Tuesday, December 17, 2019

BOYKIN NOTCHES HISTORIC MILESTONE: Triple-doubles are a rare thing in the GNAC, but Central Washington senior guard Gamaun Boykin became just the fifth player in conference history to hit the milestone in the Wildcats’ 106-88 win on Saturday over Multnomah.

Boykin finished with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists in 30 minutes of work in the victory to earn GNAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week honors. He shot 8 of 13 from the field and 4 of 4 from the free throw line as he led five CWU players to finish in double figures.

The triple-double is the first in the GNAC since Western Oregon’s Tanner Omlid finished with 18 points, 15 rebounds and 11 steals against Seattle Pacific on Feb. 4, 2017.

GNAC ALL-TIME TRIPLE-DOUBLES
Jason Burrell, Western Washington, 16 pts., 11 reb., 11 asst. (Alaska, 1/16/03)
Robert Day, Western Oregon, 21 pts., 11 reb., 11 asst. (MSUB, 12/16/03)
Austin Bragg, Western Washington, 13 pts., 12 reb., 10 asst. (Alaska Anchorage, 2/1/14)
Tanner Omlid, Western Oregon, 18 pts., 15 reb., 11 steals (Seattle Pacific, 2/4/17)
Gamaun Boykin, Central Washington, 20 pts., 10 reb., 11 asst. (Multnomah, 12/14/19)

LAST WEEKEND OF NON-CONFERENCE PLAY: Non-conference winds down for GNAC teams this week with four league teams traveling to take part in big Division II tournaments.

Alaska Anchorage, Saint Martin’s and Simon Fraser will all be in Honolulu, Hawaii, taking part in the D2 Power Invitational on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Montana State Billings will head south to Las Vegas to take part in the DII South Point Holiday Classic.

Central Washington, Seattle Pacific and Western Oregon will play single games prior to the holiday break. The Wildcats host Linfield on Tuesday, the Wolves welcome Dixie State on Friday and the Falcons host Puget Sound on Friday.

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).

THIS WEEK'S GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Gamaun Boykin
Central Washington
G • 6-3 • Sr. • Youngstown, Ohio

Boykin registered just the fifth triple-double in GNAC history to lead the Wildcats past Multnomah, 106-88, on Saturday. Boykin finished with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists in 30 minutes of play, leading five CWU players to score in double figures. The GNAC’s last triple-double was accomplished by Western Oregon’s Tanner Omlid on Feb. 4, 2017 (18 points, 15 rebounds, 11 steals).

Also Nominated: Jalen Green (Western Washington).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA
• Alaska is off for the rest of December. The Nanooks return to play on Thursday, Jan. 2, at Saint Martin’s.

• After opening the season 1-7, Alaska stunned its first two GNAC opponents of the season. The Nanooks handed Western Oregon its first loss of the season, 72-66, on Dec. 5 before winning a 116-111 double-overtime thriller over Concordia on Dec. 7.

• Junior guard Shadeed Shabazz averaged 35 points per game in the two contests, shooting 63 percent from the field. Shabazz opened with a 27-point performance against WOU to go along with two rebounds, three assists and four steals. He played all but three minutes against Concordia and finished with 43 points, two rebounds, two assists and four steals. He is just the 15th player in GNAC history to score 43 or more points in a game. Shabazz is second in the GNAC with 21.5 points per game. He leads the league and is fifth in Division II with 2.90 steals per game.

• Junior guard Markel Banks had his own 30-plus point performance against Concordia, coming off the bench to score 33 points on 11 of 14 from the field and 11 of 12 from the free throw line to go along with six rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Banks is averaging 9.5 points per game and is fourth in the GNAC with a .630 field goal percentage.

• Alaska is averaging 72.6 points and 30.9 rebounds per game. The Nanooks are fourth in the GNAC with 6.5 steals per game.

ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• After not playing last week, Alaska Anchorage will close out December with three games in Honolulu at the D2 Power Invitational. The Seawolves play against Arkansas-Monticello on Thursday, Southeastern Oklahoma State on Friday and Hawaii Hilo on Saturday.

• Alaska Anchorage opened its GNAC schedule with a 2-0 record, scoring an 81-74 win over Concordia on Dec. 5 before using a buzzer-beating three-pointer by junior guard Jack Macdonald to beat Western Oregon on Dec. 7, 88-86.

• Senior guard Tyus Hosley led the Seawolves with 38 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists in the two wins, shooting 55 percent from the field and 61 percent from three-point range. Hosley scored 22 points against Concordia on 6 of 9 from the field and 4 of 5 from outside to go with seven rebounds, and three assists. He then scored 16 against Western Oregon to go with four rebounds and six assists. Hosley enters the week averaging 10.5 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.

