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UTAH VALLEY TRAVELS TO SAN FRANCISCO FOR CBI QUARTERFINALS
After cruising to an 87-65 win over Eastern Washington in the opening round of the College Basketball Invitational last Tuesday, Utah Valley has advanced to the quarterfinals where it will face San Francisco, a team that edged Colgate 72-68 in the first round last Wednesday for its first postseason win since 2011.
In the win over Eastern Washington, the Wolverines connected on 56 percent from the field, knocking down 44 percent of their three-point shots and 85 percent at the free throw line. Utah Valley also dominated the glass, 46-27. The Wolverines, who led for more than 31 minutes, had assists on 23 of their 29 baskets. Akolda Manyang led Utah Valley with 20 points and 11 rebounds in just 19 minutes for his 14th double-double of the season. Kenneth Ogbe added 17 points and Jerrell DeBerry finished with 16. Zach Nelson chipped in 10 points to surpass the 1,000-point mark for his career and now sits at 1,001 points. Brandon Randolph grabbed 10 boards and dished out five assists.
NM STATE FALLS TO CLEMSON IN NCAA TOURNAMENT
NM State saw its season come to an end with a 79-68 loss to No. 5 seed Clemson in the first round of the NCAA Tournament last Friday. The Aggies finish the season 28-6. Zach Lofton led all players with 29 points, while Jemerrio Jones posted his 21st double-double of the season with 13 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. NM State, which entered the game ranked fifth nationally in field goal percentage defense (39.2) and ninth in three-point field goal percentage defense (30.8), allowed the Tigers to shoot 56 percent from the floor and 43 percent from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, the Aggies connected on just 39 percent from the field, 36 percent from three-point range and 65 percent from the free throw line on the game. NM State edged the Tigers on the boards, 32-28.
SEATTLE U FALLS IN OVERTIME TO CENTRAL ARKANSAS IN FIRST ROUND OF CBI
After leading by two at halftime, the Seattle U men's basketball team fell in overtime, 92-90, to Central Arkansas in the first round of the College Basketball Invitational last Wednesday. The Redhawks close the season at 20-14. Seattle U out-shot Central Arkansas 46 percent to 45 percent from the field, but made just 12-of-21 free throws (57 percent), while the Bears connected on 16-of-22 (73 percent). UCA also edged the Redhawks on the glass, 46-44. Four players scored in double figures for Seattle U, led by Richaud Gittens, who posted his second double-double of the season with 25 points on 10-of-16 shooting to go with 11 rebounds. Matej Kavas added 21 points, including five three-pointers. In his last collegiate game, Jordan Hill was just shy of a triple-double, finishing with 19 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds. Aaron Menzies also doubled up, finishing with 19 points and 12 boards.
GCU FALLS TO MERCER IN FIRST ROUND OF CBI
Grand Canyon's season came to an end last Wednesday in the first round of the College Basketball Invitational with a 78-73 loss to Mercer at GCU Arena. The Lopes close the season at 22-12. GCU led by five with nine minutes to play, but went nearly eight minutes without a field goal. The Lopes pulled within three with 33 seconds left in the game, but that was as close as they got. Keonta Vernon scored a team-high 20 points, while Casey Benson added 17 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Mercer shot 51 percent from the field, including 50 percent from three-point range against a GCU team that entered the game leading the nation in three-point field goal percentage defense at 21 percent. The Lopes shot 46 percent from the field on the game.
UTRGV DROPS HEARTBREAKER AT NEW ORLEANS IN CBI FIRST ROUND
UT Rio Grande Valley saw its season come to an end last Wednesday with a 77-74 loss to New Orleans in the opening round of the College Basketball Invitational. The Vaqueros end the season at 15-18. UTRGV shot 46 percent from the field, 39 percent from three-point range and 88 percent from the free throw line on the game and out-rebounded the Privateers 40-32. But the Vaqueros committed 16 turnovers that UNO converted into 20 points. Terry Winn led UTRGV with 14 points and seven rebounds, while Mike Hoffman scored 13 points while going 4-for-5 from beyond the arc. Nick Dixon finished with 11 points, six rebounds and five assists, while Greg Bowie chipped in 10 points.
