Tuesday, February 18, 2020

FALCONS ARE IN, REST OF FIELD UNCLEAR: With two weeks to go in the regular season, Seattle Pacific is the only sure thing when it comes to the GNAC Championships.

After the program’s 0-4 start to open the season, the Falcons rebounded strong go 19-1 since that time. With the program’s two wins last week, an 86-75 defeat of Saint Martin’s and an 83-62 rout of Montana State Billings, the Falcons earned their first GNAC regular-season championship since 2014.

The hosts of this year’s GNAC Basketball Championships, the Falcons will be the tournament’s No. 1 seed when it opens at Royal Brougham Pavilion on March 5.

There is nothing certain about the remaining five spots in the tournament field with the second through eighth place teams with just three games between them. Western Oregon, Western Washington and Northwest Nazarene are all tied for second at 10-6. Alaska and Anchorage are tied for fifth at 9-7 with Central Washington at 8-8 and Simon Fraser at 7-9.

The Seawolves and Nanooks will try to separate themselves when the two programs face off in Fairbanks on Tuesday. Simon Fraser will hope for an upset of Seattle Pacific on Thursday and a win over Saint Martin’s on Saturday to stay alive. Western Oregon will face key battles on the road at Central Washington on Thursday and at Northwest Nazarene on Saturday.

OVERTIME VICTORIES MAKE SEAWOLVES TEAM OF THE WEEK: Alaska Anchorage fans were treated to plenty of free basketball last week.

The UAA men scored a pair of overtime wins at home over Northwest Nazarene (90-89) on Thursday and Central Washington (70-68) on Saturday to keep their playoff hopes alive and earn selection as the GNAC Team of the Week.

Down 12 points at the half against NNU, the Seawolves outscored the Nighthawks 43-31 in the second half to send the game to overtime. With 20 seconds left in the overtime period, junior forward/center Oggie Pantovic knocked down a three-pointer, which proved to be the game-winning basket.

“In the second half, we played with a lot more poise and our shooters made the kind of big shots in crucial situations that you have to make to be a winning ballclub,” head coach Rusty Osborne said about his team’s adjustments after the break.

After shooting 46.7 percent from the field in the first half against CWU, the Seawolves connected on just 34.8 percent from the field and 11.1 percent from three-point range in the second half to let the Wildcats back in the game. Senior guard Tyrus Hosley provided the late-game heroics, scoring the game-winner with one second left in the overtime period as the Seawolves snapped the Wildcats’ five-game win streak.

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
Oggie Pantovic
Alaska Anchorage
F • 6-7 • Jr. • Kovin, Serbia

Pantovic averaged 25 points and 15 rebounds per game while shooting 61.3 percent from the floor to lead the Seawolves to a pair of critical overtime wins last week. Against Northwest Nazarene on Thursday, Pantovic finished with 26 points, 15 rebounds and four assists as he led UAA back from a 12-point halftime deficit for the 90-89 overtime win. He connected on 11 of 16 from the field. Against Central Washington on Saturday, Pantovic finished with 24 points and 15 rebounds, which included five points in the extra period, for the 70-68 overtime win. He finished shooting 8 of 15 from the field and 8 of 10 from the free-throw line.

Also Nominated: Spencer Sweet (Alaska), Gamaun Boykin (Central Washington), Dakota Ayala (Concordia), Brendan Howard (Montana State Billings), Jayden Bezzant (Northwest Nazarene), CJ Jennings (Saint Martin’s), Braden Olsen (Seattle Pacific), Jasdeep Singh (Simon Fraser), Emanuel Gant (Western Oregon), Siaan Rojas (Western Washington).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA
• Alaska dropped a pair of home games last week, taking a 66-63 loss to Central Washington on Thursday and a  94-52 loss to Northwest Nazarene on Saturday.

• Junior guard Shadeed Shabazz led the Nanooks with 30 points, eight assists and eight steals in the two home games. Shabazz was his usual high-scoring self against Central Washington with 27 points on 11 of 23 from the field with five steals and five assists. Against Northwest Nazarene, Shabazz was held to a season-low three points, all on free throws. Shabazz continues to lead the GNAC and ranks sixth in Division II with 25.8 points per game. He is also the Division II leader in steals with 3.75 steals per game.

