutes per game.

• Concordia enters the week averaging 75.3 points and 35.1 rebounds per game. The Cavaliers are fourth in the GNAC in three-point shooting defense at .338.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• The busiest team in the conference last week, Montana State Billings went 2-1 in three home games. The Yellowjackets opened with an 89-66 win over Montana Tech on Wednesday and added an 85-74 win over Providence (Mont.) on Friday before taking a 95-87 loss on Saturday to crosstown rival Rocky Mountain.

• Junior guard Sven Jeuschede was named the GNAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week after he led the Yellowjackets with an average of 22.7 points per game over the three games, shooting 56.8 percent from the field. He scored back-to-back 20-point performances against Montana Tech and Providence before leading all scorers with 28 points against Rocky Mountain. Jeuschede enters the week averaging 11.9 points per game and he is fifth in the GNAC with 2.80 three-pointers per game.

• Junior guard/forward Zack Rollins averaged 16 points and 4.3 rebounds per game in the three games. He scored 16 points in the win over Montana Tech and added 21 points against Rocky Mountain. Rollins is averaging 13.8 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.

• Sophomore guard Tyler Green suffered an injury in Wednesday’s win over Montana Tech and could be lost to the team for a while. Green is 11th in the GNAC in scoring at 15.5 points per game and leads the GNAC and is 19th in Division II with 3.50 three-pointers made per game.

• Montana State Billings is averaging 82.6 points and 36.9 rebounds per game. The Yellowjackets lead the GNAC and is 10th in Division II with 301 three-point attempts and is also 10th nationally with 12.1 three-pointers made per game. The team is also 30th nationally with 17.7 assists per game.

• Montana State Billings will play four games before Christmas. After hosting Central Washington in GNAC play on Thursday, MSUB travels to Honolulu for the Hoops In Hawaii Holiday Classic and games against Hawaii Hilo on Sunday, Chaminade on Monday and Hawaii Pacific on Tues., Dec. 19.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene’s only game last week was a hard-fought 73-57 exhibition loss at Division I Idaho State on Saturday.

• Junior guard Khalil Thompson led the Nighthawks with 19 points on 5 of 11 from the field, all on three-pointers. Thompson enters the week ranked fourth in the GNAC with 2.86 three-pointers made per game.

• Senior forward Maurice Jones had 13 points in the game, most of which came on an 8 of 12 performance from the free throw line. Jones continues to lead the GNAC with 21.8 points per game and is second in the league and 24th in Division II with 9.9 rebounds per game. Jones is third in the GNAC and 21st in Division II with a .548 three-point percentage.

• Junior guard Obi Megwa enters the week ranked second in the GNAC in scoring at 18.8 points per game. He had 10 points in the exhibition at Idaho State.

• Northwest Nazarene enters the week third in the GNAC in scoring at 87.1 points per game and fourth in rebounding with 39.4 rebounds per game.

• The Nighthawks play in just one game over the holiday break, playing against Central Washington in Wenatchee, Wash., on Tues., Dec. 19.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• In its only game of the week, Saint Martin’s cruised to a 100-49 victory over Canadian rival Quest on Saturday.

• With the starters playing limited minutes, the Saints had four double-digit performers off the bench. Junior forward Jared Mathews led the way with 15 points on 7 of 9 from the field to go along with five steals. Freshman guard Caden Smith added 12 points while junior guard Kazuma Lane and freshman forward Tavian Henderson each scored 10.

• Mathews enters the week ranked fifth in the GNAC with a .648 field goal percentage (35-54).

• Junior guard Luke Chavez leads the Saints and is tied for seventh in the GNAC in scoring at 17.1 points per game. Chavez is also third in the GNAC with 2.44 steals per game and tied for sixth with a .488 three-point percentage and seventh with a .862 free throw percentage.

• Saint Martin’s enters the week ranked fourth in the GNAC in scoring at 83.2 points per game and is averaging 34 rebounds per game. The Saints are second in the GNAC with a .408 three-point percentage and third with a .486 field goal percentage.

• Saint Martin’s will play two games prior to Christmas. The Saints will play at Division I Seattle in an exhibition on Wednesday and will host Evergreen State on Tues., Dec. 19.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• Seattle Pacific has not played since Dec. 2. The Falcons will play just one game over the holiday break, traveling to Stanislaus State on Mon., Dec. 18.

• Sophomore forward Tony Miller enters the week ranked sixth in the GNAC in scoring, averaging 17.1 points per game. Miller is also averaging 5.8 rebounds per game and is tied for 10th in the GNAC with 4.50 defensive rebounds per game.

• Junior forward Coleman Wooten leads the Falcons and is tied for seventh in the GNAC with seven rebounds per game. Wooten is also fifth in the GNAC with 4.13 assists per game and is third with a 1.94 assist/turnover ratio.