• Senior guard Niko Bevens finished with 30 points in the victories. Bevens scored 11 points against Concordia on 3 of 6 from the field, all three-pointers, before scoring 19 against Western Oregon on a night where he hit five from long range. Bevens is averaging 13.8 points per game and ranks 13th in Division II with a .500 three-point percentage and 3.80 three-pointers made per game.

• Alaska Anchorage is fourth in the GNAC with 79.6 points per game while also averaging 34.9 rebounds per game. The Seawolves lead the GNAC and rank fifth in Division II with 21.1 assists per game while also ranking sixth nationally with a .182 assist/turnover ratio.

• The Seawolves moved up two spots to No. 4 in this week’s D2SIDA West Region Rankings and was among teams receiving votes in the NABC Division II Coaches Rankings.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington returned to non-conference with a rout, scoring a 106-88 win over NAIA Multnomah on Saturday.

• Senior guard Gamaun Boykin was named the GNAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week after he produced just the fifth triple-double in GNAC history. Boykin led the Wildcats with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists. He shot 8 of 13 from the field and 4 of 4 from the free throw line. The triple-double is the first since Tanner Omlid of Western Oregon finished with 18 points, 15 rebounds and 11 steals against Seattle Pacific on Feb. 4, 2017. Boykin is averaging nine points per game and is eighth in the GNAC with 3.56 assists per game.

• Senior Davon Bolton was among five CWU players and four starters to score in double figures, finishing with 19 points on 6 of 9 from the field and 5 of 8 from three-point range. Bolton is averaging 8.8 points per game.

• Also scoring in double digits was junior forward Kevin Baker with 16 points, senior guard Jeryn Lucas with 12 points off the bench and junior guard Xavier Smith with 10 points. Baker leads the Wildcats with 16.3 points per game.

• Central Washington enters the week averaging 79.1 points and 36.4 rebounds per game. The Wildcats are second in the GNAC in field goal percentage (.498) and third in scoring defense (73 points allowed per game) while ranking 16th in Division II with 13.7 personal fouls per game.

• Central Washington closes out non-conference play on Tuesday when it hosts Division III Linfield.

CONCORDIA
• After not playing last week, Concordia closed its non-conference schedule on Tuesday with an 87-68 exhibition win over George Fox.

• Junior forward Dakota Ayala led the Cavaliers in the win with a huge double-double of 19 points and 15 rebounds on 7 of 13 from the field. Junior guard/forward Hunter Sweet added 15 points as five Concordia players scored in double figures.

• Concordia lost a pair of close ones on its GNAC season-opening road trip, losing 81-74 to Alaska Anchorage on Dec. 5 and 116-111 in double overtime to Alaska on Dec. 7.

• Sweet led the Cavaliers with 44 points, nine rebounds, nine assists and four steals in the two games, shooting 60 percent from the field and 4 of 6 from three-point range. Sweet opened with 18 points, four rebounds and two assists at Alaska Anchorage as he made 8 of 16 from the field. He then scored 26 points in 47 minutes at Alaska on 9 of 12 from the field, 2 of 3 from three-point range and 6 of 6 from the free throw line. Sweet is eighth in the GNAC with 16.4 points per game and a .486 three-point percentage.

• Ayala finished with 33 points and 15 rebounds in the two games, shooting 58 percent from the field. Ayala just missed a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds at Alaska Anchorage and then connected for 22 points at Alaska with six rebounds. He shot 9 of 12 from the field. Ayala is averaging 11.6 points per game.

• Concordia enters the week averaging 72.8 points and 32.8 rebounds per game. The Cavaliers are sixth in the GNAC with 8.60 three-pointers made per game.

• The Cavaliers return to conference play on Tuesday, Dec. 31, playing at Western Oregon.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings prevailed in its only game last week, taking an 89-86 exhibition win from crosstown rival Rocky Mountain.

• Sophomore forward Brendan Howard led the way with 23 points on 7 of 16 from the field and 7 of 8 from the free throw line. Junior forward Stevie James added 17 points on 7 of 13 from the field while junior guard Psalm Maduakou had a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds.

• Montana State Billings lost both road games to open the GNAC season, dropping an 88-76 decision at Simon Fraser on Dec. 5 and an 86-62 game at Western Washington on Dec. 7.

• Howard registered his fourth and fifth double-doubles of the season, finishing with 46 points and 23 rebounds in the two contests. He opened with totals of 27 points and 10 rebounds at Simon Fraser, shooting 12 of 17 from the field and 3 of 4 from three-point range. Howard then added 19 points and 13 rebounds at Western Washington as he shot 8 of 17 from the field. Howard leads the GNAC and ranks 22nd in Division II with 23 points per game.