• Senior guard Spencer Sweet added 29 points while shooting 47.8 percent from the field and 50 percent from three-point range. Sweet finished with 16 points against Central Washington. He then led the Nanooks with 16 points against Northwest Nazarene on 6 of 12 from the field and 4 of 7 from three-point range to go with four steals. Sweet is averaging 13.5 points per game and is sixth in the GNAC with 2.50 three-pointers made per game.

• Junior Alex Sommerfield registered 14 points and 11 rebounds, led by his nine points and seven rebounds against Northwest Nazarene. He is averaging 6.9 points per game.

• Alaska enters the week averaging 75.7 points and 30 rebounds per game. The Nanooks are third in the GNAC with 8.21 steals per game.

• The Nanooks play their final home games of the season this week, hosting Alaska Anchorage on Tuesday and Montana State Billings on Thursday.

ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• Alaska Anchorage took a big step towards qualifying for the GNAC Championships with two overtime wins last week, knocking off Northwest Nazarene 90-89 on Thursday and Central Washington 70-68 on Saturday.

• For the two last-second victories in a critical juncture of the season, the Seawolves were named the GNAC Team of the Week.

• Junior guard Oggie Pantovic was named the GNAC Player of the Week for his 25 points and 15 rebounds per game in the two contests. Against Northwest  Nazarene, Pantovic turned in a double-double of 26 points and 15 rebounds on 11 of 16 from the field. He hit the game-winning three-pointer with 20 seconds left in overtime. Pantovic then connected for 24 points and 15 rebounds against Central Washington, which included five points in the overtime period. Pantovic is averaging 14.8 points per game and is third in the GNAC with 7.8 rebounds per game.

• Senior guard Tyrus Hosley finished with 31 points and 13 assists in the two wins. He opened the week with a double-double of 13 points and 11 assists against Northwest Nazarene. He then added totals of 18 points, two rebounds and two assists against Central Washington. Hosley is averaging 11 points and 2.96 assists per game.

• Sophomore guard Tobin Karlberg registered 20 points and 11 rebounds last week, paced by his 14 points against  Northwest Nazarene and eight rebounds against Central Washington. Karlberg is averaging 12.2 points per game.

• Alaska Anchorage is averaging 78.5 points and 33.2 rebounds per game. The Seawolves lead the GNAC and rank 12th in Division II with 18.1 assists per game while also ranking ninth in Division II with 12 three-pointers made per game.

• Alaska Anchorage will play at Alaska on Tuesday before returning south for the home finale on Saturday against Montana State Billings.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington split its games on the Alaska road trip, scoring a 66-63 win in Fairbanks on Thursday before taking a 70-68 overtime loss in Anchorage on Saturday.

• Senior guard Jeryn Lucas paced the Wildcats with 38 points on the road trip, shooting 45.2 percent from the field and 56.3 percent from three-point range. Lucas opened with a team-leading 25 points against  Alaska on 9 of 19 from the field and 6 of 11 from the three-point line. He then finished with 13 points at Alaska Anchorage, which included 3 of 5 from outside. Lucas leads CWU in scoring with 13.8 points per game.

• Senior guard Gamaun Boykin finished with 26 points and nine rebounds on the trip. Boykin opened the week with nine points at Alaska before coming alive for 17 points and seven rebounds at Alaska Anchorage on 5 of 12 from the field and 3 of 6 from three-point range. Boykin is averaging 7.7 points and 3.6 rebounds per game.

• Junior forward Kevin Baker added 20 points and 10 rebounds in the two games. Baker finished with eight points and seven rebounds at Alaska, going a perfect 3 for 3 from field and 2 for 2 from three-point range. He then scored 12 points at Alaska Anchorage on 4 of 7 from the field and 2 of 2 from outside. Baker enters the week averaging 9.3 points per game and is ninth in the GNAC with a .539 field goal percentage.

• Central Washington is averaging 74.4 points and 35 rebounds per game. The Wildcats rank second in the GNAC in three-point defense (.338) and third in rebounding defense (32.3) while ranking 27th in Division II with 15 personal fouls per game.

