Tuesday, December 27, 2022

TESTS AGAINST DIVISION II COMPETITION IN OAHU: A trip to Hawaii was far from vacation for three GNAC squads which tested their mettle against other Division II foes at the Hoops In Hawaii Holiday Classic in Honolulu.

Both Saint Martin’s and Simon Fraser came through the tournament with 2-1 records. The Saints opened with a 79-73 win over Emmanuel (Ga.) on Dec. 17 before taking a 107-97 overtime loss to Chaminade on Dec. 18 that saw SMU rebound from 10 points down with six minutes left. The tournament ended with the Saints scoring a 77-65 win over Texas Permian Basin on Dec. 19.

The Red Leafs started off with a 79-73 win over Hawaii Pacific on Dec. 17 before dropping a 76-66 decision to St Edward’s on Dec. 18. They ended strong with a 74-69 victory over Chaminade on Dec. 19.

The two wins allowed Saint Martin’s to improve to 10-2 on the season, but the loss on Dec. 18 ended a four-game win streak for the Saints. Simon Fraser improved to 5-6 on the year.

Western Washington went 1-2 in Hawaii to cap a four-game week. The Vikings took a 76-66 to Texas Permian Basin on Dec. 17 and a 105-98 loss to Emmanuel (Ga.) on Dec. 18 before closing with a 70-69 victory over Hawaii Pacific on Dec. 19.

Four GNAC players were named to the All-Tournament Team. Saint Martin’s junior guard Kyle Greeley and Simon Fraser sophomore forward Georges Lefebvre were named to the first team. Saints’ junior guard Christian Haffner and Western Washington junior guard D’Angelo Minnis earned second-team honors.

Minnis was named the GNAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week after he averaged 18.3 points per game across the four games, shooting 64.3% from the field and 68.4% from three-point range.

Montana State Billings was the other conference team to travel to a tournament, participating in the South Point Holiday Hoops Classic in Las Vegas. The Yellowjackets collected a split with a 75-70 win over Missouri S&T on Dec. 17 and a 59-55 loss to Angelo State on Dec. 18.

The teams that stayed close to home scored some big non-conference wins. Alaska hosted Portland Bible for back-to-back games on Dec. 16 and 17, winning 97-26 and 104-43. Central Washington collected a trio of blowouts, winning 135-87 over Evergreen State on Dec. 12, 129-61 over Langara on Dec. 14 and 87-59 over Walla Walla on Dec. 19.

Conference teams now turn their attention back to each other, ringing in the New Year with the second week of GNAC play. The two teams that went 2-1 in Hawaii, Saint Martin’s and Simon Fraser, square off in Lacey, Washington on Thursday while the Saints and Western Washington play on Saturday. Other highlighted games include Montana State Billings hosting Central Washington on Thursday and Northwest Nazarene on Saturday and Alaska Anchorage hosting Alaska on Saturday.

The Seawolves close non-conference for the season with two games against Portland Bible on Wednesday and Thursday.

THIS WEEK'S GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
D’Angelo Minnis
Western Washington
G • 5-10 • Jr. • Kent, Wash.

In a four-game run, Minnis averaged 18.3 points per game to lead the Vikings to a 2-2 week. In the four games, Minnis shot 64.3% from the field 68.4% from three-point range. Minnis led WWU with 23 points in last Monday’s 135-87 win over Langara, making 9 of 10 from the field and 5 of 5 from long range. Minnis scored 12 points in Saturday’s 76-66 loss to Texas Permian Basin at the Hoops In Hawaii Holiday Classic and connected for 25 points in Sunday’s 105-98 overtime loss to Emmanuel (Ga.), making 5 of 7 from three-point range. On Monday, Minnis scored 13 points on 5 of 7 from the field and 3 of 4 from three-point range in Monday’s 70-69 win over Hawaii Pacific.

