WAC Men's Basketball Weekly Release - Feb. 24
SEATTLE U'S POWELL NAMED WAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Seattle U sophomore forward William Powell has been named Western Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week for the week of Feb. 16-23. This is his first-ever WAC Player of the Week honor.
The Huntsville, Ala., native averaged 14.0 points on 60 percent shooting from the field and 80 percent shooting at the free throw line, 7.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.0 steals per game as the Redhawks went 2-0 on the week. Powell opened the week with a career-high 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting to go along with six rebounds, two assists and a steal against Missouri-Kansas City. On Saturday against Chicago State, he finished with 11 points, eight rebounds, three assists, one block and one steal.
Other nominees included: Bakersfield's Javonte Maynor averaged 18.0 points on 57.1 percent shooting as the Roadrunners went 2-0 on the week ... Royce Woolridge of Grand Canyon averaged 14.0 points and 4.5 rebounds as the Antelopes went 1-1 on the week ... UMKC's Martez Harrison averaged a WAC-best 20.0 points to go along with 4.0 assists and 2.0 steals ... Daniel Mullings of New Mexico State averaged 13.5 points, 3.5 assists, 2.5 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 1.5 blocks as the Aggies won the WAC regular-season title with a pair of wins ... Texas-Pan American's Shaquille Hines averaged 12.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.0 steals over two games last week ... Marcel Davis of Utah Valley averaged 13.0 points on 54.5 percent shooting, 5.5 assists and 2.0 rebounds as the Wolverines went 1-1 on the week.
WAC STAT LEADERS
New Mexico State leads the WAC in scoring (68.7), scoring defense (60.0), scoring margin (8.8), field goal percentage (46.4), three-point field goal percentage defense (29.2), rebounding (35.6), rebounding defense (28.9), rebounding margin (6.8), blocks (3.55), and offensive rebounds (12.69). Seattle U is tops in field goal percentage defense (40.4), three-point field goal percentage (39.1), assists (14.27), assist-turnover ratio (1.08), defensive rebounds (24.31) and three-pointers per game (7.12), while Missouri-Kansas City leads the WAC in steals (8.25) and turnover margin (2.79). Bakersfield leads the league in free throw percentage (72.5).
Individually, UTPA's Janari Joesaar leads the WAC in scoring (17.9) and minutes per game (34.79), while New Mexico State's Pascal Siakam is tops in field goal percentage (58.4) and blocks (1.66). Kevin Mays of Bakersfield leads the league in rebounding (8.0) and offensive rebounds (3.36), while teammates Aly Ahmed and Brent Wrapp are tops in defensive rebounds (4.92) and assist-turnover ratio (2.5), respectively. Marcel Davis of Utah Valley is tops in assists (4.27), while teammate Donte Williams leads the WAC in free throw percentage (82.1). Seattle U's Isiah Umipig is tops in three-pointers per game (3.65), UMKC's Martez Harrison leads the league in steals (1.82) and Ian Baker of New Mexico State is tops in three-point percentage (47.7).
In WAC games only, New Mexico State leads the league in scoring defense (52.8), scoring margin (14.5), field goal percentage (47.8), three-point field goal percentage defense (27.6), rebounding (34.8), rebounding defense (25.9), rebounding margin (8.9) and defensive rebounds (23.42). Grand Canyon is tops in scoring (70.0), three-point field goal percentage (38.3), assist-turnover ratio (1.41) and three-pointers per game (7.27). UMKC tops the WAC in blocks (3.82, steals (6.64) and turnover margin (4.36), while Chicago State leads the WAC in free throw percentage (75.7) and offensive rebounds (12.36). Seattle U is tops in field goal percentage defense (39.2), while Utah Valley leads the league in assists (13.64).
Individually in WAC games, Harrison is tops in scoring (17.6), while Siakam leads the league in rebounding (8.3), field goal percentage (62.9) and offensive rebounds (3.42). Davis leads the WAC in assists (4.73), while Joesaar is tops in free throw percentage (89.1) and minutes per game (36.33). Seattle U's Emerson Murray and Baker are tied for the lead in steals (1.67), while Baker is tops in three-point field goal percentage (48.8). Bakersfield's Javonte Maynor leads the WAC in three-pointers per game (3.0), while UTPA's Dan Kimasa is tops in blocks (1.83). Wrapp leads the league in assist-turnover ratio (3.50), while New Mexico State's Tshilidzi Nephawe is tops in defensive rebounds (5.0).
