United Athletic Conference

NM State's Jabari Rice has been named TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week for Jan. 6 through Jan. 12.

 

Rice, a sophomore guard from Houston, was crucial in the Aggies' remaining perfect in 2020, averaging 13.5 points per game with 6.5 rebounds per game, 3.5 assists per game and 2.5 steals per game. On Thursday against Chicago State, he finished with 14 points in 23 minutes played, adding three rebounds and two steals. He stepped up his game on Saturday, scoring 13 points with 10 rebounds, six assists and three steals in 33 minutes played. On the season, Rice is averaging 12.4 points per game with a .504 shooting clip.

 

Other nominees included: California Baptist's Brandon Boyd led the Lancers to a road sweep, finishing with 19.5 points per game in wins at CSU Bakersfield and Grand Canyon … CSU Bakersfield's De'Monte Buckingham scored 23 points, including a perfect 6-for-6 on free throws, in a home loss to California Baptist … Chicago State's Xavier Johnson averaged 13.0 points per game and 3.5 assists per game in a pair of road losses at NM State and UT Rio Grande Valley … Grand Canyon's Carlos Johnson put up 18 points with eight rebounds and two blocks in a four-point loss to California Baptist … Kansas City's Jahshire Hardnett averaged 15.0 points per game in a pair of tight road losses at UT Rio Grande Valley and NM State … Seattle U's Riley Grigsby scored a game-high 17 points to go with eight rebounds and two steals in a blowout 83-50 win over Utah Valley … UT Rio Grande Valley's Jordan Jackson used poster-quality dunks to lead the Vaqueros to a pair of home wins against Kansas City and Chicago State, averaging 17.5 ppg in the two victories.

 

In this week's action, CSU Bakersfield and Grand Canyon head east to take on Chicago State and Kansas City. NM State and UT Rio Grande Valley also hit the road, traveling to Utah Valley and Seattle U. California Baptist has the week off from WAC play but will be in action on Friday, hosting Bethesda in a non-conference tilt.

 

California Baptist leads the WAC in scoring (80.4), free throw percentage (.784), field goal percentage defense (.411), three-point field goal percentage (.374), rebounding (40.89), assists (14.9), defensive rebounds (30.4) and three-pointers per game (9.6). NM State holds the top spot in scoring defense (60.6), scoring margin (+10.8) and rebounding defense (28.7). Kansas City has the top field goal percentage (.460) while Seattle U hosts the top three-point field goal defense (.300). CSU Bakersfield is the leader in rebounding margin (+8.6) and offensive rebounds (13.7) and Utah Valley is the leader in blocked shots (5.6). UT Rio Grande Valley is the leader in turnover margin (+5.69) and assist/turnover ratio (1.1).

 

Individually, Seattle U's Terrell Brown leads the WAC in scoring (19.6), while California Baptist's De'jon Davis is tops in rebounding (8.4). NM State's Ivan Aurrecoechea is the leader in field goal percentage (.600), SU's Morgan Means is the leader in free throw percentage (.911) and UTRGV's Connor Raines is tops in three-point field goal percentage (.471). UTRGV's Javon Levi holds the lead in assists (8.3),  steals (2.5) and assist/turnover ratio (3.2). CBU's Ferron Flavors Jr. is tops in three-point field goals made at 2.9 per game and UVU's Emmanuel Olojapoke is the blocked shots leader (2.7).

 

In WAC play, Seattle U is the leader in scoring offense (85.0), scorign defense (64.7), scoring margin (+20.3), rebounding offense (42.0), blocked shots (5.0) and turnover margin (+8.33). California Baptist is the leader in free throw percentage (.823) and NM State is the leader in field goal percentage (.526), rebounding defense (27.7), rebounding margin (+8.3), assists (20.0), assist/turnover ratio (1.6) and three-pointers per game (11.3). Grand Canyon holds the top mark in field goal defense (.359) and defensive rebounds (31.5). CSU Bakersfield holds the top position in three-point field goal percentage (.462) while Kansas City is the leader in three-point defense (.284). UT Rio Grande Valley holds the top spot in steals (10.0) and offensive rebounds (17.3).

 

Individually, CSUB's De'Monte Buckingham is the early scoring leader (24.0 ppg). Seattle U's Riley Grigsby is the rebounding leader (9.3). KC's Jordan Giles has the lead in field goal percentage (.636), CBU's Bol Kuol and NMSU's Shawn Williams are tied for the lead in three-point field goal percentage (.750) while three players are tied for the lead in free throw percentage at 1.000. UTRGV's Levi has the assists lead (9.0) and SU's Brown has the steals lead (2.7). CSUB's Taze Moore is atop the three-pointers made list (3.0) and UVU's Olojapoke has the blocked shots lead (2.3). CSUB's Czar Perry holds the top assist/turnover ratio (13.0). 

 

Seattle U and Kansas City gave fans a little extra excitement on WAC opening night, playing three overtimes before the host Roos were able to break away and earn the 90-86 victory. It was the first triple-overtime game in the WAC since CBU lost at UAPB on Nov. 23, 2018 and the first multiple-overtime game in WAC play since Grand Canyon defeated Chicago State in double overtime on Jan. 28, 2017.

 

NM State picked up its first win over an SEC program since Dec. 29, 1994 when it beat Mississippi State on Dec. 22. It was also the first victory for a WAC squad over a Power Six team this season.

 

Kansas City's Jordan Giles shot 10-of-11 from the field en route to a career-high 25 points in Kansas City's first road win of the year at South Dakota on Dec. 22 to help the Roos shoot over 63 percent as a team, which is the highest since November of 2011.

 

UT Rio Grande Valley junior Javon Levi currently ranks fourth in program history in career steals with 174. He is two shy of third place and nine away from second.