• Central Washington plays its home finales this week, hosting Western Oregon on Thursday and Concordia on Saturday.

CONCORDIA
• Concordia took two losses last week at home, falling to Simon Fraser, 79-56, on Thursday and to Western Washington, 91-65, on Saturday.

• Junior forward Dakota Ayala led the Cavaliers with 43 points in the two games, shooting 66.7 percent from the field and 50 percent from three-point range. Ayala opened with 16 points against Simon Fraser on 6 of 10 from the field and 2 of 2 from three-point range. He then came alive for 27 points and six rebounds against Western Washington, making 12 of 17 from the field. Ayala is averaging 11.9 points per game and ranks eighth in the GNAC with a .545 field goal percentage.

• Senior guard Dom Bradley finished with 12 points and six rebounds, topped by his nine points and two rebounds against Western Washington on 4 of 8 from the field. Bradley is averaging 5.3 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.

• Junior guard/forward Bryce Cheney added 11 points and eight rebounds, headlined by nine points and six rebounds against Western Washington. Cheney is averaging 5.2 points per game.

• Concordia enters the week averaging 69.4 points and 33.3 rebounds per game.

• Concordia heads off for the program’s final road trip this week, playing at Northwest Nazarene on Thursday and Central Washington on Saturday.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings split at home last week against the Puget Sound schools, dropping an 83-62 decision to Seattle Pacific on Thursday before collecting a 79-59 win over Saint Martin’s on Saturday.

• Sophomore forward Brendan Howard once again paced the Yellowjackets with 36 points and 12 rebounds in the two games, shooting 92.3 percent from the free-throw line. Howard opened with 15 points against Seattle Pacific, which included 6 of 6 from the foul line. He then just missed a  double-double with 21 points and nine rebounds against Saint Martin’s on 7 of 18 from the field and 6 of 7 from the free-throw line. Howard is second in the GNAC and 30th in Division II with 21.3 points per game and is fifth in the GNAC with 7.5 rebounds per game.

• Junior guard Psalm Maduakor scored 21 points in the two games to go with nine rebounds and six assists. He connected on 57.1 percent from the field and 50 percent from three-point range. Maduakor opened with 11 points and four rebounds against Seattle Pacific on 4 of 5 from the field and 3 of 4 from three-point range. He then added 10 points and five rebounds against Saint Martin’s to go with five assists. Maduakor is averaging 5.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game.

• Senior guard Tyler Green also scored 21 points in the two games, topped by his 14-point effort against Saint Martin’s. Green is 10th in the GNAC with 15.2 points per game. He is sixth in Division II with 221 three-point attempts.

• Montana State Billings is averaging 75.8 points per game and leads the GNAC with 38.2 rebounds per game. The Yellowjackets rank third in Division II in fewest fouls (311) and fourth in personal fouls per game (13).

• Montana State Billings heads north for its final road trip of the season, playing at Alaska on Thursday and at Alaska Anchorage on Saturday.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene procured a critical split on the Alaska road trip, dropping a 90-89 overtime thriller at Alaska Anchorage on Thursday before taking a 94-52 rout from Alaska on Saturday.

• The 42-point win over the Nanooks was the Nighthawks’ largest margin of victory in the school’s Division II era and the 52 points allowed was the least since holding Point Loma to 36 points in 2012. The Nighthawks also held Shadeed Shabazz, one of the top scorers in Division II, to a season-low three points.

• Senior guard Jayden Bezzant came alive for 50 points and 12 assists in the two games, shooting 65.6 percent from the field and 75 percent from three-point range. Bezzant led NNU with 25 points at  Alaska Anchorage on 10 of 18 from the field and 3 of 5 from outside to go along with seven assists. Bezzant repeated the 25-point performance at Alaska, making 11 of 14 from the field and 3 of 3 from the arc. Bezzant is eighth in the GNAC in scoring at 15.8 points per game and ranks fourth with 3.39 assists per game.

• Junior guard Ezekiel Alley added 36 points, eight assists and seven steals in the two games, shooting 51.7 percent from the field and 60 percent from three-point range. Alley scored 18 points in both games and had four assists and six steals at Alaska. Alley leads the Nighthawks and is seventh in the GNAC with 16 points per game.

