Thursday, November 16, 2017

TRUE NORTH RISING: Over the last two seasons, Simon Fraser had won a grand total of six games. Through the first three games of 2017-18, the Clan is undefeated.

Simon Fraser’s core of 10 returning players and five returning starters is 3-0 on the season. The Clan opened with a pair of solid wins over PacWest Conference teams, scoring an 87-75 win over Hawaii Hilo on Friday and an 80-51 victory over Notre Dame de Namur on Saturday. Simon Fraser ran its record to 3-0 on Tuesday with a 93-74 home win over Capilano.

The offense has come together for the Clan. Over the three games, the team is averaging 86.7 points per game and has limited opponents to 66.7 points per game. The Clan’s .503 field goal percentage is third in the GNAC and their .411 three-point percentage is second.
Defensively, Simon Fraser has forced no less than 16 turnovers in any of its three games and ranks 13th in Division II with 20 turnovers per contest.

Senior guard/forward Iziah Sherman-Newsome has paced the SFU offense over the three games. Named to the PacWest/GNAC Conference Challenge All-Tournament Team, Sherman-Newsome is averaging 18 points per game over the first three games to tie him for sixth in the GNAC.

WEST REGION STRONG: With most of the games over the first week of the season coming against Division II West Region teams, it is safe to say the GNAC is off to a solid start to the season. The conference is 20-7 over the first few days of the season. Seven of those teams are above .500 and five are undefeated. Both Montana State Billings and Simon Fraser enter the second weekend of the season with 3-0 marks.

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).

THIS WEEK'S GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jarrett Gray
Concordia
G • 6-3 • Jr. • Beaverton, Ore.

Gray was named to the GNAC/CCAA Challenge All-Tournament Team after he averaged 22.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game in the Cavaliers’ wins over Cal State Monterey Bay and Cal State San Bernardino. Gray scored a game-high 25 points in the Cavaliers’ opening 88-85 overtime win over the Otters, connecting on 10 of 22 from the field. He followed that up with 16 points in Saturday’s 65-64 win over the Coyotes, going 7 for 16 from the field. He hit the game-winner with five seconds left.

Also Nominated: Davis Kimble (Alaska), Zack Rollins (Montana State Billings), Jordan Kitchen (Saint Martin’s), Iziah Sherman-Newsome (Simon Fraser), Darius Lubom (Western Oregon), Logan Schilder (Western Washington).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA
• The Nanooks split their games at the Alaska/Hawaii Challenge in Anchorage to open the season, falling 71-58 to Chaminade on Friday before beating Hawaii Pacific on Saturday, 97-90.

• Junior guard Davis Kimble averaged 19 points per game in the contests, scoring 23 points on 7 of 12 from the field against Chaminade and 15 against Hawaii Pacific to go along with 11 assists. He was named to the Alaska/Hawaii Challenge All-Tournament Team. Kimble is fifth in the GNAC in scoring and seventh in three-point percentage (.636) and is 30th in Division II with 6.5 turnovers per game.

• Senior forward LaDonovan Wilder also earned Alaska/Hawaii Challenge All-Tournament Team honors after he hit 71.4 percent from the field in the two games. His week was topped by 15 points against Hawaii Pacific where he went 5 for 7 from the field. He is third in the GNAC and 28th in Division II in field goal percentage. Wilder also had six blocked shots and is eighth in Division II with three blocks per game.

• The Nanooks enter the week ranked fourth in Division II a 2.44 assist/turnover ratio, fifth with 22 assists per game and 12th with six blocked shots per game. The Nanooks are second in the GNAC in three-pointers made per game (11).

• Alaska is off this weekend and will host Holy Names on Nov. 20 and 21 in the team’s home opener.

ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• Alaska Anchorage is off to a 1-2 start after dropping a 65-51 decision to Hawaii Pacific on Friday and a 71-65 game to Chaminade on Saturday in the Alaska/Hawaii Challenge.