Also Nominated: Jaycson Bereal, Jr. (Alaska), Matt Poquette (Central Washington), Carrington Wiggins (Montana State Billings), Gabriel Murphy (Northwest Nazarene), Kyle Greeley (Saint Martin’s), Georges Lefebvre (Simon Fraser), Qiant Myers (Western Oregon).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA
• Alaska closed out its non-conference schedule with a pair of blowout victories over Portland Bible, winning 97-26 on Dec. 16 and 104-43 on Dec. 17.

• In the Dec. 16 game, Alaska limited the Arrows to just nine field goals made, tying the GNAC single-game record for fewest opponent field goals in a game. The Nanooks share the record with Western Oregon, which limited Portland Bible to nine made shots on Dec. 29, 2018.

• Junior forward Jaycon Bereal, Jr. averaged 17 points and 6.5 rebounds per game in the two wins, shooting 65.2% from the field. He led the Nanooks’ on Dec. 16, finishing with 19 points on 8 of 13 from the field with eight rebounds, three assists and three steals. Bereal’s ledger on Dec. 17 included 15 points on 7 of 10 from the field with five rebounds, three blocks and two assists. Bereal is averaging 10.7 points and 5.8 rebounds per game in nine games.

• Freshman forward Tyler Mrus averaged 14 points and four rebounds per game, shooting 65% from the field in the wins. After finishing with nine points on Dec. 16, Mrus led the Nanooks on Dec. 17 with 19 points on 9 of 12 from the field. Mrus enters the week averaging 11.6 points per game.

• Junior forward/center Mawich Kachjaani finished with a double-double in the Dec. 17 game, finishing with 12 points and 12 rebounds in 26 minutes off the bench.

• Alaska is averaging 75 points and 36.6 rebounds per game. The Nanooks lead the GNAC and rank 10th in Division II with a .802 free-throw percentage. They rank fifth in Division II in field goal percentage defense (.376).

• The Nanooks player just once this week, traveling to play at Alaska Anchorage on Saturday.

ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• Alaska Anchorage returns to the court for the first time Dec. 3 this week, hosting Portland Bible for non-conference games on Wednesday and Thursday before hosting Alaska for a conference tilt on Saturday.

• Alaska Anchorage dropped both games in the opening conference weekend at home, falling 81-77 in overtime to Montana State Billings on Dec. 1 and 90-87 to Seattle Pacific on Dec. 3.

• Senior guard Da’Zhon Wyche led the way for the Seawolves, averaging 21 points per game with 11 assists. Wyche connected for 15 points with three rebounds and three assists against Montana State Billings. He then led all scorers with 27 points against Seattle Pacific on 12 of 24 from the field to go with two rebounds and eight assists. Wyche is third in the GNAC with 17.2 points and five assists per game.

• Junior guard Dathan Satchell averaged 13 points per game while shooting 75% from the field and 70% from three-point range. Satchell led UAA with 19 points against Montana State Billings on 7 of 9 from the field and 5 of 7 from three-point range. Satchell scored seven points against Seattle Pacific, making 2 of 3 from three-point range. Satchell is averaging 9.3 points per game.

• Junior forward Jaedon Bradley averaged 12.5 points and six rebounds per game. Bradley scored 16 points and pulled down eight rebounds against Montana State Billings before adding nine points and four rebounds against Seattle Pacific. Bradley is averaging 10.8 points and four rebounds per game on the season.

• Alaska Anchorage is fourth in the GNAC in scoring with 79.6 points per game and averages 29.8 rebounds per game. The Seawolves are first in the conference with nine steals per game and rank third in the GNAC and 23rd in Division II with 16.9 assists per game. The Seawolves are fourth in Division II with a 7.7 margin.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington closed non-conference play with a trio of routs. The Wildcats took a 111-38 win over Evergreen State on Dec. 12, a 129-61 win over Langara on Dec. 14 and an 87-59 victory over Walla Walla on Dec. 19.

• Junior guard Camron McNeil averaged 17 points per game in the three wins to lead the Wildcats, shooting 62.8% from the field and 53.8% from three-point range. McNeil led the way with 17 points and seven rebounds against Evergreen. He added 11 points against Langara before going off for 23 points against Walla Walla on 10 of 15 from the field. McNeil is fifth in the GNAC with 16 points per game and a .509 three-point percentage. He ranks second in the GNAC with 2.45 three-pointers per game.