NEW MEXICO STATE WINS FIRST OUTRIGHT WAC REGULAR-SEASON TITLE
When it defeated Grand Canyon on Feb. 21, New Mexico State won its first-ever outright WAC regular-season title. It is the Aggies second WAC regular-season title overall, as they shared it with three other teams in 2007-08. NM State last won an outright conference championship in 1993-94 when the Aggies won the Big West regular-season title. NM State has also clinched the No. 1 seed for the WAC Tournament.
NM STATE'S NEPHAWE JOINS 1,000 POINT CLUB, MOVES INTO TOP 10 IN REBOUNDING
New Mexico State senior Tshilidzi Nephawe became the 32nd player in Aggie history to score 1,000 career points with a free throw in the first half at Grand Canyon on Feb. 21. Nephawe currently stands with 1,008 career points. He has also moved into eighth place in career rebounding at NM State with 723 career boards.
UMKC's HARRISON JOINS 1,000 POINT CLUB
Missouri-Kansas City sophomore guard Martez Harrison scored his 1,000th career point on a three-pointer with 10:41 left in the game at Bakersfield on Feb. 21, becoming the 10th UMKC player to join the 1,000-point club (1,015). He is also the fourth fastest player to do it, accomplishing the feat in 58 games.
SEATTLE U'S UMIPIG SCORES 1,000TH CAREER POINT
Seattle U's senior Isiah Umipig hit a three-pointer with 10:41 remaining in the second half against Chicago State on Feb. 21 to move him past the 1,000-point mark for his Seattle U career. He became the 36th player to achieve that total in Seattle U history and just the 13th SU player to reach that milestone in the span of two seasons or less.
UTPA'S KIMASA CLIMBING BLOCK CHARTS
Texas-Pan American freshman Dan Kimasa set the freshman record for blocks in a season with his 40th on Feb. 19 at Grand Canyon. He currently ranks fifth all-time in the UTPA single-season record books, two behind fourth place and six shy of third.
NM STATE'S SIAKAM CLIMBING SINGLE-SEASON BLOCKS CHART
New Mexico State redshirt freshman Pascal Siakam recorded three blocks last week to increase his WAC-leading total to 48, the ninth-most in a single season in NM State history. He is three blocks away of a tie for sixth place and 10 shy of third place (58).
AGGIES ON NINE-GAME WINNING STREAK
New Mexico State is currently on a nine-game winning streak, the longest in the WAC this season. It is the second-longest win streak in the Marvin Menzies era at NM State behind the 12-game win streak in 2013 and the third-longest win streak since NM State joined the WAC (13-game win streak in 2006-07).
UMKC'S HARRISON 43-GAME DOUBLE-DIGIT SCORING STREAK SNAPPED
Missouri-Kansas City sophomore guard Martez Harrison saw his 43-game double-digit scoring streak come to an end on Feb. 14 at Chicago State when he finished with nine points. Harrison's streak was good for second place all-time at UMKC. He has reached double-digit scoring in 55 of his 58 career games as a Kangaroo.
UTPA'S JOESAAR POSTS 12TH 20-POINT GAME
Texas-Pan American sophomore Janari Joesaar posted his WAC-leading 12th 20-point game this season against Seattle U on Feb. 14, finishing with 23. He has more 20-point games than last year's leader, Javorn Farrell, did (eight) with a minimum of three games remaining this season.
NEW MEXICO STATE WINS 27TH STRAIGHT WAC GAME AT HOME
After defeating Seattle U and Bakersfield on Feb. 12 and Feb. 14, New Mexico State has now won 27 straight WAC games at the Pan American Center, dating back to Jan. 26, 2012. The Aggies are also 50-4 in their last 54 games at the Pan American Center and have had three home winning streaks of 11 games or more since the 2011-12 season.
