Tuesday, January 28, 2020

THINGS REMAIN CLOSE AS SECOND HALF BEGINS: While the top two teams in the standings have separated themselves from the pack, things are very close from third through seventh place as the second half of conference play begins this week.

Alaska, Alaska Anchorage and Northwest Nazarene enter the week in a three-way tie for third at 6-4 in conference play. The Nanooks secured their spot in the tie with a road trip, headlined by an 86-78 win at Montana State Billings on Saturday. Alaska Anchorage, meanwhile, knocked off the Nanooks 105-86 on Tuesday and squeaked out an 81-80 win at Montana State Billings on Thursday.

Northwest Nazarene, meanwhile, is on a five-game win streak and improved to 6-4 with a 75-60 win at Concordia on Thursday and an 87-82 win at Western Oregon on Saturday.

Western Oregon and Simon Fraser are both tied for sixth at 5-5 after a rare three-game week thanks to snow in British Columbia. The Wolves went 2-1, scoring the 94-80 win over the Clan on Monday and an 83-66 victory over Central Washington on Saturday. The Clan’s lone win of the week was an 80-69 victory at Saint Martin’s on Thursday.

Seattle Pacific and Western Washington are currently in firm control of first and second in the GNAC. The Falcons have now won 14 straight games. The team snapped the Vikings’ eight-game win streak with a 74-65 victory on Thursday before scoring a 94-68 win over Simon Fraser on Saturday. Western Washington closed the week with an 85-78 win over Saint Martin’s.

OFFICIATING APPRECIATION WEEK: The game can’t be played without the men and women in stripes. The GNAC and its 11 schools will take time out to recognize those who keep order on the courts.

The GNAC’s winter Officiating Appreciation Week will take place from January 27 to February 2, with Saint Martin’s, Seattle Pacific and Western Oregon honoring officials the following week at those school’s home games.

The Officiating Appreciation Week is part of a nationwide effort by NCAA Division II schools and conferences, the Division 2 Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) and the Division 2 Athletic Directors Association (D2ADA). The effort is designed to not only recognize officials for what they do in all sports but also to encourage student-athletes to consider officiating following their competitive careers.

ALL-TOURNAMENT PERFORMERS: The following GNAC players have earned all-tournament team honors during the 2019-20 season...

GNAC/CCAA Challenge (Nov. 8-9, Bellingham): Jalen Green (WWU), Logan Schilder (WWU), Wilfried Balata (SFU).
Alaska/Hawaii Challenge (Nov. 9-10, Anchorage): Tobin Karlberg (UAA), Oggie Pantovic (UAA), Shadeed Shabazz (UAF).
Otter Classic (Nov. 15-16, Seaside, Calif.): Shadeed Shabazz (UAF).
SF State Gator Invitational (Nov. 29-30, San Francisco): Darius Lubom (WOU, Most Valuable Player), Dalven Brushier (WOU).
Chuck Randall Classic (Nov. 29-30, Bellingham): D’Angelo Minnis (WWU, Most Valuable Player), Luke Lovelady (WWU), Jasdeep Singh (SFU), Wilfried Balata (SFU).
Seawolf Thanksgiving Classic (Nov. 29-30, Anchorage): Niko Bevens (UAA), Tyler Brimhall (UAA), Oggie Pantovic (UAA).
D2 Power Invitational (Dec. 19-21, Honolulu): First Team - Jasdeep Singh (SFU). Second Team - Oggie Pantovic (UAA), Wilfried Balata (SFU), Demonte Malloy (SMU).

THIS WEEK'S GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Shadeed Shabazz
Alaska
G • 6-1 • Jr. • Seattle, Wash.

Shabazz put up another incredible week, finishing with 70 points, 12 rebounds, 12 assists and 15 steals as the Nanooks split a pair of road games. At Alaska Anchorage on Tuesday, Shabazz finished with 32 points, eight assists, five steals and four rebounds in the 105-86 loss. He shot 14 of 24 from the field and played all but one minute. In Saturday’s 86-78 win at Montana State Billings, Shabazz finished just short of a triple-double with totals of 38 points, 10 steals and eight rebounds to go with four assists. The performances were the sixth and seventh 30-plus point performances for Shabazz this season and the 38 points was his second-best scoring output of the season.