• Junior forward Samaad Hector averaged 16 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, making 64.2% from the field. Hector finished with 14 points and eight rebounds against Evergreen. He led the way against Langara with 19 points and seven rebounds and had a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds against Walla Walla. Hector is averaging 11.6 points per game and ranks fifth in the GNAC with 6.4 rebounds per game.

• Senior forward Matt Poquette averaged 14.3 points per game. He scored 17 points on 7 of 11 from the field against Evergreen before adding 16 points and nine rebounds against Langara. Poquette is averaging 12.3 points per game and ranks fourth in the GNAC with 6.6 rebounds per game.

• Central Washington is averaging 76.7 points per game and is tied for third in the GNAC with 38.8 rebounds per game. The Wildcats are second in the GNAC and 19th in Division II in three-point defense (.285) and rank third in the GNAC in field goal percentage (.491).

• Central Washington hits the road in the return to conference play, traveling to Montana State Billings on Thursday and Seattle Pacific on Saturday.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings split its contests at the South Point Holiday Hoops Classic in Las Vegas, scoring a 75-70 win over Missouri S&T on Dec. 17 before taking a 59-55 loss to Angelo State on Dec. 18.

• Senior guard Carrington Wiggins led the way again for Montana State Billings offensively, averaging 17.5 points per game. Wiggins finished with 25 points against Missouri S&T, making 8 of 19 from the field and 3 of 8 from three-point range. He added 10 points against Angelo State with four rebounds and five assists. Wiggins is second in the GNAC in scoring with 17.8 points per game. He is ninth in Division II with a .935 free-throw percentage.

• Senior forward Bilal Shabazz averaged 12 points and 10 rebounds per game. Shabazz had a double-double against Missouri S&T, finishing with 10 points and 13 rebounds. He added a 14-point, seven-rebound performance against Angelo State. Shabazz is averaging 11.8 points per game and ranks second in the GNAC with 7.7 rebounds per contest.

• Junior guard Steven Richardson averaged 11.5 points per game, paced by his 18 points and five rebounds against Missouri S&T which included an 8 for 12 performance from the free-throw line. Richardson is average 11.4 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.

• Montana State Billings enters the week averaging 69.8 points and 33.9 rebounds per game.

• Montana State Billings returns home to re-start conference play, hosting Central Washington on Thursday and Northwest Nazarene on Saturday.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene dropped a close game in its only contest last week, falling 54-51 to Texas A&M International on Dec. 19.

• Junior forward Gabriel Murphy led the Nighthawks with a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds in 31 minutes, shooting 5 of 10 from the field with four assists. Murphy is averaging 12.5 points per game. He leads the GNAC and ranks 14th in Division II with 9.8 rebounds per game.

• Sophomore forward Aaron Murphy also scored 12 points in 22 minutes off the bench, connecting on 6 of 7 from the field. He also has seven rebounds and two steals. Murphy is averaging 4.1 points per game and is shooting 53.6% from the field.

• Sophomore guard Tru Allen and sophomore guard Yaru Harvey each scored nine points in the loss. Allen continues to rank second in the GNAC with 2.1 steals per game.

• Northwest Nazarene is averaging 68.8 points per game and is second in the GNAC with 39.9 rebounds per game. The Nighthawks rank fifth in Division II with 14.8 offensive rebounds per game.

• The Nighthawks hit the road in the return to GNAC play, traveling to Seattle Pacific on Thursday and Montana State Billings on Saturday.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s went 2-1 at the Hoops In Hawaii Holiday Classic. The Saints opened with a 76-71 win over Emmanuel (Ga.) on Dec. 17 before taking a 107-97 overtime loss to Chaminade on Dec. 18. The trip closed with a 77-65 win over Texas Permian Basin on Dec. 19.