NM STATE WINS WAC TOURNAMENT
After defeating eighth-seeded Chicago State 97-70 in the first round and surviving No. 4-seed Seattle U 84-79 in the semifinals, NM State held of a Grand Canyon rally in the second half to beat the third-seeded Lopes 72-58 in the championship game of the 2018 WAC Tournament title game to earn its eighth tournament title. Tournament MVP Jemerrio Jones posted his WAC-leading 20th double-double of the season with 15 points and 19 rebounds, while Zach Lofton scored a game-high 21 points.
All-Tournament Team
Alessandro Lever, Grand Canyon
Zach Lofton, NM State
Akolda Manyang, Utah Valley
Keonta Vernon, Grand Canyon
MVP: Jemerrio Jones, NM State
THREE WAC TOURNAMENT RECORDS BROKEN
Three WAC Tournament records were broken in 2018. NM State's Jemerrio Jones broke the single-game rebounding record with 22 against Seattle U. He also broke the tournament rebounding record with 55 in three games, surpassing the previous mark of 53 set by Boise State's Jason Ellis in 2005. Ellis accomplished the feat in four games, while Jones did it in three. As a team, NM State set the record for most three-pointers in a tournament with 32 over three games.
THREE WAC PLAYERS NAMED NABC ALL-DISTRICT 6
Three WAC men's basketball players were named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-District 6 Team. NM State's Jemerrio Jones was a first team selection, while teammate Zach Lofton and UT Rio Grande Valley's Nick Dixon were named to the second team.
Jones, the WAC Player of the Year, averages 11.0 points, 13.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game. He was named WAC Tournament MVP after averaging 18.3 rebounds and 12.3 points while also breaking the WAC Tournament single game (22) and tournament (55) rebounding records. Jones leads the nation in defensive rebounds per game (9.45) and total rebounds (436), ranks second in rebounds per game (13.2), third in triple-doubles (1), seventh in double-doubles (18) and 10th in offensive rebounds per game (3.76).
Lofton was named to the All-WAC first team after averaging 19.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game. He joined Jones on the all-tournament team after averaging 24.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game over the three games. His 83 three-pointers this season rank fifth in the NM State single-season record books, one shy of fourth place and six away from third place. Lofton ranks 46th nationally in total points (634) and 50th in points per game (19.8).
A first team All-WAC selection, Dixon leads the WAC in scoring (20.6), ranks second in steals (1.4) and seventh in free throw shooting (79.3). Nationally, he ranks third in the NCAA in free throw makes (219) and attempts (276), 31st in total points (659) and 34th in points per game (20.6). His 276 free throws attempted are third all-time in WAC history and his 219 free throws made rank fourth.
ALL-WAC HONORS
NM State's Jemerrio Jones headlined the 2018 All-WAC teams, earning WAC Player of the Year honors, while Grand Canyon's Alessandro Lever was named WAC Freshman of the Year and NM State's Chris Jans earned Don Haskins WAC Coach of the Year honors.
Jones was named WAC Player of the Year after averaging 11.3 points, 14.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game in WAC play. Not only did he average 3.5 more rebounds than the next closest player, but his 14.14 rebounding average is the fifth-highest in WAC history. In 14 WAC games, he posted eight double-doubles and had four games with 20 or more rebounds. In addition, his 198 boards in WAC games is tied for the 10th-most in conference history. He was named WAC Player of the Week three times.
Lever earned WAC Freshman of the Year honors after scoring in double figures in eight of 14 WAC games with a season-high 30 points. In conference games only, he ranked eighth in the WAC in rebounding (5.4), ninth in free throw percentage (80.2) and 10th in field goal percentage (48.6). He was named WAC Player of the Week one time during the season.