Also Nominated: Oggie Pantovic (Alaska Anchorage), Marqus Gilson (Central Washington), Hunter Sweet (Concordia), Olamilekan Adetunji (Northwest Nazarene), Divant’e Moffitt (Seattle Pacific), Wilfried Balata (Simon Fraser), Jaylyn Richardson (Western Oregon), Trevor Jasinsky (Western Washington).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA
• The Nanooks split two road games last week, falling 105-86 at Alaska Anchorage on Tuesday before winning at Montana State Billings on Saturday, 86-78.

• Junior guard Shadeed Shabazz was named the GNAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week after finishing with 70 points, 12 rebounds, 12 assists and 15 steals in the two games. Shabazz opened the week with 32 points, eight assists and five steals at Alaska Anchorage. He finished just short of a triple-double with 38 points, 10 steals, eight rebounds and four assists at Montana State Billings. The scoring performances were his sixth and seventh of the season with 30 or more points. Shabazz is leading the GNAC and is ninth in Division II with 24.6 points per game. He also leads Division II with 3.78 steals per game and 68 total steals.

• Senior guard Spencer Sweet added 24 points and seven rebounds on the road trip, which included 50 percent from three-point range. Sweet scored 12 points in both games, adding four rebounds at Alaska Anchorage before going 4 for 7 from three-point range at Montana State Billings. Sweet is averaging 13.3 points per game.

• Junior guard Koby Huerta scored 21 points in the two games, shooting 7 of 10 from the field. His week was highlighted by 16 points at Montana State Billings on 5 of 7 from the field. Huerta enters the week averaging 8.8 points per game.

• Alaska enters the week averaging 75.6 points and 30.6 rebounds per game. The Nanooks are third in the GNAC and 24th in Division II with a .775 free-throw percentage. They are also third in the GNAC with 8.11 steals per game.

• Alaska returns home this week to host Seattle Pacific on Thursday and Saint Martin’s on Saturday.

ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• Alaska Anchorage picked up a sweep to improve to 6-4 in conference play, beating Alaska on Tuesday, 105-86, and then beating Montana State Billings on the road on Thursday, 81-80, on a lay-up with 2.7 seconds left by junior forward Oggie Pantovic.

• Pantovic led the Seawolves with 40 points and 20 rebounds in the two games, making 55 percent from the field and 89.5 percent from the free-throw line. Pantovic opened the week with a double-double of 24 points and 14 rebounds against Alaska, making 5 of 8 from the field and 13 of 14 from the free-throw line. He then added 16 points and six rebounds at Montana State Billings on 6 of 12 from the field. Pantovic is averaging 12.9 points per game and is fifth in the GNAC with 6.9 rebounds per game. He is also 30th in Division II with a .581 field goal percentage.

• Sophomore guard Tobin Karlberg finished with 35 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in the two wins. Karlberg opened with 19 points, six rebounds and seven assists against Alaska. At Montana State Billings, Karlberg finished with 16 points, four rebounds and five assists, shooting 6 of 10 from the field and 4 of 4 from three-point range. Karlberg is averaging 11.1 points per game and is shooting 50.6 percent from the field and 50 percent from outside.

• Senior guard Jack Macdonald connected for 31 points, punctuated by his 25 points and seven three-pointers against Alaska. Macdonald is averaging 8.9 points per game and is fourth in the GNAC with a .493 three-point percentage.

• Alaska Anchorage is averaging 77.7 points and 33.4 rebounds per game. The Seawolves lead the GNAC and rank 20th in Division II with 17.6 assists per game. They also rank fourth in the GNAC in three-point attempts (629) and total three-pointers made (246), eighth in total assists (370) and 10th in three-pointers made per game (11.8).

• Alaska Anchorage opens the second half of GNAC play at home, hosting Saint Martin’s on Thursday and Seattle Pacific on Saturday.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington split in Oregon to complete the first half of the GNAC season, beating Concordia 65-56 on Thursday before falling to Western Oregon on Saturday, 83-66.

• Junior forward Maquis Gilson led the Wildcats once again with his 23 points and 19 rebounds in the two games, shooting 57.1 percent from the field. Gilson opened the week with a double-double of 11 points and 15 rebounds at Concordia. He then added 12 points and four rebounds at Western Oregon. The games were his fifth and sixth starts of the season. Gilson enters the week averaging 5.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.

• Senior guard Gamaun Boykin finished the week with 18 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. Boykin scored 16 points and pulled down six rebounds at Concordia, shooting 6 of 8 from the field to punctuate his week. Boykin is averaging 7.2 points per game and is shooting 49.5 percent from the field.

