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MISSOURI-KANSAS CITY'S BOYD NAMED WAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Missouri-Kansas City junior guard LaVell Boyd has been named Western Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week for the week of Feb. 29-March 6. This is his first-ever WAC Player of the Week honor.
The Chicago native scored a career-high 26 points on 8-of-15 shooting, including 50 percent from three-point range (5-of-10) in a Roos victory Saturday in his hometown. Boyd also added five rebounds, four assists and a steal in a must-win game to earn the No. 5 seed in this week's WAC Tournament. He hit five or more long balls for the fourth time this season and helped UMKC set a season high in three-pointers made (13), allow the fewest points by an opponent (53) and secure its largest margin of victory (29) all year. Boyd entered the week averaging 13.3 points on 42.2 percent shooting and 3.4 rebounds.
Other nominees included: CSU Bakersfield's Dedrick Basile finished with 17 points, five assists, two rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot in a win over Seattle U ... Joshua Braun of Grand Canyon averaged 18.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists as the Lopes went 1-1 on the week ... NM State's Pascal Siakam finished with 24 points, 10 rebounds and two assists in a win over UT Rio Grande Valley ... Shaquille Hines of UTRGV finished with 12 points, four rebounds, three assists and a block against NM State ... Utah Valley's Marcel Davis tallied 22 points, five steals, four assists and two rebounds in a loss at to Grand Canyon.
ALL-WAC HONORS ANNOUNCED
The 2015-16 All-WAC teams have been named, following a vote of the WAC's eight head coaches. NM State's Pascal Siakam headlines the awards, earning WAC Player of the Year honors, while UT Rio Grande Valley's Antonio Green was named WAC Freshman of the Year and CSU Bakersfield's Rod Barnes earned Don Haskins WAC Coach of the Year honors.
Siakam was the unanimous pick for WAC Player of the Year after posting double-doubles in 11 of 14 WAC games. In conference play, he led the WAC in scoring (18.8), rebounding (12.4), field goal percentage (54.6) and blocked shots (2.79), and ranked fourth in minutes per game (34.71) and sixth in steals (1.14). Siakam was named WAC Player of the Week five times this season.
Green earned WAC Freshman of the Year honors after scoring in double figures in eight of the 12 WAC games in which he played with 20 or more points twice. In conference games only, he led the WAC in minutes per game (35.17), ranked fifth in three-pointers per game (2.17), seventh in assist-turnover ratio (1.61), ninth in assists (3.08), 10th in defensive rebounds (4.08) and 16th in scoring (11.3).
Barnes was named WAC Coach of the Year after leading the Roadrunners to a tie for second place in the WAC. His team's nine-game turnaround from last season is tied for 13th-best nationally as CSUB posted its first 20-win season at the NCAA Division I level. The last time the Runners finished second in their conference was in 2005-06 at the Division II level.
NM STATE'S SIAKAM NAMED USBWA ALL-DISTRICT
NM State forward Pascal Siakam has been named to the U.S. Basketball Writers Association's (USBWA) All-District VIII Team. The 6-9 sophomore from Douala, Cameroon, is one of the 10 players chosen to the All-District Team and is now eligible for the USBWA's All-America team. Siakam ranks second nationally with 25 double-doubles, seventh in rebounding (11.7), 21st in scoring (20.7) and 26th in blocked shots (2.35). He is the only player in NCAA Division I averaging a double-double while also averaging 20 or more points a game. The USBWA's District VIII is composed of players from the states of Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, New Mexico, Colorado, Nevada and Montana. The teams are selected by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association based on voting from its national membership of 900-plus.
GCU'S BRAUN NAMED FIRST TEAM ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICAN®
Grand Canyon redshirt sophomore Joshua Braun was voted to the Academic All-America® men's basketball first team, becoming just the 23rd first team Academic All-American® in men's basketball in WAC history and the first since 2005 (Eric Castro, SMU). Braun is also Grand Canyon's first-ever first team selection in men's basketball and the first since Kevin Warren earned second team honors in 1986. A business management major, Braun currently carries a 3.83 cumulative grade-point average. He was named Academic All-WAC last year. He is one of two players in the WAC named to the mid-season watch list for the Lou Henson Award, given annually to the top Division I Mid-Major player.