• Northwest Nazarene is averaging 76.5 points per game and is third in the GNAC with 38 rebounds per game. The Nighthawks are 21st in Division II in field goal defense (.414).

• Northwest Nazarene closes the 2019-20 home schedule this week, hosting Concordia on Thursday and Western Oregon on Saturday.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s has now lost four straight after taking an 86-75 loss at Seattle Pacific on Tuesday and a 79-59 loss at Montana State Billings on Saturday.

• Junior guard CJ Jennings anchored the Saints with 41 points, eight rebounds and six assists last week. Jennings scored 20 points at Seattle Pacific to go along with six rebounds, four assists and two steals. Jennings then scored 21 points at Montana State Billings, connecting on 8 of 15 from the field and 5 of 10 from three-point range. Jennings is ninth in the GNAC with 15.4 points per game and fourth with 2.68 three-pointers made per game.

• Freshman guard Alex Schumacher came off the bench for 37 points and 10 rebounds, shooting 57.7 percent from the field and 83.3 percent from three-point range. Schumacher led the Saints with 21 points at Seattle Pacific, making 8 of 13 from the field, and added 16 points and seven rebounds at Montana State Billings. Schumacher is averaging 13.5 points per game and is ninth in the GNAC with 1.36 steals per game.

• Junior center Marky Adams finished with 21 points and 16 rebounds in the two games, which included 12 points at Seattle Pacific and 12 rebounds at MSUB. Adams is averaging 10 points per game, ranks second in the GNAC with 8.4  rebounds per game and is 23rd in Division II with 1.88 blocks per game.

• Saint Martin’s enters the week averaging 72.9 points and 36.1 rebounds per game.

• The Saints hit the road for the final time this season, playing at Western Washington on Thursday and at Simon Fraser on Saturday.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• Seattle Pacific clinched its first regular-season championship since 2013-14 with two wins, beating Saint Martin’s on Tuesday, 86-75, and Montana State Billings on the road on Thursday, 83-62.

• Sophomore guard Braden Olsen led the Falcons with 39 points off the bench in the two wins. Olsen opened the week with 24 points against Saint Martin’s on 6 of 12 from the field, 4 of 7 from three-point range and 8 of 8 from the free-throw line. He then connected for 15 points at MSUB on 7 of 13 from the floor. Olsen is averaging 8.7 points per game and is second in the GNAC with a .894 free-throw percentage (59-66).

• Junior guard Harry Cavell finished with 30 points and 16 rebounds last week. He scored 15 points in both games. Cavell just missed a double-double with his nine rebounds against Saint Martin’s to go with six assists. He then added seven rebounds in the win at MSUB. Cavell is averaging 12.9 points per game and is seventh in the GNAC with seven rebounds per contest.

• Sophomore guard Divant’e Moffitt connected 28 points in the two games as he made 60 percent from the field and 66.7 percent from long range. He scored 14 points in each game, which included hitting 6 for 9 against Saint Martin’s. Moffitt leads SPU and is fourth in the GNAC with 16.5 points per game.

• Seattle Pacific is third in the GNAC with 80.4 points per game and is averaging 35 rebounds per game. The Falcons lead the GNAC and rank 15th in Division II with a .500 field goal percentage. They also rank second in the GNAC and fourth in Division II with a .806 free-throw percentage and also rank second in the GNAC and 21st in Division II with a .400  three-point percentage.

• The Falcons have earned top-25 rankings for the first time since the preseason. They are 20th in this week’s NABC Division II Coaches Poll and No. 22 in the D2SIDA Media Poll.

• Seattle Pacific hits the road this week to play at Simon Fraser on Thursday and Western Washington on Saturday.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser secured a split for the second consecutive week, winning at Concordia, 79-56, on Thursday before taking a 76-64 loss at Western Oregon on Saturday.

• Junior forward Jasdeep Singh led the Clan with 31 points and 13 rebounds in the two road games, shooting 54.5 percent from the field. Singh opened with a 13-point performance at Concordia, shooting 5 of 8 from the field, to go with five rebounds and five assists. He scored 18 points at Western Oregon, making 7 of 14 from the field, and also had eight rebounds and three assists. Singh is fifth in the GNAC with 16.4 points per game.