• Sophomore forward Matt Poquette registered 17 points and eight rebounds over the week, led by his 10 points and six rebounds at Western Oregon. Poquette is averaging 7.9 points per game.

• Central Washington is averaging 75.2 points and 35.8 rebounds per game. The Wildcats rank third in the GNAC in field goal percentage (.476) and rebounding defense (31.9 per game) and are 28th in Division II with 15.2 personal fouls per game.

• Central Washington opens a four-game homestand this week, hosting Simon Fraser on Thursday and Western Washington on Saturday.

CONCORDIA
• The Cavaliers dropped both games last week, falling 65-56 to Central Washington on Thursday and 75-60 to Northwest Nazarene on Saturday.

• Junior guard/forward Hunter Sweet paced Concordia once again with 25 points and 12 rebounds in the two games, shooting 56.3 percent from the field. Sweet opened the week with 16 points and six rebounds against Central Washington, connecting on 6 of 9 from the field. He then added totals of nine points and six rebounds against Northwest Nazarene. Sweet is 10th in the GNAC with 15.1 points per game while also averaging 5.6 rebounds per game.

• Freshman guard Caleb Larsen contributed 19 points in the two games. He scored 10 points on 4 of 7 from the field and 2 of 4 from three-point range against Central Washington before adding nine points against Northwest Nazarene. Larsen is averaging 6.2 points per game.

• Junior guard Russell Tillery and senior guard Dom Bradley added 15 points apiece last week. Tillery had his high of 11 points against Central Washington while Bradley posted a high of eight points against Northwest Nazarene

• Concordia enters the week averaging 69.9 points and 32.3 rebounds per game. Among the GNAC leaders, senior guard Xavier Smith is second with 1.77 steals per game.

• Concordia closes a three-game homestand with a Tuesday matchup against Western Oregon before traveling to face Montana State Billings on Thursday.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings lost to both Alaska schools to close the first half of GNAC play. The Yellowjackets dropped an 81-80 decision to the Seawolves on Thursday and an 86-78 game to the Nanooks on Saturday.

• Junior forward Zharon Richmond led the Yellowjackets with 49 points, 21 rebounds and eight blocks in the homestand, shooting 60 percent from the field and 50 percent from three-point range. Richmond had double-doubles in both games, finishing with 25 points and 10 rebounds against Alaska Anchorage and then had 24 points, 11 rebounds, five blocks and four assists against Alaska. Richmond is averaging 19 points and 8.5 rebounds per game in 10 games.

• Sophomore forward Brendan Howard added 47 points and 12 rebounds in the two games, shooting 52 percent from the field. Howard opened the week with 19 points and three rebounds against Alaska Anchorage. He then finished with 28 points and nine rebounds against Alaska, shooting 12 of 20 from the field. Howard is second in the GNAC and 28th in Division II with 21.8 points per game. He is also second in the GNAC with 7.9 rebounds per game.

• Senior guard Tyler Green had 20 points and 11 rebounds in the two games, led by his 14 points, six rebounds and six assists against Alaska Anchorage. Green is seventh in the GNAC with 15.8 points per game. He is second in the GNAC and 15th in Division II with 3.50 three-pointers made per game.

• Montana State Billings is averaging 77 points per game and ranks second in the GNAC with 38.1 rebounds per game. The Yellowjackets rank fourth in Division II in fewest fouls (236) and seventh in personal fouls per game (13.1).

• Montana State Billings closes out a four-game homestand this week, hosting Concordia on Thursday and Western Oregon on Saturday.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene’s win streak is now at five games with a pair of road wins, beating Western Oregon 87-82 on Thursday and Concordia 75-60 on Saturday.

• Junior guard Ezekiel Alley provided a big spark off the bench, leading NNU with 36 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in the wins. Alley opened the week with 19 points and five rebounds at  Western Oregon. He then finished with 17 points, four rebounds and four assists at  Concordia. For the week, Alley shot 51.9 percent from the field. Alley is fifth in the GNAC with 16.5 points per game and is seventh in the GNAC with a .455 three-point percentage.

• Senior guard Jayden Bezzant added totals of 30 points in the two games, shooting 52 percent from the field. Bezzant opened with 16 points and five assists at Western Oregon, making 7 of 13 from the field. He then added 14 points and four assists at Concordia. Bezzant is averaging 13.5 points per game.