NM STATE CLINCHES SECOND CONSECUTIVE WAC REGULAR-SEASON TITLE
With a win at Missouri-Kansas City on Feb. 27, NM State won its second consecutive WAC regular-season title and third in its history, all under head coach Marvin Menzies. The Aggies shared the title in 2008, with outright championships in 2015 and 2016. NM State posted its fifth straight 20-win season and seventh in the nine-year Marvin Menzies era. NM State has had eight 20-win seasons in its 11 years in the WAC starting in 2005-06.
WAC STAT LEADERS
CSU Bakersfield leads the WAC in scoring margin (9.1), three-point field goal percentage defense (32.1), blocks (5.24), assists (15.72), steals (7.90), turnover margin (2.66) and assist-turnover ratio (1.27), while NM State is tops in scoring defense (63.4), field goal percentage (46.9), field goal percentage defense (38.7), rebounding (41.5), rebounding defense (31.3), rebounding margin (10.1) and defensive rebounds (29.42). Grand Canyon leads the WAC in scoring (76.8) and three-point field goal percentage (37.2), while Utah Valley is tops in free throw percentage (72.7) and three-pointers per game (8.52) and Chicago State leads the WAC in offensive rebounds (12.81).
Individually, NM State's Pascal Siakam leads the WAC in scoring (20.7), rebounding (11.7), blocked shots (2.35), offensive rebounds (3.81), defensive rebounds (7.94) and minutes per game (34.42). Grand Canyon's Grandy Glaze is tops in field goal percentage (59.4), while teammate DeWayne Russell leads the WAC in assists (5.32) and Joshua Braun is tops in free throw percentage (87.3) and three-point field goal percentage (41.7). CSU Bakersfield's Dedrick Basile, Damiyne Durham and Brent Wrapp are tops in steals (1.93), three-pointers per game (2.89) and assist-turnover ratio (2.78), respectively.
In WAC games only, NM State led the WAC in scoring defense (61.6), scoring margin (12.8), field goal percentage (47.0), field goal percentage defense (37.0), rebounding (41.6), rebounding defense (32.6), rebounding margin (8.9), blocks (5.64) and defensive rebounds (29.43), while Utah Valley was tops in scoring (78.0), free throw percentage (74.7), assists (15.79), assist-turnover ratio (1.36) and three-pointers per game (9.64). CSUB led the WAC in three-point field goal percentage defense (30.3), steals (7.93) and turnover margin (3.43), while Grand Canyon was tops in three-point field goal percentage (37.1) and Missouri-Kansas City led the WAC in offensive rebounds (12.57).
Individually in WAC games, Siakam led the WAC in rebounding (12.4), field goal percentage (54.6), blocks (2.79), offensive rebounds (4.07) and defensive rebounds (8.29), and tied with Braun for the lead in scoring (18.8). Utah Valley's Marcel Davis was tops in assists (5.79), while NM State's Braxton Huggins led the league in free throw percentage (86.7). Basile led the WAC in steals (2.21) and Durham was tops in three-pointers per game (2.79). UTRGV's Dakota Slaughter led the league in three-point field goal percentage (42.3), while teammate Antonio Green was tops in minutes per game (35.17) and Grand Canyon's Russell led the league in assist-turnover ratio (3.00).
CSU BAKERSFIELD TIES PROGRAM RECORD FOR STEALS
In a win over Seattle U on March 5, CSU Bakersfield nabbed 16 steals, tying the program Division I single-game record. The Roadrunners forced 24 Redhawk turnovers, a season high for CSUB opponents, and scored 32 points off those miscues.