UMKC SURPASSES WIN TOTAL FROM LAST YEAR
Missouri-Kansas City surpassed its win total from a year ago with a 61-50 road win at Chicago State on Feb. 14. It was the ‘Roos 11th win of the season, the most since the 2010-11 season when they won 16 games.
UTPA'S BOGA NABS 100TH CAREER STEAL
At the 6:54 mark in the second half at Chicago State on Feb. 7, Texas-Pan American senior Shaquille Boga nabbed his 100th career steal. The guard now has 103 steals on his career, 13 shy of the all-time program Top 10 list.
SEATTLE U SETS SCHOOL RECORD FOR POINTS ALLOWED FOR SECOND TIME
For the second time in the span of two weeks, Seattle U held an opponent to a historically low point total, allowing just 31 points in its Feb. 21 win over Chicago State. Seattle U prevented the Cougars from scoring a single point over a 16-minute stretch that spanned the end of the first half and the first 10 minutes of the second half. It is the lowest point total accumulated by a Division I opponent in the history of the Seattle U program, besting the previous mark of 33 points established two weeks prior by Utah Valley in Seattle U's 55-33 win over the Wolverines.
MULLINGS MOVES INTO SIXTH PLACE IN NM STATE CAREER SCORING
New Mexico State senior Daniel Mullings moved into sixth place on the NM State career scoring list on Jan. 31 against Texas-Pan American. He currently has 1,629 career points, 22 shy of fifth place and 233 away from the record of 1,862 held by Eric Channing (1998-02).
UMKC'S HARRISON DISHES OUT 200TH CAREER ASSIST
Missouri-Kansas City point guard Martez Harrison dished out his 200th career assist at the 12:17 mark of the second half in a win over Utah Valley on Jan. 31. The sophomore now has 223 dimes in his two-year career at UMKC.
BAKERSFIELD'S MAYS HAS 10 GAMES WITH 10 OR MORE REBOUNDS
With 10 rebounds at Texas-Pan American on Feb. 12, Bakersfield's Kevin Mays now has a WAC-leading 10 games with 10 or more rebounds this season. He is currently averaging a WAC-best 8.0 boards per game.
SEATTLE U'S UMIPIG CLIMBING CAREER THREE-POINTERS CHART
In just his second season with the program, Seattle U's Isiah Umipig currently ranks second all-time on the Seattle U career three-pointers list with 201, 38 shy of the record. The senior currently ranks third in the nation in both three-pointers per game (3.65) and three-pointers made (95).
CSUB'S MAYNOR HITS 200TH CAREER THREE-POINTER
His three-pointer with three seconds remaining in the game against Grand Canyon on Feb. 7 was the 200th of his career for Bakersfield senior Javonte Maynor. In his third season with the Roadrunners, Maynor ranks second all-time with 213 career three-pointers. He trails only Kenny Warren, who hit 278 treys from 1990-94 in Division II.
SEATTLE U'S FLORA PLAYS IN 100TH CAREER GAME
His team's victory over New Mexico State on Jan. 17 was the 100th career game for Seattle U senior Jarell Flora. The guard, who has now played in 109 career games, is in his fifth season with the team, having redshirted the 2010-11 season.
CHICAGO STATE'S ROSENBERG DISHES OUT 200TH CAREER ASSIST
Chicago State senior Clarke Rosenberg dished out his 200th career assist on Jan. 10 at Texas-Pan American. Rosenberg dished to Trayvon Palmer for a three-pointer with 13:54 left in the game and now has 224 assists on his career.
BAKERSFIELD'S CORBIN RECORDS 100TH CAREER ASSIST
Bakersfield senior Tyrell Corbin had one assist at Grand Canyon on Jan. 10, the 100th of his career. In his second season with the Roadrunners, the guard now has 125 assists on his career.
NM STATE'S BAKER HITS GAME-WINNERS IN BACK-TO-BACK GAMES
New Mexico State sophomore Ian Baker hit a pair of game-winning shots in leading NM State to a pair of wins. 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.
GCU'S GARRISON HITS TWO MILESTONES 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 103 career treys and has played in 115 career games.
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 1,165 points, Rosenberg ranks sixth all-time in career scoring at Chicago State.
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.
UMKC SETS SCHOOL RECORD FOR STEALS IN A GAME
Missouri-Kansas City 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.
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).