• Senior transfer forward Jacob Lampkin was named to the All-Tournament Team after he led the Seawolves with 28 points and 23 rebounds in the two games. He registered his first double-double of the season with 12 points and 13 rebounds against Hawaii Pacific and added 16 points and 10 rebounds against Chaminade. Lampkin is fourth in the GNAC with 10 rebounds per game and fifth with a .900 free throw percentage (9-10).

• Senior transfer forward D.J. Ursery had 28 points in the two games, paced by his 21-point effort against Chaminade. He shot 9 of 15 from the field in the game with nine rebounds.

• The Seawolves enter the week averaging 62 points per game. Alaska Anchorage leads the GNAC and is 24th in Division II with a .795 free throw percentage (35-44) and is also tied for second in the GNAC with 12.33 offensive rebounds per game.

• Alaska Anchorage will host Holy Names for back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday before hosting the 40th and final GCI Great Alaska Shootout over the Thanksgiving holiday.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington split its games against CCAA rivals in the GNAC/CCAA Challenge in Portland last weekend, falling to Cal State San Bernardino on Friday, 81-62, and beating Cal State Monterey Bay on Saturday, 72-67.

• Senior guard Jawan Stepney was named to the All-Tournament Team after he finished with 30 points and 10 rebounds in the two games. His weekend was topped by a 25-point effort against CSUMB.

• Freshman guard Khalil Shabazz turned heads in his collegiate debut, finishing with 39 points and nine steals in the two games. He came off the bench to score 28 points to go with six rebounds and five steals against CSUSB and scored 11 points against CSUMB. Shabazz is third in the GNAC with 19.5 points per game. He leads the league and is seventh in Division II with 4.5 steals per game.

• The Wildcats enter the week averaging 67 points and 39 rebounds per game. Central Washington is third in the GNAC with 7.50 steals per game.

• Central Washington shifts from the CCAA to the PacWest, taking on Hawaii Hilo and Concordia-Irvine at the Sodexo Classic in Seattle this weekend.

CONCORDIA
• The Cavaliers opened the season 2-0 on their home court, beating Cal State Monterey Bay in overtime on Friday, 88-85, and Cal State San Bernardino on Saturday, 65-64, in the GNAC/CCAA Challenge.

• Junior guard Jarrett Gray was named the tournament MVP and was selected as the GNAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week after he averaged 22.5 points and 6.5 rebounds in the two wins. Gray finished with a career-high 25 points against CSUMB and added 16 against CSUSB. It is Gray’s second straight Player of the Week selection as he earned the last weekly award during the 2016-17 season. Gray leads the GNAC in scoring and is 12th in Division II with 40:30 per game.

• Senior forward Christopher Edward was also named to the All-Tournament Team after finishing with 27 points and 23 rebounds in the two games. He finished with 12 points and eight rebounds against CSUMB and posted a double-double of 15 points and 15 rebounds against CSUSB. Edward is tied for first in the GNAC and is 18th in Division II with 11.5 rebounds per game.

• Concordia enters the week averaging 76.5 points per game and is fourth in the GNAC with 44.5 rebounds per game. The Cavaliers are 21st in Division II with 32.50 defensive rebounds per game.

• The Cavaliers travel to Nampa, Idaho, this weekend for the NNU Invitational. They will face San Francisco State on Friday in the Joe Danahey Challenge game before facing Academy of Art on Saturday.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• The Yellowjackets are off to an undefeated start after winning both games at the Pioneer Challenge, beating host Cal State East Bay, 74-72, and Sonoma State, 67-61. They made it a 3-0 start with a 112-33 rout of Yellowstone Christian on Tuesday.

• Sophomore guard Tyler Green scored 50 points in the three contests and is averaging 17 points per game. He opened the season with 22 points on 8 of 14 from the field against Cal State East Bay and added another 20 points against Yellowstone Christian. Green is second in the GNAC and 27th in Division II with four three-pointers made per game.

• Junior forward Zach Rollins is tied for seventh in the GNAC with 7.7 rebounds per game and is tied for sixth with 2.33 offensive rebounds per game. He finished with eight points and seven rebounds against Sonoma State and had 11 points and 10 rebounds against Yellowstone Christian.

