Monday, December 16, 2013

PORTLAND, Ore. - A busy slate of games is on tap in the GNAC this week before teams take the NCAA Division II mandated week-long holiday break.

Central Washington, Western Washington and Montana State Billings each play three games this week, while Alaska Anchorage, Saint Martin's, Western Oregon and Seattle Pacific play twice.  Alaska Fairbanks and Simon Fraser have one game.  Northwest Nazarene is the only idle team.

CWU, WWU and MSUB will all be competing in tournaments.

After non-conference games early in the week, the Wildcats and Vikings head to Las Vegas this weekend for the Las Vegas South Point Holiday Hoops Classic.

MSUB, meanwhile, will play in the Las Vegas Challenge.  That tournament, hosted by Dixie State, will also be played in Las Vegas at the New Orleans Arena.

The Yellowjackets, led by point guard Kalob Hatcher, will take on Academy of Art on Wednesday before facing the host Red Storm on Thursday.

Hatcher is one four GNAC players who rank in the Top 10 nationally in this week's NCAA Division II national statistical report.

Hatcher ranks 10th in assists averaging 6.6 per contest.

Two of the other three will display their talents in Las Vegas on Saturday and Sunday.

Mark McLaughlin of Central Washington ranks third in scoring, averaging 26.5 points per game.  His team will play Tarleton State on Saturday and West Florida on Sunday.

Austin Bragg of Western Washington ranks 10th in blocked shots averaging 3.14 per contest.  His squad will risk its perfect 7-0 record in Las Vegas Saturday against Cal State San Bernardino before playing Tarleton State on Sunday.

The only other GNAC player ranked in the Top 10 this week is David Downs of Seattle Pacific.  Downs ranks ninth in Division II in three-point percentage, shooting 55.2 percent.

In team categories, Western Washington is in the Top 10 in three categories including first in blocked shots (7.7), seventh in three-point defense (25.2) and eighth in scoring (94.4).

Alaska Anchorage ranks fourth in three-pointers made (11.6) and fewest turnovers (9.0), fifth in assist/turnover ratio (1.84) and seventh in free throw percentage (79.2).  Seattle Pacific ranks second fewest turnovers (8.7). 

NCAA NATIONAL STATISTICS (Top 30)

Team:  Scoring – 8. Western Washington 94.4.  Scoring Margin – 13. Western Washington 19.6.  Field Goal PCT. – 23. Seattle Pacific 51.1; 27. Western Washington 50.7. Three-Pointers – 4. Alaska Anchorage 11.6; 20. Simon Fraser 10.0.  Three-Point PCT. – 18. Seattle Pacific 42.2; 29. Simon Fraser 41.1.  Three-Point PCT. Defense – 7. Western Washington 25.2.   Free Throw PCT. – 7. Alaska Anchorage 79.2; 21. Alaska Fairbanks 76.9; 30. Simon Fraser 75.5.   Assists – 17. Western Washington 18.6.  Assist/TO Ratio – 5. Alaska Anchorage 1.84; 15. Seattle Pacific 1.64; 18. Alaska Fairbanks 1.60; 20. MSU Billings 1.56.  Steals – 25. Western Washington 9.4.  Blocked Shots – 1. Western Washington 7.7.  Fewest Turnovers – 2. Seattle Pacific 8.7; 4. Alaska Anchorage 9.0; 12. MSU Billings 9.8; 21. Alaska Fairbanks 10.3.  Turnover Margin – 21. Alaska Fairbanks 4.5; 30. Alaska Anchorage 3.9. Fewest Fouls – 13. Seattle Pacific 15.8; 16. Alaska Fairbanks and Northwest Nazarene 16.3.  

Individuals: Scoring – 3. Mark McLaughlin, CWU, 26.5.  Field Goal PCT. – 13. JB Pillard, CWU, 66.7; 19. Andrew Kelly, UAF, 65.6.  Three-Point FGs – 12. Kyle Fossman, UAA, and Travis Thompson, UAA, 3.7.  Three-Point PCT. – 9. David Downs, SPU, 55.2.  Free Throw PCT.. – 21. Travis Thompson, UAA, 92.2.  Assists – 10. Kalob Hatcher, MSUB, 6.6; 20. Brian McGill, UAA, 6.2. Blocked Shots – 10. Austin Bragg, WWU, 3.14. 

Western Washington, Seattle Pacific Hold On To Rankings

Western Washington remained in the fifth slot and Seattle Pacific remained at No. 14 in this week's NABC Division II national poll.

Among "others receiving votes" is Alaska Anchorage.  The Seawolves are 29th overall.

The next poll will be released Tuesday, Dec. 31.

POLLS: NABC (Dec. 17) –  5. Western Washington; 14. Seattle Pacific, 29. Alaska Anchorage.