• Junior center Julian Roche finished with 24 points and 11 rebounds and shot 63.2 percent from the field on the week. He scored 14 points with five rebounds at Concordia, shooting 7 of 9 from the field. He then finished with 10 points and six rebounds at Western Oregon on 5 for 10 shooting. Roche is averaging 9.3 points per game and is 10th in the GNAC with 6.5 rebounds per game.

• Senior guard Othniel Spence added 22 points in the two games, which was headlined by a 15-point performance at Western Oregon with three assists and two steals. Spence is averaging 12.8 points per game and is ninth in the GNAC with 2.20 three-pointers made per game.

• Simon Fraser is fourth in the GNAC with 79.4 points and 36.9 rebounds per game. The Clan is second in the GNAC with 8.48 steals per game and is 26th in Division II with 212 total steals.

• Simon Fraser will close out the 2019-20 home schedule this week, hosting Seattle Pacific on Thursday and Saint Martin’s on Saturday.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon took two wins key to the Wolves’ GNAC Championships hopes, taking an 89-72 win from Western Washington on Thursday and a 76-64 win from Simon Fraser on Saturday.

• Junior guard/forward Emanuel Gant led the Wolves with 29 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists and five steals off the bench. Gant opened with 15 points and eight rebounds against Western Washington to go along with four assists and four steals. He connected on 6 of 12 from the field. Gant then scored 14 points and had six rebounds against Simon Fraser, making 4 of 7 from the field and 2 of 3 from three-point range. Gant is averaging 11.1 points per game in 13 games.

• Senior guard Dalven Brushier finished with 28 points and six assists last week. Brushier scored 17 points and had five rebounds and four assists against Western Washington before registering an 11-point performance against Simon Fraser. Brusher leads the Wolves and is third in the GNAC with 17.5 points per game. He also leads the league with 34.4 minutes played per game and is third with 2.73 three-pointers made per game.

• Sophomore guard Cameron Cranston added 26 points in the two games. He scored 13 in each game and also added five rebounds and two steals against Western Washington. Cranston enters the week averaging 13.4 points per game.

• Western Oregon leads the GNAC and is 20th in Division II with 87 points per game. The Wolves also lead the GNAC and Division II with a .818 free-throw percentage (260-318). They also lead the GNAC and rank 10th in Division II with a .414 three-point percentage and rank 26th with 8.6 steals per game.

• Western Oregon hits the road this week to face Central Washington on Thursday and Northwest Nazarene on Saturday.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Western Washington split on the road last week to remain tied for second in the GNAC standings. The Vikings took an 89-72 loss at Western Oregon on Thursday before collecting a 91-65 win at Concordia on Saturday.

• Senior guard/forward Siaan Rojas led the Vikings with 30 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists, shooting 50 percent from the field on the week. Rojas opened with a near double-double of 19 points and eight rebounds at Western Oregon to go with five assists. He made 6 of 11 from the field and 6 of 8 from the free-throw line. Rojas added 11 points, six rebounds and four assists at Concordia. Rojas enters the week averaging 10.9 points per game.

• Senior guard Leif Anderson connected for 26 points off of the bench, making 88.9 percent from the field while going perfect from both the free-throw and three-point lines. He opened with a 15-point performance at Western Oregon, connecting on 4 of 5 from the field, 4 of 4 from outside and 3 of 3 from the free-throw line. Anderson added 11 points at Concordia on 4 of 4 from the field and 3 of 3 from the arc. Anderon is averaging 4.3 points per game.

• Freshman guard D’Angelo Minnis scored 20 points in his only game of the week at Concordia, making 7 of 12 from the field and 5 of 7 from three-point range. Minnis is averaging 12.2 points per game.

• The Vikings rank second in the GNAC with 80.7 points and 38 rebounds per game. Western also leads the GNAC and is second in Division II with 5.3 blocked shots per game.

• Western Washington plays three of its final four regular-season games at home. The homestand begins with games against Saint Martin’s on Thursday and Seattle Pacific on Saturday.