Tuesday, March 5, 2013

LACEY, Wash. - If Western Washington and Seattle Pacific meet in Saturday's 7:30 p.m. GNAC championship game on ROOT Sports, it may have more of the feel of a national semifinal game than a conference championship contest.

The Vikings and Falcons each moved up one position and are ranked second and third, respectively, in this week's NABC national poll.  West Liberty, W.Va., remained as the No. 1 ranked team.

Cal Poly Pomona is the only other West Region team ranked in the Top 25.  The Broncos are fifth.

Seattle Pacific's ranking is its highest ever in the 70-year history of the program.  The Falcons previous best ranking was fourth during the 1993-94 and 2006-07 seasons.

Before a possible Saturday matchup, both the Vikings and Falcons will need to win semifinal games on Friday at Marcus Pavilion.  SPU will play the winner of Thursday's quarterfinal contest between Central Washington and Alaska Anchorage.  The Vikings await the winner of Thursday's Alaska Fairbanks and Montana State Billings contest.

Saturday's winner will earn an automatic berth in the NCAA West Regionals which are scheduled to begin Friday, Mar. 15 at a site to be determined.

GNAC CHAMPIONSHIPS (Mar. 7-9 at Lacey): Thursday - #6 Central Washington (14-12) vs. #3 Alaska Anchorage (18-8), 5:15 p.m.; #5 Montana State Billings (16-13) vs. #4 Alaska Fairbanks (15-11).  Friday – 3/6 winner vs. Seattle Pacific (23-3), 5:15 p.m.; 4/5 winner vs. Western Washington (26-1), 7:30 p.m.  Saturday – Championship game, 7:30 p.m. (Root Sports).

Hawkins Leads Nation in Free Throw Percentage

Jonathan Hawkins of Northwest Nazarene is the national leader in free throw percentage at the end of the regular-season.  Hawkins, who has concluded his season, is shooting 94.1 percent.

He is attempting to become the third GNAC player in conference history to lead the nation in that category. Ralph Steele of Seattle Pacific was the national leader in 2003-04, shooting 91.1 percent.  Saint Martin's Jake Linton set a GNAC record in 2007-08 converting on 96.4 percent of his opportunities.

Jobi Wall of Seattle Pacific is also eying a national statistical title.  He currently ranks second in three-point percentage, converting on 48.1 percent from the arc.

Three GNAC players rank in the Top 10 in assist/turnover ratio including Brady Bomber of Saint Martin's (3rd, 2.92), Kalob Hatcher of Montana State Billings (4th, 2.83) and Riley Stockton of Seattle Pacific (6th, 2.80).

In team categories, Western Washington ranks in the Top 10 in five categories - third in three-point defense (28.5), fifth in scoring margin (17.4), sixth in blocks (5.6) eighth in field goal percentage (50.2) and ninth in scoring (85.2).

Seattle Pacific is fourth in assist/turnover ratio (1.51), fifth in rebound margin (10.6), sixth in scoring margin (14.3) and seventh in three-point percentage (41.4). 

Alaska Anchorage is ninth in assist/turnover ratio (1.36) and 10th in assists (17.7).  Central Washington is eighth in scoring (85.2).  Saint Martin's, which is second in fewest turnovers (10.2), has the best opportunity to win a team statistical title, trailing the leader by just 0.1 turnovers allowed per game.

NATIONAL STATISTICS (Through Mar. 3): Team (Top 30): Scoring –8. Central Washington 85.2; 9. Western Washington 85.2.  Scoring Defense – 21. Seattle Pacific 61.9.  Scoring Margin – 5. Western Washington 17.4; 6. Seattle Pacific 14.3.  Field Goal PCT. – 8. Western Washington 50.2. Field Goal PCT. Defense – 28. Western Washington 40.2.  Three-Point Field Goals – 14. Alaska Anchorage 9.2. Three-Point Percentage – 7. Seattle Pacific 41.4; 16. Alaska Anchorage 40.3.  Three-Point Field Goal Defense – 3. Western Washington 28.5. Free Throw PCT. – 22. Western Washington 75.2.  Rebound Margin – 5. Seattle Pacific 10.6;  17. Western Washington 7.7. Assists – 10. Alaska Anchorage 17.7; 14. Seattle Pacific 17.2; 21. Alaska Fairbanks 16.2. Assist/Turnover Ratio – 4. Seattle Pacific 1.51; 9. Alaska Anchorage 1.36; 28. Saint Martin’s 1.19.  Blocks – 6. Western Washington 5.6; 18. Northwest Nazarene 4.7. Fewest Turnovers – 2. Saint Martin’s 10.2; 18. Seattle Pacific 11.4. Fewest Fouls – 25. Seattle Pacific 15.5.  Individuals (Top 30): Scoring – 11. Mark McLaughlin, CWU, 22.4.  Field Goal PCT. – 30. Paul Jones, WWU, 58.3. Three-Point FGs – 29. Jobi Wall, SPU, 2.85. Three-Point PCT. – 2. Jobi Wall, SPU, 48.1; 14. Kyle Fossman, UAA, 44.1.  Free Throw PCT. – 1. Jonathan Hawkins, NNU, 94.1.  Assists – 21. Pat Voeut, UAF, 5.3; 27. David Downs, SPU, 5.1.  Assist/Turnover Ratio -  3. Brady Bomber, SMU, 2.92; 4. Kalob Hatcher, MSUB, 2.83; 6. Riley Stockton, SPU, 2.80.