In his first year at the helm, Jans was named WAC Coach of the Year after leading the Aggies to their third WAC regular-season title in the last four years. NM State is currently 25-5 overall and went 12-2 in WAC play. The Aggies defeated a Top 10 team this season for the first time since 1990.
First Team All-WAC
Nick Dixon, UTRGV
Jemerrio Jones, NM State
Alessandro Lever, Grand Canyon
Zach Lofton, NM State
Kenneth Ogbe, Utah Valley
Second Team All-WAC
Joshua Braun, Grand Canyon
Matej Kavas, Seattle U
Aaron Menzies, Seattle U
Brandon Randolph, Utah Valley
Conner Toolson, Utah Valley
All-Defensive Team
Moataz Aly, CSU Bakersfield
Oscar Frayer, Grand Canyon
Jemerrio Jones, NM State
Akolda Manyang, Utah Valley
Aaron Menzies, Seattle U
All-Newcomer Team
AJ Harris, NM State
Jordan Hill, Seattle U
Alessandro Lever, Grand Canyon
Zach Lofton, NM State
Jake Toolson, Utah Valley
Player of the Year: Jemerrio Jones, NM State
Freshman of the Year: Alessandro Lever, Grand Canyon
Don Haskins Coach of the Year: Chris Jans, NM State
Player of the Year: Jemerrio Jones, NM State
Freshman of the Year: Alessandro Lever, Grand Canyon
Don Haskins Coach of the Year: Chris Jans, NM State
WAC STAT LEADERS
NM State leads the WAC in scoring defense (64.2), scoring margin (11.4), field goal percentage defense (39.8), rebounding (41.2), rebounding margin (8.8), offensive rebounds (12.6) and defensive rebounds (28.7), while Utah Valley is tops in scoring (78.3), field goal percentage (48.3), three-point field goal percentage (38.4), rebounding defense (31.5), blocks (4.1) and assists (16.4). Grand Canyon leads the WAC in three-point field goal percentage defense (27.8) and assist-turnover ratio (1.2), while UT Rio Grande Valley is tops in free throw percentage (74.1) and steals (7.7). Meanwhile, Kansas City leads the WAC in turnover margin (2.2) and Seattle U is tops in three-pointers per game (9.2).
Individually, UTRGV's Nick Dixon leads the WAC in scoring (20.3), while NM State's Jemerrio Jones is tops in rebounding (13.2), offensive rebounds (3.7) and defensive rebounds (9.5). CSU Bakersfield's Moataz Aly leads the league in field goal percentage (68.2), while teammates Jarkel Joiner and Brent Wrapp lead the league in free throw shooting (89.6) and assists (5.1), respectively. Utah Valley's Conner Toolson leads the WAC in steals (1.6), while Seattle U's Matej Kavas is tops in three-point percentage (46.4) and three-pointers per game (2.8). Seattle U's Aaron Menzies leads the league in blocked shots (2.3), while teammate Jordan Hill is tops in minutes per game (33.7) and UTRGV's Javon Levi leads the WAC in assist-turnover ratio (2.6).
In WAC games only, NM State led the league in scoring (77.7), scoring margin (15.1), field goal percentage defense (37.4), rebounding (43.3), rebounding margin (10.3), assist-turnover ratio (1.3), offensive rebounds (12.8) and defensive rebounds (30.5), while Utah Valley was tops in scoring defense (62.2), free throw percentage (74.8), field goal percentage (48.3), three-point field goal percentage (42.2), rebounding defense (31.4), blocks (3.7), assists (15.8) and three-pointers per game (8.3). Meanwhile, Chicago State led the league in steals (7.7), Grand Canyon was tops in three-point field goal percentage defense (27.3) and UTRGV led the league in and turnover margin (2.7).
Individually in WAC games, Dixon led the league in scoring (20.9), while Jones was tops in rebounding (14.1) and defensive rebounds (10.6). Aly led the WAC in field goal percentage (62.2), while Grand Canyon's Damari Milstead was tops in free throw percentage (85.7) and Toolson led the league in three-point shooting (50.0) and steals (2.0). Utah Valley's Brandon Randolph and Wrapp tied for the lead in assists (4.5), while NM State's Zach Lofton led the league in three-pointers per game (2.9). Seattle U's Aaron Menzies led the WAC in blocks (2.4) and offensive rebounds (3.7), while teammate Hill led the league in minutes per game (35.5). Levi finished WAC play tops in assist-turnover ratio (3.0).