NM STATE'S MENZIES SEVENTH ON WAC WINS CHART
NM State head coach Marvin Menzies is seventh on the all-time WAC victories chart with 103 wins. He needs three more wins to tie Jim Brandenburg of Wyoming and San Diego State (1978-92) in sixth place with 106. Menzies is also third in WAC winning percentage (73.6) and eighth in overall wins (197).
CSU BAKERSFIELD'S DURHAM SETS SINGLE-SEASON THREE-POINTER RECORD
With four three-pointers in against Seattle U on March 5, CSU Bakersfield freshman Damiyne Durham set the program Division I record for three-pointers in a season with 81. He is now nine three-pointers away from the all-time program record.
NM STATE BOASTS LOWEST FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE DEFENSE SINCE 1958-59
NM State currently leads the WAC and ranks ninth nationally in field goal percentage defense at 38.7. The Aggies are on track to allow opponents their lowest first goal percentage since the 1958-59 season when they allowed opponents a 38.0 field goal percentage.
CSU BAKERSFIELD WINS 20 GAMES FOR FIRST TIME IN DIVISION I
With its win over Grand Canyon on Feb. 27, CSU Bakersfield won its 20th game of the season, an achievement the ‘Runners had not accomplished in a decade. CSUB has now matched its 2005-06 squad, one of the last teams to compete entirely in Division II, with 21 wins.
NM STATE'S SIAKAM CLIMBING PROGRAM BLOCKS CHARTS
NM State sophomore Pascal Siakam has 73 blocked shots this season, good for third all-time in the Aggie single-season record books. His 134 career blocks ranks fifth on the program career list, one shy of a tie for fourth place. Siakam also has 1,078 career points and 626 career rebounds.
UT RIO GRANDE VALLEY SNAPS 28-GAME ROAD LOSING SKID
With a win at Chicago State on Feb. 28, UT Rio Grande Valley picked up its first road win since Nov. 17, 2014, snapping a 28-game skid. It was also the Vaqueros' first win away from home since Nov. 29, 2014.
UMKC'S HARRISON SURPASSES 1,500 CAREER POINTS
Missouri-Kansas City junior Martez Harrison became the fourth UMKC player ever and the first since Michael Watson in 2004 to score more than 1,500 career points. The WAC's active leading scorer, Harrison has 1,516 points in his three years with the ‘Roos. He also ranks third all-time at UMKC with 366 assists. Harrison is also the WAC's active leader in free throws made (486) and steals (145).
CSUB'S HOLLINS SETS GAME, SEASON BLOCKS RECORDS
CSU Bakersfield junior Justin Hollins tied the all-time program single-game record with six blocked shots in only 18 minutes played at Seattle U on Jan. 16. He is the first CSUB player to do so at the Division I level. Hollins now has 59 blocks on the season to hold the all-time single-season record.
NM STATE BOASTS 35-GAME WAC HOME WINNING STREAK
NM State is currently riding a 35-game WAC home winning streak, the second-longest in the country behind the 37 straight Southland wins by Stephen F. Austin. The Aggies' last WAC home loss was a 68-60 loss to Nevada on Jan. 26, 2012. NM State finished 7-0 at the Pan American Center in WAC play this season, went 7-0 in 2014-15, 8-0 in 2013-14, 9-0 in 2012-13 and 4-0 to close out the 2011-12 season.
CSU BAKERSFIELD DEFENSE DOMINATES
CSU Bakersfield has held its opponent to 30 or less points in the first half 22 times this season. The ‘Runners have held their opponent to 50 points or less four times this season and 60 points or less nine times.
NM STATE'S SIAKAM SCORES 1,000TH CAREER POINT
With his final shot at Chicago State on Feb. 13, NM State sophomore Pascal Siakam recorded his 1,000th career point and now has 1,078. He became the first sophomore in NM State history to reach 1,000 points, was the seventh Aggie to reach the mark in his first two seasons and became the 33rd member of the NM State 1,000-Point Club.