• Montana State Billings had six players finished scoring in double figures with two players finishing with double-doubles. The Yellowjackets won the game by 78 points, seven points short of the GNAC victory margin record of 85 set by Central Washington vs. Multnomah in 2008.

• The Yellowjackets lead the GNAC and is eighth in Division II in scoring defense, allowing 55.3 points per game. They are also ninth in Division II in scoring margin at 29 points per game. Montana State Billings leads the GNAC in field goal defense (.319) and three-point defense (.157). Offensively, MSUB is averaging 84.3 points per game and is ranked 26th in Division II with 84 three-point attempts.

• Montana State Billings will host Mary on Thursday in its only game of the week.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene is 2-0 on the season after home wins over Multnomah, 93-74, on Friday and a 76-70 win over Canyon County rival College of Idaho on Tuesday in the first contests for first-year head coach Paul Rush.

• Senior forward Maurice Jones led the Nighthawks with 44 points and 23 rebounds in the two games. He finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds against Multnomah and had a game-high 24 points and 12 rebounds against College of Idaho. Jones is second in the GNAC with 22 points per game and tied for first with 11.5 rebounds per game.

• Junior guard Obi Megwa had 36 points in the two contests and led the Nighthawks with 22 points against Multnomah. Sophomore guard Jayden Bezzant had 34 points in the games, topped by his 20 points against the Lions. Megwa is tied for sixth in the GNAC in scoring at 18 points per game.

• Northwest Nazarene enters the week averaging 84.5 points per game and leads the GNAC with 45.5 rebounds per game. The Nighthawks are second in defensive rebounds with 34.5 per game.

• The Nighthawks host Academy of Art and San Francisco State this weekend in the NNU Invitational to close a four-game home stand to start the season.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s has opened with a 2-1 start after splitting its contests at the GNAC/PacWest Challenge in Monmouth, Ore. The Saints beat Fresno Pacific 95-79 on Friday and lost to Point Loma on Saturday, 85-77. Saint Martin’s opened the home schedule on Tuesday with an 87-74 win over Hawaii Hilo.

• Junior guard Luke Chavez led SMU offensively with 49 points in the three games. He led the team with 20 points on 7 of 12 from the field and 3 of 5 from three-point range against Point Loma and scored another 20 while playing all 40 minutes against Hawaii Hilo. Chavez is averaging 16.3 points per game and is 10th in the GNAC with 1.67 steals per game.

• Junior forward Jordan Kitchen had 23 rebounds and seven blocked shots in the three games. He opened with 21 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks against Fresno Pacific and added 17 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks against Hawaii Hilo. Kitchen is second in the GNAC with 2.33 blocked shots per game and is 25th in Division II with his seven blocks.

• Saint Martin’s enters the week fourth in the GNAC in scoring at 86.3 points per game. The Saints is third with a .435 three-point percentage and fourth with a .495 field goal percentage.

• The Saints are off until Tues., Nov. 21, when they play Cal State Monterey Bay before taking part in the Cal Baptist Thanksgiving Classic.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• The Falcons opened 2017-18 with a split on the road at the Pioneer Challenge. Seattle Pacific fell in double overtime in the opener to Sonoma State, 100-93, before beating host Cal State East Bay, 70-59.

• Sophomore guard Gavin Long led the Falcons with 36 points in the two games and is tied for sixth in the GNAC with 18 points per game. He led all scorers with 24 points on 10 of 16 from the field against Sonoma State and added 12 points against Cal State East Bay.

• Sophomore forward Tony Miller picked up where he left off with 29 points and 17 rebounds in the two contests. He had a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds and added 12 points against Cal State East Bay. Miller is fifth in the GNAC with 8.5 rebounds per game and ranks fourth with seven defensive rebounds per game.

• Seattle Pacific enters the week averaging 81.5 points and 44 rebounds per game. The Falcons are third in the GNAC with a .375 field goal percentage defense and fourth with a .302 three-point percentage defense. They are also third in Division II with 25.50 defensive rebounds per game.