• Senior guard Tyler Green added 24 points in the two games, scoring 22 of those points at Simon Fraser on 8 of 16 from the field and 6 of 13 from three-point range. Green is seventh in the GNAC with 16.6 points per game and leads the GNAC with a .875 free throw percentage (21-24).

• Montana State Billings is averaging 74.5 points per game and ranks fourth in the GNAC with 37.6 rebounds per game. The Yellowjackets are second in the GNAC with 3.88 blocked shots per game. They rank fourth in Division II with 12.5 personal fouls per game and sixth in fewest fouls with 100.

• Montana State Billings is in Las Vegas this weekend for the DII South Point Holiday Classic. The Yellowjackets will face Pittsburg State on Saturday followed by a meeting with Drury or Rollins on Sunday.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene does not play again until Thursday, Jan. 2, when it returns to conference play at Simon Fraser.

• Northwest Nazarene took a pair of home losses to start conference play, falling 84-63 to Saint Martin’s on Dec. 5 and 77-68 to Seattle Pacific on Dec. 7.

• Freshman guard George Reidy led the Nighthawks with 35 points in the two games, making 57 percent from the field. He opened his week with 24 points against Saint Martin’s, making 11 of 16 from the field, to go with six rebounds and four assists. Reidy then scored 11 points against Seattle Pacific along with three assists. Reidy leads NNU with his 14.4 points per game and is eighth in the GNAC with a .582 field goal percentage.

• Senior forward Adalberto Diaz finished with 31 points and nine rebounds in the two contests, making 50 percent from both the field and three-point range. Diaz finished with 15 points against Saint Martin’s with four rebounds. He then scored 16 points against Seattle Pacific on 6 of 10 from the field and 2 of 3 from outside. Diaz is averaging 12.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.

• Northwest Nazarene is averaging 70.7 points per game and ranks third in the GNAC with 39 rebounds per game. The Nighthawks lead the GNAC in field goal percentage defense (.421).

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s did not play last week. The Saints will participate in the D2 Power Invitational in Honolulu this weekend with games against Colorado Mines on Thursday, Hawaii Hilo on Friday and Arkansas-Monticello on Saturday.

• Saint Martin’s had a pair of solid road wins to open GNAC play, scoring an 84-63 win at Northwest Nazarene on Dec. 5 and a 79-76 victory at Central Washington on Dec. 7.

• Junior guard CJ Jennings led the Saints with 45 points in the two wins, shooting 57 percent from the field and 9 of 16 from three-point range. Jennings led the way with 27 points at Northwest Nazarene on 9 of 12 from the field and 7 of 9 from three-point range. He then added 18 points at Central Washington on 7 of 16 from the field. Jennings ranks 10th in the GNAC with 15.6 points per game and is second with 3.38 three-pointers made per game.

• Junior guard Demonte Malloy finished with 31 points and 14 rebounds, shooting 59 percent from the field. Malloy opened with a double-double of 19 points and 11 rebounds at Northwest Nazarene, shooting 57 percent from the field. He then added 12 points on 5 of 8 from the field at Central Washington. Malloy leads the Saints and is ninth in the GNAC with 16.1 points per game.

• Junior center Marky Adams connected for 26 points and 20 rebounds. He had double-doubles in both games, finishing with 15 points and 10 rebounds at Northwest Nazarene along with 11 points and 10 rebounds at Central Washington. Adams is second in the GNAC with 9.3 rebounds per game. He leads the GNAC and is 16th in Division II with 2.13 blocked shots per game.

• Saint Martin’s enters the week averaging 79.5 points per game. The Saints lead the GNAC with 40.4 rebounds per contest and rank 27th in Division II with 29.63 defensive rebounds per game.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• Seattle Pacific did not play last week. The Falcons will conclude their non-conference schedule on Friday against Division III Puget Sound.

• Seattle Pacific extended its win streak to five games with two road wins to open GNAC play. The Falcons knocked off Central Washington on Dec. 5, 76-66, and Northwest Nazarene on Dec. 7, 77-68.

• Junior guard Harry Cavell led the Falcons with his 30 points and 18 rebounds in the two games. He notched a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds at Central Washington, connecting on 6 of 8 from the field and 3 of 5 from three-point range. Cavell then scored 11 points and had eight rebounds at Northwest Nazarene. Cavell is averaging 11.1 points per game.

• Sophomore guard Divant’e Moffitt finished with 30 points, nine rebounds and nine assists on the road trip. Moffitt led the Falcons with 20 points at Central Washington, connecting on 8 of 16 from the field and 2 of 4 from three-point range. He also had five rebounds, four assists and three steals. Moffitt finished the week with 10 points, four rebounds and five assists. Moffitt leads the Falcons with 13.6 points per game.

