Tuesday, January 22, 2013

PORTLAND, Ore. - Last year Western Washington won its first-ever national basketball title.

Now, the Vikings are just one step away from claiming their first-ever No. 1 NCAA Division II national ranking.

WWU, which has won a GNAC-record 22 straight games moved up to No. 2 in this week's NABC Division II men's basketball poll released Tuesday.  The Vikings (16-0, 7-0) are just one of three remaining unbeaten teams in Division II along with top-ranked Metro State, Colo. (15-0) and No. 3 Kentucky Wesleyan (14-0).

That is pretty heady company for the Vikings.  Between them, Kentucky Wesleyan (8 titles) and Metro State (2 titles) have won 10 NCAA Division II national titles.

Seattle Pacific is ranked fifth in this week's poll. Another West Region team is ranked No. 6 - Cal Poly Pomona.  The Broncos were the 2010 national champions. 

Western Washington also appears prominently in this week's NCAA Division II national statistical report.

WWU is ranked third in scoring margin (21.4), fourth in three-point percentage defense (27.8), sixth in scoring (89.4), eighth in rebounding (10.4) and ninth in field goal percentage (50.7).

Seattle Pacific ranks fourth in assist/turnover ratio (1.50), fifth in rebounding (11.3) and eighth in assists (18.9).  Alaska Anchorage ranks 10th in three-pointers made (9.7) and assists (18.7).  Central Washington is seventh in scoring (89.1).

Individually, six players each have a Top 10 national ranking including Riley Stockton of Seattle Pacific, Kaleb Hatcher of Montana State Billings and Brady Bomber of Saint Martin's who are ranked second (3.64), fifth (3.11) and sixth (3.10), respectively, in assist/turnover ratio.

Jonathan Hawkins of Northwest Nazarene ranks sixth in free throw percentage (93.0).  Kyle Fossman of Alaska Anchorage is eighth in three-point percentage (46.8) and Mark McLaughin of Central Washington is ninth in scoring (23.4).

NATIONAL STATISTICS (Through Jan. 20): Team (Top 30): Scoring –6. Western Washington 89.4; 7. Central Washington 89.1.  Scoring Defense – 15. Seattle Pacific 60.4.  Scoring Margin – 3. Western Washington 21.4; 12. Seattle Pacific 14.7.  Field Goal PCT. – 9. Western Washington 50.7. Three-Point Field Goals – 10. Alaska Anchorage 9.7.  Three-Point Percentage – 12. Western Washington 41.1; 19. Alaska Anchorage 40.4; 22. Seattle Pacific 40.1.  Three-Point Field Goal Defense – 4. Western Washington 27.8; 16. Seattle Pacific 29.3.  Free Throw PCT. – 18. Central Washington 75.6.  Rebound Margin – 5. Seattle Pacific 11.3;  8. Western Washington 10.4; 19. Alaska Fairbanks 7.4. Assists – 8. Seattle Pacific 18.9; 10. Alaska Anchorage 18.7; 15. Alaska Fairbanks 18.1; 27. Western Washington 16.7. Assist/Turnover Ratio – 4. Seattle Pacific 1.50; 12. Alaska Anchorage 1.34; 26. Western Washington 1.21; 30. Western Washington 1.20. Blocks – 11. Western Washington 5.2; 26. Northwest Nazarene 4.4. Fewest Turnovers – 12. Saint Martin’s 11.2.  Turnover Margin – 25. Central Washington 4.0. Fewest Fouls – 23. Saint Martin’s 15.6.   Individuals (Top 30): Scoring – 9. Mark McLaughlin, CWU, 23.4.  Field Goal PCT. – 19. Andy Avgi, WOU, 61.9; 25. Paul Jones, WWU, 60.1.  Three-Point Field Goals – 22. Kyle Fossman, UAA, 2.93.  Three-Point PCT. – 8. Kyle Fossman, UAA, 46.8; 13. Elijah Matthews, SFU, 45.6.  Free Throw PCT. – 6. Jonathan Hawkins, NNU, 93.0; 28. Dominique Brinson, UAF, 87.5.  Assists – 17. David Downs, SPU, 5.6; 25. Pat Voeut, UAF, 5.4. Steals – 18. Devon Alexander, WOU, 2.67.   Assist/Turnover Ratio -  2. Riley Stockton, SPU, 3.64; 5. Kalob Hatcher, MSUB, 3.11; 6. Brady Bomber, SMU, 3.10; 22. David Downs, SPU, 2.47.