CSU BAKERSFIELD'S AHMED JOINS 1,000-POINT CLUB
At the 18:06 mark in the second half against Utah Valley on Feb. 13, CSU Bakersfield senior Aly Ahmed scored his 1,000th career point, becoming just the 12th Roadrunner ever to score 1,000 points and just the sixth player ever to score 1,000 points and grab 500 rebounds. He now has 1,036 career points and 569 rebounds.
SIAKAM FINALIST FOR KARL MALONE POWER FORWARD OF THE YEAR
NM State's Pascal Siakam is one of the 10 finalists for the 2016 Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award. The award is named after Hall of Famer and two-time NBA MVP Karl Malone. The honor, in its second year, recognizes the top power forwards in Division I. A national committee determined a watch list of 20 candidates, which has now been narrowed to 10. In March, five finalists will be presented to Malone and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. The winner will be presented at the ESPN College Basketball Awards presented by Wendy's from Club Nokia in Los Angeles, Calif., on Friday, April 8.
ROADRUNNERS BREAK PROGRAM DIVISION I RECORD FOR BLOCKS
In a loss at Grand Canyon on Jan. 29, CSU Bakersfield blocked seven shots, including a career-high-tying four by Aly Ahmed, to break the program Division I record for single-season blocks. The ‘Runners now have 152 on the season and need 14 more to reach the CSUB all-time record.
SEATTLE U SWEEPS WAC ROAD TRIP FOR FIRST TIME EVER
On Jan. 29 and 31, Seattle U swept a WAC road weekend for the first time since joining the conference in 2012-13, defeating Utah Valley and Grand Canyon. Seattle U overcame a seven-point halftime deficit for its first-ever victory over the Lopes after five previous losses.
UTRGV'S HINES, KIMASA MOVING UP CAREER BLOCKS CHART
UT Rio Grande Valley's Shaquille Hines and Dan Kimasa are two of the best blocking threats in program history. Hines, a senior, is third all-time in career blocks (74), while the sophomore Kimasa is fourth (71).
UTAH VALLEY MAKES 15 THREE-POINTERS TWICE THIS SEASON
Utah Valley made 15 three-pointers in its win at Chicago State on Jan. 23. It was the second time the team had tallied 15 made treys in a single game this season as the Wolverines also did it on Jan. 9 against UT Rio Grande Valley. The win over the Cougars also gave Utah Valley its first conference road sweep since 2014 as the Wolverines also defeated UMKC.
CSU BAKERSFIELD HAS FIRST SELLOUT SINCE 1993
A sellout crowd of 3,880 fans attended the double-overtime, buzzer-beating defeat at the hands of NM State, 68-67, on Jan. 23. The sellout was the third in CSUB's history and just the first since it happened twice in 1993.
GCU POSTS LONGEST WIN STREAK AT DIVISION I LEVEL
Before a loss to Seattle U on Jan. 30, Grand Canyon had posted a 12-game winning streak, the longest active streak in the country. It was the Lopes' longest winning streak since transitioning to Division I.
CSUB POSTS LONGEST ROAD WIN STREAK EVER AT DIVISION I
CSU Bakersfield has won four-straight road games for the first time as a Division I program and for the first time since the 2007-08 season, its final year as a Division II program. At 14-6 and with a minimum of 10 games remaining, CSUB has matched its win total from a year ago when it went 14-19.
BRAUN, SIAKAM NAMED TO LOU HENSON WATCH LIST
Two WAC student-athletes - Grand Canyon's Joshua Braun and NM State's Pascal Siakam - are among the 31 players named to the mid-season watch list for the Lou Henson Award, given annually to the top Division I Mid-Major player. The award is named in honor of former NM State coach Lou Henson, who coached 41 years. When he left the game in 2005, he was sixth all-time in career Division I wins with 779. The award is voted on by a 30-member panel, consisting of five current Division I head coaches, five retired head coaches, 10 current athletic directors and/or conference administrators, five members of the national media and five collegeinsider.com staff members.