GCU'S BRAUN NAMED ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICAN FOR THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR
Grand Canyon redshirt senior Joshua Braun has been voted to the Academic All-America® Men's Basketball Team for the third year in a row. He was a third team selection. Braun is working on a master's degree in business administration and currently carries a 3.60 grade-point average. He earned his undergraduate degree in business management. Braun was named second team All-WAC this season after averaging 10.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game in WAC play. It was his third consecutive All-WAC honors after being named to the All-Newcomer Team in 2015. Braun is the WAC's active leading career scorer with 1,714 points. Earlier this season, he broke the Grand Canyon all-time career three-point record and now has 257 three-pointers, good for 11th all-time in WAC history.
UVU WINS PROGRAM-RECORD 23RD GAME
When it defeated Eastern Washington on March 13, it was Utah Valley's 23rd win of the season, the most wins ever recorded in a single season in Wolverine history. It marks the fifth time in school history that a team has won 20 or more games. The last time Utah Valley won at least 20 games was during the 2013-14 season when the Wolverines finished the season with a 20-12 record. The 23-win mark surpasses the 2006-07 team that won 22 games.
NM STATE'S JONES BREAKS WAC SINGLE-SEASON REBOUND RECORD
NM State senior Jemerrio Jones finished the season with 450 rebounds, a new WAC single-season record. He surpassed the 438 of Louisiana Tech's Paul Milsap in 2005-06. In addition, Jones' 13.24 rebounding average ranks tied for seventh all-time in WAC history.
UVU'S NELSON BECOMES SEVENTH MEMBER OF 1,OOO-POINT CLUB
Utah Valley graduate forward Zach Nelson became the seventh player in program history to reach the 1,000-point mark in the 38th minute of UVU's game against Eastern Washington on March 13. Nelson is the first player in UVU history to score 1,000 points, pull down 500 or more rebounds and dish out 200 or more assists as he currently has 588 rebounds and 246 assists.
UTRGV'S DIXON CLOSES OUT CAREER 10TH IN SCORING
UT Rio Grande Valley senior Nick Dixon finished his career tied for 10th in program history with 1,282 points in just two full seasons played. Dixon scored 670 points this season, the seventh-highest single-season total in program history, while hitting a program record 222 free throws. The 222 made free throws ranks third all-time in WAC history.
CSUB'S ALY SETS ALL-TIME WAC FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE RECORD
CSU Bakersfield senior Moataz Aly finished the season shooting 68.2 (101-of-148) from the field. The mark broke the previous WAC single-season field goal percentage mark of 67.3 set by Boise State's Kurt Cunningham in the 2008-09 season.
UVU'S MANYANG BREAKS PROGRAM BLOCKS RECORD
Utah Valley senior center Akolda Manyang broke the program single season record for blocks with a swat at CSU Bakersfield on Feb. 22 and now has 69 on the season. Manyang passed up Ben Aird, who held the all-time single season record for blocks at 56, which he set during the 2012-13 season.
CSUB'S WRAPP BECOMES PROGRAM ASSIST LEADER
CSU Bakersfield senior Brent Wrapp closed out his career with 520 career assists, tied for the all-time school record. Wrapp is ranked 10th among NCAA Division I active leaders in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.56) and 16th in total assists, which is also 16th all-time in WAC history.
NMSU'S JONES RANKS SEVENTH IN WAC CAREER REBOUNDING AVERAGE
In his two seasons in of WAC play, NM State's Jemerrio Jones posted a rebounding average of 11.5 in WAC games, good for seventh place all-time. Overall, he posted a career averaged of 10.8 boards per game, good for 12th all-time in the WAC record books.