• Sophomore guard Gavin Long also had a pair of solid performances, scoring 15 points at Northwest Nazarene and 17 points at Central Washington.

• Seattle Pacific is averaging 82.9 points per game and is third in the GNAC with 40.6 rebounds per game. The Falcons are second in the GNAC and 15th in Division II with 30.38 defensive rebounds per game.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser has not played since Dec. 2. The Clan will play three games prior to Christmas. After playing an exhibition at Division I Idaho on Friday, the Clan will host Douglas on Monday and Langara on Tues., Dec. 19.

• Senior guard/forward JJ Pankratz leads Simon Fraser and is ninth in the GNAC in scoring, averaging 16.7 points per game. He is also tied for seventh in the league with seven rebounds per game.

• Senior guard Kedar Salam is 13th in the GNAC in scoring at 14.9 points per game. He is also tied for fourth in the league with 1.63 steals per game.

• Senior guard/forward Iziah Sherman-Newsome is second in the GNAC with a .556 three-point percentage, having made 10 of 18 this season.

• With a 5-3 record, Simon Fraser has already surpassed its win total from the 2016-17 campaign (4). The Clan needs one more win to tie their total wins from the last two years (6).

• The Clan enters the week averaging 76.6 points and 33.2 rebounds per game. Simon Fraser is third in the GNAC with a .406 three-point percentage and is second in the GNAC and 21st in Division II with 9.1 steals per game. The Clan is second in the GNAC and Division II with a 4.5 turnover margin.

WESTERN OREGON
• In its only game of the week, Western Oregon shot 54.5 percent from the field and outrebounded Portland Bible 34-21 in a 100-57 win over the Wildcats on Thursday.

• Senior forward Tanner Omlid led athe Wolves with a double-double of 25 points and 11 rebounds to go along with seven blocks, five steals and five assists. The seven blocks ties Omlid for the eighth best single-game performance in GNAC history. Omlid enters the week leading the GNAC and ranked fifth in Division II with 3.11 steals per game. He is also ninth in the GNAC with 6.9 rebounds per game.

• Senior forward Vince Boumann added 23 points and nine rebounds in the victory, connecting on 10 of 11 from the field. Boumann is ranked second in the GNAC with a .729 field goal percentage (43-59).

• Senior guard Demetrius Trammell scored 15 points in the victory. He enters the week as the Wolves’ leading scorer at 14.6 points per game. He is fifth in the GNAC and 12th in Division II with a .537 three-point percentage (29-54) and second in the GNAC with 3.22 three-pointers made per game.

• The Wolves moved up in both national polls, climbing to No. 16 in the NABC Division II Coaches Poll and to No. 18 in the D2SIDA Media Poll.

• Western Oregon is second in the GNAC and 16th in Division II in scoring, averaging 89.6 points per game. The Wolves lead the GNAC and rank 18th in Division II with 18.4 assists per game and is second in the GNAC and ranked 13th in Division II with a .511 field goal percentage. Western Oregon also leads the GNAC and ranks sixth in Division II with 10.78 steals per game.

• Western Oregon will play on Tuesday at Tarleton State in Stephenville, Texas, before coming home for GNAC games with Alaska Anchorage on Sunday and Alaska on Tues., Dec. 19.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Western Washington has not played since Dec, 2. The Vikings will host Cal State East Bay on Tuesday before heading to Honolulu for the Hoops In Hawaii Holiday Classic and games against Harding on Saturday and Tampa on Sunday.

• Western Washington was named by the NABC as its first Division II National Team of the Week of the season for the week of Nov. 27-Dec. 3 for its two big wins to open conference play, punctuated by an 85-58 win over previously unbeaten Western Oregon.

• Sophomore forward Daulton Hommes leads the Vikings and is fourth in the GNAC in scoring, averaging 17.7 points per game. Hommes is also third in the GNAC and 28th in Division II with a .920 free throw percentage (23-25).

• Senior forward Deandre Dickson is 10th in the GNAC in scoring at 16.6 points per game. Dickson is also eighth in the GNAC with a .592 field goal percentage (45-76) and fourth with a .885 free throw percentage (23-26).

• Junior center Logan Schilder is fourth in the GNAC in rebounding, averaging 8.6 boards per game and is tied for second in the GNAC with two blocks per game.

• Western Washington received votes in the NABC Division II Coaches Poll for the second consecutive week.

• Western Washington leads the GNAC and ranked 11th in Division II in scoring, averaging 91.6 points per game. The Vikings also lead the GNAC in free throw percentage (.794), field goal percentage (.531), rebounding (43.6) and blocks (6.71 per game). In the national stats, WWU is second in blocks per game, fourth in field goal percentage and ninth in free throw percentage.