United Athletic Conference

Kansas City's Jahshire Hardnett has been named Western Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week for Dec. 30 through Jan. 5.

 

Hardnett, a senior guard from Gulfport, Miss., was crucial to the Roos opening up conference play with a pair of wins over Seattle U and Utah Valley. Against the Redhawks, he scored 18 of his career-high 28 points in overtime as Kansas City outlasted Seattle U, 90-86, in three overtimes. In addition to the 28 points, he added five rebounds and four assists as the Roos earned their first win of 2020. Against Utah Valley, he had some late game heroics ready as well, hitting a three-pointer with 35.8 seconds left to put the Roos up for good in a 68-63. He finished with 17 points against the Wolverines to average 22.5 points per game on the week.

 

Other nominees included: California Baptist's Milan Acquaah led the Lancers with 21.5 points per game as CBU beat UT Rio Grande Valley before falling to NM State to open league play at 1-1 … CSU Bakersfield guard De'Monte Buckingham led the 'Runners to a WAC-opening win over Grand Canyon, scoring 25 points in a 69-62 victory at home over the Lopes … Chicago State's Xavier Johnson scored 20 points against Utah Valley and 18 points against Seattle U to lead the Cougars on the opening weekend of WAC play … Grand Canyon guard Carlos Johnson was the Lopes' leading scorer with 17 points in a close loss on the road at CSU Bakersfield … NM State's Ivan Aurrecoechea scored a season-high 20 points with eight rebounds in a WAC-opening win at California Baptist … Seattle U's Terrell Brown averaged 17.0 points with 8.5 rebounds per game and 5.5 assists per game as the Redhawks opened WAC play with a road split … UT Rio Grande Valley's Jordan Jackson scored 21 points at Oklahoma and then opened the year with 17 points at California Baptist … Utah Valley guard Brandon Averette put up 18 points in a win at Chicago State and 16 points in a loss at Kansas City to lead the Wolverines to a road split.

 

The second week of WAC play begins on Wednesday as California Baptist heads up the five to CSU Bakersfield. On Thursday, Kansas City travels to UT Rio Grande Valley and Chicago State visits NM State. KC and CSU will then flip flop sites on Saturday with the Roos taking on the Aggies and the Cougars battling the Vaqueros. Also on Saturday, CBU travels to Phoenix to take on Grand Canyon and Utah Valley heads up to the Pacific Northwest to take on Seattle U.

 

California Baptist leads the WAC in scoring (81.5), scoring margin (+9.7), free throw percentage (.780), field goal percentage defense (.415), three-point field goal percentage (.380), rebounding (40.8), assists (15.4), assist-turnover ratio (1.1), defensive rebounds (29.9) and three-pointers per game (10.0) while CSU Bakersfield is tops in rebounding margin (+9.6) and offensive rebounds (13.8). NM State leads the WAC in scoring defense (60.4) and rebounding defense (28.7), while UT Rio Grande Valley is tops in steals (9.1) and turnover margin (+5.50). Kansas City leads the WAC in field goal percentage (.458) and three-point field goal defense (.292) and Utah Valley is tops in blocks (5.6). 

 

Individually, Seattle U's Terrell Brown leads the WAC in scoring (20.0), while California Baptist's De'jon Davis is tops in rebounding (8.5). NM State's Ivan Aurrecoechea is the leader in field goal percentage (.596), 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 (.500). CBU's Milan Acquah is the leader in assists (6.5) and GCU's Jovan Blacksher Jr. is tops in steals (1.9). CBU's Ferron Flavors Jr. is the leader in three-pointers made per game at 3.1 and Utah Valley's Emmanuel Olojakpoke is the blocks leader (2.8). CSUB's Czar Perry holds the top assist/turnover ratio (2.7) and Kansas City's Javan White is the leader in offensive rebounds (2.6). CBU's Davis is the leader in defensive rebounds (6.0) and GCU's Blacksher Jr. is the leader in minutes per game (36.0).

 

In WAC play, Seattle U and NM State are tied for the lead in scoring (86.0) and three-pointers made (10.0). NM State holds the sole lead in scoring margin (+15.0), free throw percentage (.889), field goal percentage (.493), rebounding defense (26.0), assists (16.0), assist/turnover ratio (1.8). Seattle U has the lead in rebounding offense (44.0) and defensive rebounds (30.0) and is tied with UTRGV for the lead in steals (9.0). CSU Bakersfield holds the top scoring defense (62.0) and also leads in three-point field goal percentage (.471) and rebounding margin (+11.0). Kansas City has the top field goal defense (.344) as well as three-point defense (.204). Utah Valley and UT Rio Grande Valley are tied for the lead in blocked shots (5.0) while UTRGV also leads the league in turnover margin (+9.00) and offensive rebounds (21.0).

 

Individually, CSUB's De'Monte Buckingham is the early scoring leader (25.0 ppg) and teammate Greg Lee has the rebounding lead (13.0). KC's Jordan Giles is the leader in field goal percentage (.700) and is tied with UTRGV's Quinton Johnson II for the lead in three-point field goal percentage (1.000) while eight players are perfect on free throws in 2020. CBU's Acquah and CSUB's Perry are tied for the assists lead (6.0) with SU's Brown and NMSU's AJ Harris tied for the lead in steals (3.0). KC's Jahshire Hardnett is the leader in three-pointers per game (3.5) while UTRGV's Sean Rhea and CSUB's Taze Moore hold the lead in blocked shots (3.0).

 

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 172. He is seven shy of third place and 14 away from second.