Tuesday, December 11, 2012
PORTLAND, Ore. - Western Washington will take a 13-game win streak and a No. 6 national ranking to Las Vegas next week when it competes in the 2012 South Point Holiday Hoops Classic at The Arena at South Point.
The Vikings' win streak equals the fifth longest in GNAC history and is the fourth longest in school history.
WWU (7-0 this season) is one of three GNAC teams ranked in the Top 25 in this week's NABC Division II Top 25. Seattle Pacific (8-1) is ranked ninth and Alaska Anchorage (7-2) is ranked 25th.
The Vikings will play Drury, Mo., Tuesday at 5 p.m. On Wednesday, WWU will take on Central Oklahoma at 5 p.m. Central Washington (5-2) will also be in Las Vegas and will play Central Oklahoma at 7 p.m. on Tuesday and West Florida on Wednesday at 9 p.m.
Central Washington and Western Washington are two of the highest scoring teams in the nation. The Wildcats are ranked third averaging 95.0 points per game; the Vikings rank fourth averaging 93.6 points per contest. WWU also ranks fourth nationally in scoring margin (25.4).
Seattle Pacific ranks seventh nationally in scoring defense allowing 57.3 points per game.
Western Washington also ranks second nationally in rebound margin (14.7), third nationally in field goal percentage (54.0) and sixth in three-point percentage (44.0). SPU ranks fifth in three-point percentage (44.2), eighth in assist/turnover ratio (1.49) and ninth in rebound margin (11.8).
Jonathan Hawkins of Northwest Nazarene is the highest ranked individual. He has made 32 of 33 free throws and ranks second in percentage (97.0). CWU's Mark McLaughlin ranks fourth in scoring (25.6). Elijah Matthews of Alaska Fairbanks is currently ninth in three-point percentage (53.3) and Brady Bomber of Saint Martin's os 10th in assist/turnover ratio (3.90)
FROM THE RECORD BOOK: Alaska Anchorage guard Kyle Fossman ranks second in GNAC history in career three-point percentage (47.9) and Western Washington’s John Allen ranks second in career free throw percentage (.896). Allen and Seattle Pacific center Andy Poling became the 51st and 52nd players to score 1,000 career points in wins Saturday against Quest and Evergreen State, respectively. Allen currently ranks 51st with 1,021 points, while Poling ranks 52nd on the GNAC career list with 1,010 points.
NATIONAL STATISTICS (Through Dec. 9): Team (Top 30): Scoring – 3. Central Washington 95.0; 4. Western Washington 93.6. Scoring Defense – 7. Seattle Pacific 57.3. Scoring Margin – 4. Western Washington 25.4; 18. Seattle Pacific 17.3. Field Goal PCT. – 3. Western Washington 54.0; 22. Seattle Pacific 49.6; 27. Simon Fraser 49.4. Three-Point Field Goals – 18. Seattle Pacific 9.3; 29. Alaska Anchorage 8.9. Three-Point Percentage – 5. Seattle Pacific 44.2; 6. Western Washington 44.0; 29. Saint Martin’s 41.0. Three-Point Field Goal Defense – 15. Western Oregon 27.1. Free Throw PCT. – 20. Western Washington 76.0; 21. Central Washington 75.9. Rebound Margin – 2. Western Washington 14.7; 9. Seattle Pacific 11.8. Assists – 11. Seattle Pacific 19.2; 16. Alaska Anchorage 18.9; 25. Western Washington 17.9; 29. Alaska Fairbanks 17.4. Assist Turnover Ratio – 8. Seattle Pacific 1.49; 21. Alaska Anchorage 1.32; 26. Western Washington 1.29. Blocked Shots – 26. Alaska Anchorage 4.6. Fewest Turnovers – 28. Saint Martin’s 12.3. Turnover Margin – 12. MSU Billings 6.4. Fewest Fouls – 30. Saint Martin’s 15.8. Individuals (Top 30): Scoring – 4. Mark McLaughlin, CWU, 25.6; 24. Andy Avgi, WOU, 21.0; 30. David Gebru, SFU, 20.8. Field Goal PCT. – 17. Paul Jones, WWU, 64.1; 24. Andy Avgi, WOU, 62.5. Three-Point Field Goals – 20. Elijah Matthews, SFU, 3.20; 30. Jordan Wiley, WOU, 3.00. Three-Point PCT. – 9. Elijah Matthews, SFU, 53.3; 12. Kyle Fossman, UAA, 52.2. Free Throw PCT. – 2. Jonathan Hawkins, NNU, 97.0; 18. Dominique Brinson, UAF, 92.6. Blocked Shots – 26. David Gebru, SFU, 2.00. Steals – 19. Matt Raivio, SFU, 3.00; 22. Devon Alexander, WOU, 2.89. Assist/Turnover Ratio – 10. Brady Bomber, SMU, 3.90; 15. Riley Stockton, SPU, 3.67; 18, Kalob Hatcher, MSUB, 3.58.