Monday, February 13, 2023

PORTLAND, Ore. – Saint Martin’s extended its win streak to nine games last week with a pair of victories over Seattle Pacific and Montana State Billings to firmly stay in regular-season title contention and earn GNAC Team of the Week recognition.

Saint Martin’s opened the week with a 94-76 win over Seattle Pacific on Thursday with a strong team effort that saw four SMU players score in double digits. The Saints’ perimeter defense was a strength against SPU as they limited the Falcons, who enter the week fourth in Division II in three-point percentage, to 22.2% from three-point range while knocking down 36% of their own opportunities from long range.

Junior guard Kyle Greeley led all players in scoring with 23 points to go with four rebounds and three assists. Greeley did his damage efficiently, shooting 11 for 13 from the field.

Sophomore guard Jaden Nielsen-Skinner backed up Greeley with 22 points while adding 10 assists for his first double-double of the season. Nielsen-Skinner also finished with three rebounds and two steals.

On Saturday, Saint Martin’s took down the top team in the conference, defeating Montana State Billings 84-61 in Lacey. The Saints came out of the gates strong, holding the Yellowjackets’ offense to just 37.9% from the field and 23.1% from three-point range in the first half. While the defense shut down MSUB, the offense went to work, shooting 55.2% from the field and 50% from long range in the first frame to give the Saints a 42-29 lead going into halftime.

The Saints closed out the game shooting 51.5% from the field and 46.6% from three-point range in the second half and outscored the Yellowjackets 41-32. Saturday’s win was an even more balanced team effort for SMU with five players scoring in the double digits. Among the five players, Nielsen-Skinner doubled down with his second double-double of the season with 10 points and 13 assists to go with one rebound and two steals.

Junior guard Tyke Thompson led the team in Saturday’s win with 17 points on 6 of 11 from the field, 3 of 6 from three-point range and 2 of 2 from the free-throw line. Thompson also finished with six rebounds, five assists and three steals.

“Last week was a collective effort, a lot of guys stepped up, especially Jaden Nielsen-Skinner,” head coach Aaron Landon said. “He led by example with what we needed to do and the rest of us followed him.”

Saint Martin’s will look to keep the good times rolling this week when it takes the Alaska road trip to face the Seawolves on Thursday and the Nanooks on Saturday.