SEATTLE U’S UMIPIG NAMED WAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Seattle U senior guard Isiah Umipig has been named Western Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for the week of Dec. 29-Jan. 4. This is his first WAC Player of the Week honor of the season and the third of his career.
The Federal Way, Wash., native averaged 22.0 points, 5.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game over two games last week. Umipig scored the most points of any Seattle U player in a single game this season last Tuesday against UC Davis, finishing with 33 points on 11-of-21 shooting, including 7-of-15 from beyond the arc, as the Redhawks defeated the Aggies, 76-67. He also added six assists, four rebounds and three steals. Umipig scored 13 points during a Seattle U 18-4 run in the first half that gave the Redhawks a 12-point lead. He again keyed a significant Redhawk scoring run in the second half, scoring 12 points during a 15-4 Seattle U run that extended the Redhawk advantage to 63-45. After being held scoreless in the first half last Saturday at Cal State Fullerton, Umipig scored 11 points after halftime, hitting three three-pointers along the way. He has scored in double digits in all 14 games this season and extended his streak of double-digit scoring to 16 games dating back to last season.
Other nominees included: Bakersfield’s Dashawn Richmond averaged 21.5 points on 57 percent shooting to go along with 3.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.0 steals as the Roadrunners went 1-1 on the week ... DeWayne Russell of Grand Canyon averaged 16.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists as the Antelopes went 1-1 on the week ... New Mexico State’s Ian Baker hit a pair of game-winning shots and averaged 10.5 points, while shooting 70.0 percent from the floor, 75.0 percent from three-point range and 80.0 from the foul line, with 1.5 steals per game ... Janari Joesaar of Texas-Pan American averaged 24.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.0 steals in a pair of losses last week.
WAC STAT LEADERS
Seattle U leads the WAC in three-point field goal percentage (40.1), rebounding (37.6), rebounding defense (30.5), rebounding margin (7.1), assists (15.29), assist-turnover ratio (1.13), defensive rebounds (25.93) and three-pointers per game (8.21). New Mexico State is tops in scoring (69.4), scoring margin (4.5), field goal percentage (45.1), three-point field goal percentage defense (30.4) and offensive rebounds (13.44), while Bakersfield leads the league in scoring defense (61.1), free throw percentage (72.5) and field goal percentage defense (38.8). Missouri-Kansas City leads the WAC in steals (9.56) and turnover margin (2.63), and Texas-Pan American leads the league in blocks (3.79).
Individually, UTPA’s Janari Joesaar leads the WAC in scoring (19.7) and defensive rebounds (5.50), while Kevin Mays of Bakersfield leads the league in rebounding (8.2) and offensive rebounds (3.53). UTPA’s Shaquille Boga is tops in assist-turnover ratio (1.83) and minutes per game (33.31), while UMKC’s Martez Harrison leads the WAC in assists (4.19) and steals (2.19) and teammate Shayok Shayok is tops in field goal percentage (56.0). Bakersfield’s Aly Ahmed leads the league in free throw percentage (77.8), while Seattle U’s Isiah Umipig is tops in three-pointers per game (4.29). Remi Barry of New Mexico State leads the WAC in three-point percentage (60.0), while teammate Pascal Siakam is tops in blocks (2.0).
NM STATE’S BAKER HITS GAME-WINNERS IN BACK-TO-BACK GAMES
New Mexico State sophomore point guard Ian Baker collected a pair of game-winning shots in leading NM State to a pair of wins last week. Baker’s layup with 2.2 seconds to play beat Texas Southern 54-52 on Dec. 30, and his three-pointer with 4.6 seconds remaining downed UC Irvine 70-67 on Jan. 3. His trey with four seconds to play in regulation tied No. 24 Colorado State on Dec. 27, sending the game to overtime.
UMKC’S HARRISON HAS FIRST 30-POINT GAME IN THE WAC THIS SEASON
Missouri-Kansas City point guard Martez Harrison had a career-high 34 points in a double overtime win at Indiana State on Dec. 28. The 34 points are the highest for any player in the WAC this season and the most for a UMKC player since Dane Brumagin scored 35 in February of 2007. It was Harrison’s second 30-point output of his career, making him one of just 11 players to score 30 or more points twice in his UMKC career. He tallied 29 of his 34 points after halftime.
BAKERSFIELD GETS FIRST WAC WIN OVER PAC-12 SCHOOL SINCE 2011-12 SEASON
Bakersfield defeated California 55-52 in Berkeley on Dec. 28 for the WAC’s first win over a Pac-12 school since Dec. 21, 2011, when Fresno State beat Arizona State 68-65. It was also Bakersfield’s first-ever win over a Pac-12 school.
UMKC’S SMITH BLOCKS SEVEN SHOTS AGAINST INDIANA STATE
Missouri-Kansas City junior Thaddeus Smith tied a 23-year old school record on Dec. 28 with seven blocks against Indiana State. He matched the program high of Hall of Famer David Robinson, who set it in 1991.
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. He now has 102 career treys and has played in 104 career games.
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 174 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, 41 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 166, four shy of second place. The senior currently ranks second in the nation in three-pointers per game (4.29) and third in three-pointers made (60).
UMKC’S HARRISON EXTENDS DOUBLE-DIGIT SCORING STREAK TO 34 GAMES
Missouri-Kansas City sophomore guard Martez Harrison has reached double-digit scoring in all 16 games this season to extend his streak to 34 consecutive games, good for second place all-time at UMKC. He also has 15 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 43-4 in their last 47 games at the Pan American Center 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 11 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.
NM STATE’S MULLINGS MOVES INTO NINTH PLACE IN PROGRAM HISTORY IN SCORING
New Mexico State senior Daniel Mullings moved into ninth place on the NM State career scoring list on Nov. 26. Sidelined with a broken finger, he has 1,512 career points, nine shy of eighth place and 350 away from the record of 1,862 held by Eric Channing (1998-02).
MISSOURI-KANSAS CITY SETS SCHOOL RECORD FOR STEALS IN A GAME
UMKC broke the school record for steals in a game with 22 against William Jewell on Nov. 29, besting the previous mark of 18 set in 2003 vs. Oklahoma State. The ‘Roos also forced 33 turnovers, matching the school record set in 2003 against Norfolk State.
BAKERSFIELD PLAYS PROGRAM’S LONGEST GAME IN SEASON OPENER
Bakersfield opened the season with a 100-99 quadruple overtime loss to High Point in the first game of the Rainbow Classic in Honolulu. It was the first time the ‘Runners played a quadruple overtime game, making it their longest contest since Feb. 11, 1989 at Cal State LA.
MISSOURI-KANSAS CITY BEATS MISSOURI FOR FIRST TIME IN SCHOOL HISTORY
Missouri-Kansas City opened the season with a 69-61 win at Missouri, the program’s first-ever win over the Tigers in school history (1-3). The victory was also the ‘Roos first over a BCS school since a 2003 victory against Kansas State.
WAC TOURNAMENT RETURNS TO LAS VEGAS
The 2015 WAC Basketball Tournament returns to the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas for the fifth year in a row. The tournament will be held March 11-14, and will include all seven eligible men’s and women’s teams.
ESPNU TO TELEVISE WAC TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES
ESPN will once again broadcast the WAC men’s and women’s tournament championship games from the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas on March 14. The women’s game will be broadcast on ESPNU at 1 p.m. (PT). The men’s championship game will also be broadcast by ESPNU at 8 p.m. (PT).