• The Falcons host their lone tournament of the season, the Sodexo Classic, this weekend. Seattle Pacific plays Concordia-Irvine on Friday and Hawaii Hilo on Saturday.

SIMON FRASER
• After winning just six games over the last two seasons, Simon Fraser has opened the year at 3-0. The Clan won both its games at the PacWest/GNAC Challenge, beating Hawaii Hilo 87-75 and Notre Dame de Namur 80-51. Simon Fraser opened the home schedule with a 93-74 win over Capilano.

• Senior guard/forward Iziah Sherman-Newsome led the way with 54 points and 19 rebounds in the three games and was named to the Pac/West/GNAC Challenge All-Tournament Team. He opened the year with 26 points and 12 rebounds against Hawaii Hilo and added 20 points against Capilano. Sherman-Newsome is tied for sixth in the GNAC with 18 points per game and is fourth with a .704 field goal percentage.

• Senior guard Kedar Salam was also named to the All-Tournament Team thanks to a 13-point performance against Hawaii Hilo and a 17-point performance against Notre Dame de Namur. Salam is averaging 15.7 points per game and is fourth in the GNAC with two steals per game.

• The Clan enters the week ranked third in the GNAC in scoring at 86.7 points per game and is second in scoring defense at 66.7 points allowed per game. The Clan is second in the GNAC and 20th in Division II with 10.3 steals per game and 13th with 20 turnovers forced per game.

• Simon Fraser does not play again until Monday when they host fellow Canadian rival Quest.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon took both games at its own GNAC/PacWest Conference Challenge in Monmouth, beating Point Loma on Friday, 70-69, before scoring a 123-67 rout of Fresno Pacific on Saturday.

• Senior guards Demetrius Trammell and Dustin Triano led the WOU offense with 29 points apiece. Both had their best performances against Fresno Pacific with Trammell pouring in 26 points and Triano adding 17 points.

• Freshman guard Darius Lubom made a splash in his first collegiate games. He led the Wolves with 19 points on 8 of 12 from the field against Point Loma and had nine points and six assists against Fresno Pacific. Lubom leads the GNAC with a 1.000 three-point percentage (4-4) and is fifth with four assists per game.

• The Wolves enter the week leading the GNAC in scoring at 96.5 points per game. Western Oregon also leads the GNAC and his 25th in Division II with a .530 field goal percentage while ranking 20th with a 6.5 turnover margin.

• Western Oregon hosts its second tournament in as many weeks, welcoming Azusa Pacific and Dixie State to Monmouth for the Western Oregon D2 Shootout.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Western Washington split its games at the PacWest/GNAC Conference Challenge, beating Notre Dame de Namur, 87-45, before falling to Hawaii Hilo, 80-76. The Vikings improved to 2-1 on Wednesday with a 108-81 win over Douglas.

• Sophomore forward Daulton Hommes was one of three WWU players named to the All-Tournament Team after scoring 12 points against Notre Dame de Namur and going off for 22 points and nine rebounds against Hawaii Hilo. On Wednesday, Hommes added 26 points on 12 of 16 shooting against Douglas. Hommes is currently fourth in the GNAC with 19.3 points per game.

• Junior center Logan Schilder also earned All-Tournament Team honors. He led the Vikings with 12 points on 6 of 8 from the field against NDNU and had 15 points on 5 of 7 from the field and nine rebounds against Hawaii Hilo. Schilder currently leads the GNAC and is 10th in Division II in field goal shooting at 77.3 percent (17-22). Schilder is also third in the GNAC and 30th in Division II in rebounding at 10.7 boards per game.

• Senior forward Deandre Dickson was also named to the All-Tournament Team and capped his opening weekend with a 19-point, 11-rebound performance against Hawaii Hilo.

• Western Washington is second in the GNAC in scoring at 90.3 points per game. The Vikings are 18th in Division II with 32.67 defensive rebounds per game and 20th in scoring margin at 21.7 points per game.

• The Vikings are off until the Thanksgiving weekend, hosting UC San Diego and Capilano in the Chuck Randall Classic.