• Junior guard Kyle Greeley averaged 20.7 points per game to lead the SMU offense, connecting on 63.4% from the field to earn Hoops In Hawaii All-Tournament Team honors. Greeley scored 10 points against Emmanuel and led the way against Chaminade with 28 points on 12 of 15 from the field and 3 of 4 from three-point range. Against Texas Permian Basin, Greeley was also the leading scorer with 24 points on 10 of 13 from the field. Greeley is fourth in the GNAC with 16.3 points per game and ranks third with a .635 field goal percentage.

• Junior guard Christian Haffner averaged 11.7 points per game in Hawaii, shooting 57.8% from the field, and was named to the All-Tournament Team. Haffner came off the bench for 12 points against Emmanuel and Chaminade before posting an 11-point performance against Texas Permian Basin. Haffner enters the week averaging seven points per game.

• Junior forward Nathaniel Stokes was the team’s leading rebounder, averaging 6.3 boards per game. His week was paced by a seven-rebound performance against Chaminade and eight against Texas Permian Basin.

• Saint Martin’s is third in the GNAC in scoring at 82.2 points per game with an average of 37.8 rebounds per game. The Saints lead the conference and are eighth in Division II with 10.9 three-pointers per game.

• Saint Martin’s dropped to No. 23 in the latest D2SIDA Media Poll and remains among the teams receiving votes in the NABC Division II Coaches Poll.

• Saint Martin’s resumes conference play at home, hosting Simon Fraser on Thursday and Western Washington on Saturday.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• Seattle Pacific dropped both of its SoCal road contests to end non-conference play, taking an 86-75 loss to Cal State San Marcos on Dec. 17 and an 80-74 loss at Cal State Dominguez Hills on Dec. 19.

• Sophomore guard Syon Blackman led the Falcons offensively, averaging 16.5 points per game and shooting 65% from the field and 50% from three-point range. Blackman finished with 14 points at Cal State San Marcos on 6 of 8 from the field. He led the Falcons with 19 points at Cal State Dominguez Hills on 7 of 12 from the field and 5 of 9 from three-point range. Blackman is averaging 7.2 points per game.

• Junior forward Shaw Anderson averaged 16 points and five rebounds per game, shooting 52% from the field. Anderson was the leading scorer at Cal State San Marcos with 16 points on 7 of 13 from the field with five rebounds. He added 16 points and five rebounds at Cal State Dominguez Hills, connecting on 6 of 12 from the field. Anderson leads the GNAC in scoring at 19.9 points per game and is third with a .850 free-throw percentage.

• Sophomore forward Kelton Samore averaged 13 points per game and shot 58.8% from the field. His week included 10 points at Cal State San Marcos and 16 points at Cal State Dominguez Hills. Samore enters the week averaging 10.1 points per game.

• Seattle Pacific is second in the GNAC with 83.3 points per game and is also averaging 33.4 rebounds per game. The Falcons lead the GNAC and rank 20th in Division II with a .402 three-point percentage.

• The Falcons are home to re-start conference play, hosting Northwest Nazarene on Thursday and Central Washington on Saturday.

SIMON FRASER
• Playing for the first time since Dec. 5, Simon Fraser went 2-1 at the Hoops In Hawaii Holiday Classic in Honolulu. The Red Leafs picked up a 79-73 win over Hawaii Pacific on Dec. 17 and a 74-69 win over Chaminade on Dec. 19. The loss was on Dec. 18, falling 76-66 to St. Edward’s.

• Sophomore forward Georges Lefebvre led the way for the Red Leafs, averaging 13.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. He was named to the Hoops In Hawaii All-Tournament Team. Lefebvre opened with eight points and four rebounds against Hawaii Pacific before leading SFU with 16 points and 11 rebounds against St. Edward’s. He closed the trip with 17 points and five rebounds against Chaminade on 8 of 11 from the field. Lefebvre enters the week averaging 10.4 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.

