Wednesday, March 6, 2013

LACEY, Wash. - Montana State Billings is hoping to repeat its magical run through the GNAC Men's Basketball Championships when the tournament tips off Thursday night at Marcus Pavilion on the Saint Martin's University campus.

A year ago the Yellowjackets came into the tournament as the No. 5 seed then preceded to win three straight games, including a 74-70 win over Alaska Anchorage in the title game.

MSUB is once again the No. 5 seed and will play fourth-seed Alaska Fairbanks in Thursday's 7:30 p.m. game. 

The Nanooks, who split their regular-season games with MSUB winning 80-73 on Dec. 1 at Fairbanks before losing 80-70 last Thursday at Billings, have been the surprise team in the GNAC this winter posting a 15-11 record after going 5-23 last season.  That performance earned Mick Durham GNAC Coach of the Year honors.

Durham shared the award with Tony Dominguez of Western Washington who led the Vikings to a 26-1 record in his first season as a collegiate head coach.  The top-seeded Vikings will play the MSUB/UAF winner Friday in the semifinals at 7:30 p.m.

Thursday's first game will send sixth-seed Central Washington against No. 3 seed Alaska Anchorage. Those teams will be playing in the tournament for the third year in a row.

Central defeated Alaska Anchorage 83-71 in the 2011 title game in Ellensburg, then lost to the Seawolves 93-81 in the 2012 semifinals at Lacey.  The teams split their season series.  The Wildcats won 81-72 Jan. 5 at Ellensburg. UAA clobbered the 'Cats in the return matchup in Anchorage 98-69 on Jan. 31.

The UAA/CWU winner will face second-seed Seattle Pacific Friday at 5:15 p.m. in the first of two semifinal contests.  The Falcons come into the tournament as the nation's third-ranked team.  That is SPU's highest ranking in the 70-year history of their program.  Western Washington is ranked second nationally.

MEN (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), 7:30 p.m.  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 at 7:30 p.m. (Root Sports).

WOMEN (Mar. 6-9 at Lacey): Wednesday - #3 MSUB Billings (17-9) vs. #6 Seattle Pacific (16-10), 5:15 p.m.; #4 Alaska Anchorage (17-9) vs. #5 Northwest Nazarene (19-7), 7:30 p.m.  Friday – 3/6 winner vs. #2 Simon Fraser (22-4), noon; #4/5 winner vs. #1 Western Washington (23-3), 2:15 p.m.  Saturday – Championship game at 5:15 p.m. (ROOT Sports).

Western Washington Still First in West Regional Poll

Western Washington is the No. 1 ranked team in the final NCAA Division II West Regional poll of the season.

Seattle Pacific is ranked third and Alaska Anchorage is ranked eighth.

Following this week's play, the NCAA will determine which five at-large teams will join the GNAC, CCAA and PacWest champions in next week's regional tournament.  That announcement will be made Sunday evening.

West - 1. Western  Washington (23-1); 2. Cal Poly Pomona (22-2); 3. Seattle Pacific (21-3); 4. Dixie State (19-6); 5. Cal State San Bernardino (18-6); 6. Grand Canyon (20-6); 7. Chaminade (16-6); 8. Alaska Anchorage (15-7); 9. Chico State (15-9); 10. San Francisco State (15-11).