GRAND CANYON’S BRAUN NAMED WAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Grand Canyon freshman guard Joshua Braun has been named Western Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for the week of Dec. 15-21. This is his first-ever WAC Player of the Week honor.
The Anthem, Ariz., native averaged 18.3 points on 66.7 percent shooting from the field and 54.5 percent from three-point range to go along with 6.7 rebounds per game as the Antelopes went 2-1 last week. Braun opened the week with 13 points and a career-high eight rebounds in a win over Bethune-Cookman. In a two-point loss to Incarnate Word two days later, he finished with a career-high 22 points on 8-of-11 (73 percent) shooting to go with six rebounds while playing a career-high 39 minutes. He closed out the week with 20 points and six rebounds in a win over St. Edward’s. Braun entered the week averaging 6.4 points and 3.3 rebounds per game and with three double-digit scoring games last week now has five on the season.
Other nominees included: Bakersfield’s Aly Ahmed averaged 14.0 points and 8.0 rebounds over three games ... Clarke Rosenberg of Chicago State averaged 15.5 points on 55 percent shooting and 3.0 rebounds over two games last week ... New Mexico State’s Pascal Siakam averaged 14.0 points on 55 percent shooting, 5.0 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 2.0 assists in a pair of losses ... Jarell Flora of Seattle U averaged 18.7 points and 5.7 rebounds over two games last week ... Texas-Pan American’s Shaquille Hones averaged 15.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists in a pair of losses ... Mitch Bruneel of Utah Valley finished with 21 points on 75 percent shooting and nine rebounds in a loss to Weber State.
WAC STAT LEADERS
Seattle U leads the WAC in three-point field goal percentage (39.0), rebounding (38.6), rebounding defense (30.6), rebounding margin (8.0), assists (15.25), assist-turnover ratio (1.10), defensive rebounds (26.25) and three-pointers per game (8.08). Bakersfield is tops in scoring defense (62.2), free throw percentage (71.2) and field goal percentage defense (39.1), while Missouri-Kansas City leads the league in scoring (71.5), steals (10.08) and turnover margin (3.75). New Mexico State leads the WAC in scoring margin (2.4), field goal percentage (45.3) and offensive rebounds (13.67), while Grand Canyon is tops in three-point field goal percentage defense (28.9) and Texas-Pan American leads the league in blocks (4.17).
Individually, UTPA’s Janari Joesaar leads the WAC in scoring (18.9) and defensive rebounds (5.67), while Kevin Mays of Bakersfield leads the league in rebounding (9.3) and offensive rebounds (4.0). UTPA’s Shaquille Boga is tops in assists (4.27), assist-turnover ratio (1.81) and minutes per game (33.36), while UMKC’s Shayok Shayok leads the WAC in field goal percentage (56.0) and teammate Martez Harrison is tops in steals (2.58). Utah Valley’s Donte Williams leads the league in free throw percentage (85.3), while Seattle U’s Isiah Umipig is tops in three-pointers per game (4.17). Remi Barry of New Mexico State leads the WAC in three-point percentage (68.4), while teammate Pascal Siakam is tops in blocks (1.83).
GCU’S GARRISON HITS 100TH THREE-POINTER AND PLAYS 100TH GAME IN SAME WEEK
Grand Canyon senior guard Jerome Garrison hit his 100th career three-pointer on Dec. 17 against Incarnate Word. He followed it up with his 100th career game on Dec. 20 vs. St. Edward’s.
UMKC PLAYS FIRST TRIPLE OVERTIME GAME IN DIVISION I ERA
Missouri-Kansas City played its first triple overtime game in the Division I era (since 1987) and first OT game of Kareem Richardson’s career in a Dec. 20 110-104 loss to Incarnate Word. The last triple overtime game for UMKC was in 1982 at the NAIA level. It was also first 100-point game for UMKC since 2007.
BAKERSFIELD’S MAYNOR CLIMBING CAREER THREE-POINTERS MADE CHART
In his third season at Bakersfield, senior Javonte Maynor has 169 career three-pointers, good for second place all-time. He trails only Kenny Warren, who hit 278 three-pointers from 1990-94.
CHICAGO STATE’S ROSENBERG SCORES 1,000TH CAREER POINT
Chicago State senior Clarke Rosenberg became the ninth player in Cougar history to surpass 1,000 career points when he hit a layup with 10:52 remaining in the game at Southern Illinois on Dec. 14. With 1,032 points, Rosenberg ranks eighth all-time in career scoring at Chicago State, 66 points shy of seventh place.
SEATTLE U’S UMIPIG CLIMBING CAREER THREE-POINTERS MADE CHART
In just his second season with the program, Seattle U’s Isiah Umipig currently ranks fourth all-time on the Seattle U career three-pointers list with 156, 14 shy of second place. The senior currently ranks second in the nation in three-pointers per game (4.17) and Three-pointers made (50).
UMKC’S HARRISON EXTENDS DOUBLE-DIGIT SCORING STREAK TO 30 GAMES
Missouri-Kansas City sophomore guard Martez Harrison has reached double-digit scoring in all 12 games this season to extend his streak to 30 consecutive games, good for second place all-time at UMKC. He also has 13 career games with 20 or more points.
NEW MEXICO STATE’S 14-GAME HOME WINNING STREAK SNAPPED
When it fell 69-67 to instate rival New Mexico on Dec. 20, New Mexico State’s 14-game home winning streak was snapped. The Aggies are now 33-3 at the Pan American Center since the start of the 2012-13 season and have had three home winning streaks of 11 games or more since the 2011-12 season.
BAKERSFIELD LOSING IN HEARTBREAKING FASHION
Of Bakersfield’s 10 losses this season, nine have been my seven points or less. The Roadrunners have three one-point losses, two two-point losses, a four-point loss, a six-point loss and two seven-point losses. Bakersfield beat Idaho State on Dec. 20, snapping a six-game losing skid.