• Sophomore guard Elliot Dimaculangan averaged 11.3 points per game with 10 assists. After opening the tournament with eight points against Hawaii Pacific, Dimaculangan connected for 14 again St. Edward’s on 6 of 12 from the field. He closed with 12 points and four assists against Chaminade. Dimaculangan is averaging 7.6 points per game in 11 games and four starts.

• Freshman guard/forward Immanuel Oludele averaged 10.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. Oludele led SFU starters with 16 points against Hawaii Pacific. He added eight points against St. Edward’s before ending with seven points and eight rebounds against Chaminade. Oludele leads the Red Leafs in scoring with 10.6 points per game.

• The Red Leafs are averaging 71.1 points per game and are tied for third in the GNAC with 38.8 rebounds per game. Simon Fraser leads the GNAC and is fifth in Division II with 5.8 blocks per game.

• Simon Fraser hits the road for the final weekend of December, traveling to Saint Martin’s on Thursday and Western Oregon on Saturday.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon closed out non-conference play by taking a 97-92 home loss to Cal Poly Humboldt on Dec. 13 and a 97-64 road loss at Division I BYU on Dec. 15.

• Junior guard Cameron Cranston averaged 18 points per game in the two contests. Cranston was the Wolves’ leading scorer against Cal Poly Humboldt, finishing with 22 points in 34 minutes. He also led the Wolves at BYU with 14 points on 5 of 11 from the field with three rebounds. Cranston ranks seventh in the GNAC in scoring at 14.8 points per game.

• Senior forward John Morrill-Keeler averaged 12.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game with seven assists. The week started with a 13-point, 11-rebound performance against Cal Poly Humboldt, shooting 6 of 8 from the field. He finished with 12 points and six rebounds at BYU, making 5 of 9 from the field. Morrill-Keeler is averaging 11.4 points per game on the season and tied for sixth in the GNAC with six rebounds per game.

• Sophomore guard Qiant Myers had an impressive 22 assists in the two games. Myers just missed a double-double with 13 assists and nine rebounds against Cal Poly Humboldt. He went on to add a nine-assist performance at BYU. Myers leads the GNAC and ranks fourth in Division II with 6.4 assists per game while ranking 21st with 58 total assists.

• Western Oregon is averaging 73.8 points and 34.4 rebounds per game. The Wolves rank third in the GNAC and 24th in Division II with 4.4 blocks per game.

• The Wolves will play three straight at home as they return to GNAC play, beginning by hosting Western Washington on Thursday and Simon Fraser on Saturday.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Western Washington went 2-2 in a busy four-game week. After opening on Dec. 12 with a 135-87 rout of Langara at home, the Vikings went 1-2 at the Hoops In Hawaii Holiday Classic. They took losses to Texas Permian Basin on Saturday, 76-66, and to Emmanuel (Ga.) in overtime on Sunday, 105-98. The tournament ended with a 70-69 victory over Hawaii Pacific on Monday.

• Junior guard D’Angelo Minnis was named the GNAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week after averaging 18.3 points per game in the four games, shooting 64.3% from the floor and 68.4% from three-point range. Minnis led WWU with 23 points against Langara, going 9 of 10 from the field and 5 of 5 from three-point range. He scored 12 against Texas Permian Basin before connecting for 25 points against Emmanuel (Ga.). Minnis closed the week with a 13-point performance against Hawaii Pacific. Minnis is eighth in the GNAC in scoring with 14.6 points per game and ranks ninth with a .570 field goal percentage.

• Junior forward Jonathan Ned averaged 12.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game in the four-game stretch. He scored double digits in three of the four games, connecting for 11 against Langara, 13 against Texas Permian Basin and 20 points against Emmanuel (Ga.) on 7 of 15 from the field. Ned enters the week averaging 11.9 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.

• Western Washington leads the GNAC and ranks sixth in Division II in scoring, averaging 91.4 points per game. The Vikings are second in the GNAC and 15th in Division II with 10.5 three-pointers per game.

• The Vikings take to the road to end 2022, traveling to Western Oregon on Thursday and Saint Martin’s on Saturday.