• Sophomore guard Braden Olsen added 21 points in the two games. He had 17 of those points at Northwest Nazarene in 19 minutes off the bench on 5 of 7 from the field and 5 of 5 from the free throw line. Olsen is averaging 6.9 points per game and is tied for eighth in the GNAC with a .808 free throw percentage.

• Seattle Pacific enters the week averaging 71.4 points and 31.8 rebounds per game. The Falcons lead the GNAC in scoring defense, allowing 70 points per game, and rank third in three-point defense (.345).

SIMON FRASER
• After not playing last week, Simon Fraser will be one of three GNAC teams to compete at the D2 Power Invitational in Honolulu. The Clan will face Southeastern Oklahoma State on Thursday, Colorado Mines on Friday and Hawaii Pacific on Saturday.

• Simon Fraser swept both of its GNAC openers to improve to 7-1 on the season and runs its win streak to seven games. The Clan scored a 77-74 win over Western Washington on Dec. 3 and an 88-76 win over Montana State Billings on Dec. 5.

• Junior forward Jasdeep Singh led SFU once again with 42 points and 12 rebounds in the two games, shooting 60 percent from the field and 62 percent from three-point range. He scored 21 points and shot 9 of 15 from the field in both games, adding eight rebounds and a 3 for 4 performance from three-point range against Western Washington and four rebounds against Montana State Billings. Singh is third in the GNAC with 19.4 points per game and tied for eighth with 3.38 assists per game.

• Senior guard Othniel Spence finished with 32 points, six assists and seven steals in the two games, shooting 47 percent from the field and 87 percent from three-point range. Spence finished with 12 points, three assists and five steals against Western Washington before going off for 20 points on 7 of 10 from the field and 5 of 6 from three-point range against Montana State Billings. Spence is averaging 14.9 points per game and is fifth in the GNAC with 1.88 steals per game.

• Simon Fraser leads the GNAC and is 22nd in Division II in scoring with 89 points per game. The Clan is also second in Division II in turnover margin (8.5), third in turnovers per game (9.1) and fewest turnovers (73) and eighth in steals per game (11).

• The Clan remained at No. 5 in this week’s D2SIDA West Region Rankings.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon returned to play on Saturday with a 91-71 exhibition win over Corban.

• Senior guard Jaylyn Richardson led the Wolves in the exhibition win with 21 points on 9 of 13 from the field. Senior guard Dalven Brushier added 17 points and six rebounds.

• Western Oregon took its first losses of the season in Alaska to open GNAC play, falling 72-66 to the Nanooks on Dec. 5 and 88-86 in overtime to Alaska Anchorage on Dec. 7.

• Brushier led the Wolves in Alaska with his 38 points, 14 rebounds and six steals. Brushier opened the week with 17 points and four rebounds at Alaska. He then notched a double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds at Alaska Anchorage to go with five assists. Brushier is fourth in the GNAC with 18.4 points per game.

• Sophomore forward Cameron Cranston registered 36 points in the two games, shooting 61 percent from the field and 60 percent from three-point range. Cranston scored 15 points at Alaska on 5 of 9 from the field and then finished with 21 points at Alaska Anchorage on 8 of 12 from the field and 5 of 8 from three-point range. Cranston is averaging 12.7 points per game.

• Western Oregon is third in the GNAC in scoring with 81.4 points per game and is averaging 30.4 rebounds per contest. The Wolves lead the GNAC and rank fourth in Division II with a .437 three-point percentage.

• The Wolves close their non-conference schedule with their toughest test yet, hosting nationally-ranked Dixie State on Friday.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Western Washington posted a blowout in its lone game of the week, taking a 126-72 win from Capilano on Sunday. It was the 1,500th all-time victory in the history of the Western Washington program.

• Sophomore forward Jalen Green led eight WWU players to score in double figures with 20 points and eight rebounds on 8 of 13 from the field to go with five assists, four steals and two blocks. Green is averaging 13.6 points per game and is second in the GNAC with 1.93 blocks per game.

• Senior forward Trevor Jasinsky and senior guard/forward Siaan Rojas each finished with 15 points and five rebounds. Jasinsky also had eight assists and three steals. Jasinsky is sixth in the GNAC with 17 points per game and is second in the GNAC with a .873 free throw percentage. Rojas is averaging 8.3 points per game.

• Also adding to the double-digit party was senior center Logan Schilder with 14 points, junior guard Bryce Knox with 13 points, freshman guard D’Angelo Minnis and senior guard Leif Anderson with 11 points and sophomore guard RJ Secrest with 10 points.

• The Vikings enter the week ranked second in the GNAC with 85.2 points and 39.1 rebounds per game. The Vikings lead the GNAC and rank 14th in Division II with 4.9 blocked shots per game and 49 total blocks.

• The Vikings do not play again until Thursday, Jan. 2 when they host Central Washington.