• Senior guard Olamilekan “Spider” Adetunji registered 26 points and 21 rebounds in the two wins, shooting 64.3 percent from the field. Adetunji opened with a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds at Western Oregon on 7 of 11 from the field. He then scored six points with 11 rebounds at Concordia. Adetunji is averaging 6.9 points per game and is fourth in the GNAC with 7.4 rebounds per game.

• Northwest Nazarene is averaging 73.9 points and 36.9 rebounds per game. The Nighthawks lead the GNAC in defensive rebounds per game (27.20). They are also 16th in Division II in fewest turnovers (203) and 17th in fewest fouls (257).

• Northwest Nazarene will try to extend the win streak at home, hosting Western Washington on Thursday and Simon Fraser on Saturday.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s dropped both games to end a four-game homestand, falling 80-69 to Simon Fraser on Thursday and 85-78 to Western Washington on Saturday.

• Freshman guard Alex Schumacher led the Saints in the two games with 33 points. He opened the week with 16 points against Simon Fraser before connecting for 17 points against Western Washington. He also shot 8 of 10 from the free-throw line in the two games and 7 of 7 against Simon Fraser. Schumacher is averaging 13.5 points per game.

• Junior guard CJ Jennings contributed 31 points in the two games. Jennings opened with 15 points and four rebounds against Simon Fraser. He then added 16 points and four rebounds against Western Washington. Jennings enters the week averaging 13.6 points per game.

• Senior forward Marky Adams scored 21 points and had 18 rebounds last week. Adams finished with totals of eight points and 14 rebounds with three blocks against  Simon Fraser before connecting for 13 points and four rebounds against Western Washington. Adams is averaging 10.4 points per game. He leads the GNAC with 8.8 rebounds per game and leads the GNAC and ranks 29th in Division II with 1.79 blocks per game.

• Saint Martin’s enters the week averaging 73.8 points per game and is third in the GNAC with 37.7 rebounds per game.

• The Saints open the second half of GNAC play on the road, playing at Alaska Anchorage on Thursday and at Alaska on Saturday.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• Seattle Pacific closed the first half of the GNAC season undefeated, running its win streak to 14 games with a 74-65 win over Western Washington on Thursday and a 94-68 win over Simon Fraser on Saturday.

• Sophomore guard Divant’e Moffitt led the Falcons with 50 points and 11 assists in the two wins, shooting 60.7 percent from the field. Moffitt opened with a 27-point performance against Western Washington with six rebounds, connecting on 8 of 12 from the field and 11 of 13 from the free-throw line. He then finished with 23 points against Simon Fraser with eight assists on 9 of 16 from the field. Moffitt is sixth in the GNAC with 15.8 points per game.

• Junior guard Harry Cavell finished with 39 points and 11 rebounds, connecting on 50 percent from the field and three-point range while hitting a perfect  8 for 8 from the free-throw line. Cavell opened with 12 points against Western Washington and just missed a double-double against  Simon Fraser with 27 points and nine rebounds, making 9 of 11 from the field, 3 of 3 from three-point range and 6 of 6 from the free-throw line. Cavell is averaging 12.7 points per game and is seventh in the GNAC with 6.7 rebounds per game.

• Freshman forwards Shaw Anderson and Filip Fullerton each scored 18 points in the two games. Anderson scored nine points in both games and had six rebounds against Western Washington. Fullerton had highs of 12 points and eight rebounds against Simon Fraser.

• Seattle Pacific is fourth in the GNAC with 79.5 points per game and is averaging 33.6 rebounds per game. The Falcons lead the GNAC and rank 21st in Division II with a .498 field goal percentage. They are second GNAC and 14th in Division II with a .788 free-throw percentage.

• The Falcons remained at No. 5 in the latest D2SIDA West Region Rankings and receives their first votes in the NABC Division II Coaches Poll (4) since the preseason rankings.

• Seattle Pacific opens the second half of the conference season on the road, traveling to Alaska on Thursday and Alaska Anchorage on Saturday.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser went 1-2 in a rare three-game conference week. The Clan lost 94-80 to Western Oregon on Monday before splitting on the road, beating Saint Martin’s 80-69 on Thursday before losing at Seattle Pacific on Saturday, 94-68.

• Sophomore guard Wilfried Balata led the Clan with 58 points and 15 rebounds in the three games, shooting 52.8 percent from the field. After a 13-point performance against WOU, Balata scored 21 points at Saint Martin’s and finished with 24 points and seven rebounds at SPU. Against the Falcons, Balatas made 8 of 13 from the field and 7 of 9 from the free-throw line. Balata is eighth in the GNAC with 15.3 points per game and fourth with 1.61 steals per game.

• Junior forward Jasdeep Singh registered 43 points and 14 rebounds in the three-game set. Singh led the Clan against Western Oregon with 21 points on 8 of 17 from the field and 4 of 8 from three-point range to go with five rebounds. Singh added a pair of 11-point performances in both road games. Singh is fourth in the GNAC with 16.7 points per game.

• Senior guard Michael Provenzano added 42 points, making 56 percent from the field, 50 percent from three-point range and 83.3 percent from the free-throw line. He opened the week with 18 points and five assists against Western Oregon and then had 18 points at Saint Martin’s. Provenzano is averaging 11.9 points per game and is third in the GNAC with 3.71 assists per game.

• Simon Fraser is third in the GNAC in scoring with 79.5 points per game and is averaging 36.9 rebounds per game. The Clan leads the GNAC and ranks 21st in Division II with nine steals per game and 171 total steals.

• Simon Fraser is back on the road to open the second half of GNAC play, traveling to Central Washington on Thursday and Northwest Nazarene on Saturday.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon went 2-1 in a three-game week. The Wolves won at Simon Fraser on Monday, 94-80, before taking an 87-82 home loss to Northwest Nazarene on Thursday. The week ended with an 83-66 win over Central Washington on Saturday.

• Senior guard Jaylyn Richardson led the Wolves with 51 points, 13 rebounds and seven steals in the three-game set. After finishing with eight points and five rebounds at Simon Fraser, Richardson led the way with 23 points, five rebounds and three steals against Northwest Nazarene. He then scored 20 points and shot 8 of 12 from the field against Central Washington. Richardson is averaging 13.1 points per game.

• Sophomore forward Cameron Cranston scored 49 points and had 12 rebounds in the three games, shooting 59.4 percent from the field and 50 percent from three-point range. Cranston opened his week with 20 points at Simon Fraser and then scored 22 points with six rebounds against Northwest Nazarene on 8 of 12 from the field. Cranston averages 13.1 points per game.

• Senior guard Dalven Brushier had 44 points and nine assists. His best efforts came in the home games, finishing with 14 points against Northwest Nazarene and 17 points and six assists against Central Washington. Brushier is third in the GNAC with 18.5 points per game. He also ranks 29th in Division II with a .437 three-point percentage.

• Western Oregon leads the GNAC and is 24th in Division II with 86.1 points per game. The Wolves are second in the GNAC and rank 22nd in Division II with a .497 field goal percentage, rank 15th nationally with 11.4 three-pointers made per game and 18th with a .404 three-point percentage.

• The Wolves open the second half of the GNAC season at Concordia on Tuesday before traveling to Montana State Billings on Saturday.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Western Washington split to close the first half of GNAC play. The Vikings fell at Seattle Pacific on Thursday, 74-65, before collecting an 85-78 win at Saint Martin’s on Saturday.

• Senior forward Trevor Jasinsky led the Vikings with 30 points and 18 rebounds on the Puget Sound road trip. Jasinsky opened with a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds at Seattle Pacific before ending with 13 points and eight rebounds at Saint Martin’s. Jasinsky ranks ninth in the GNAC with 15.3 points per game and is fifth with 32.56 minutes per game.

• Sophomore forward Jalen Green contributed 26 points and 14 rebounds. He  collected 16 points and seven rebounds at Seattle Pacific, shooting 6 of 10 from the field, before adding 10 points and seven rebounds at Saint Martin’s. Green is  averaging 13.9 points per game and is second in the GNAC with 1.72 blocked shots per game. He had three last week, two at Seattle Pacific.

• Freshman guard D’Angelo Minnis scored 21 points in the two games. His week was highlighted by a 14-point effort at Saint Martin’s on 5 of 6 from the field and 2 of 3 from three-point range. Minnis is averaging 12 points per game and ranks ninth in the GNAC with 3.17 assists per game.

• The Vikings rank second in the GNAC with 82.2 points per game and lead the league with 38.8 rebounds per game. Western also leads the GNAC and is fifth in Division II with 5.1 blocked shots per game. They also rank 11th nationally with 91 total blocks.

• Western Washington dropped one spot into a tie for seventh in the latest D2SIDA West Region Rankings.

• The Vikings open the second half on the road, playing at Northwest Nazarene on Thursday and at Central Washington on Saturday.