United Athletic Conference

Grand Canyon's Carlos Johnson has been named TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week for Feb. 3 through Feb. 9. 

 

Johnson, a senior guard from Centralia, Ill., had a perfect day from the field in a 103-98 win at California Baptist on Saturday. He finished 6-for-6 from the field, including 4-for-4 from behind the arc, en route to 25 points against the second-place Lancers. He also added six rebounds, one block and one assist in the crucial win for the Lopes. On the year, he is averaging 15.4 points per game to go with 5.2 rebounds per game. His scoring numbers jump in conference play, averaging 17.7 points per game against WAC opponents.

 

Other nominees included: California Baptist's Milan Acquaah recorded a double-double with 30 points and 10 assists, also adding five rebounds and three steals, in a 103-98 loss to Grand Canyon … CSU Bakersfield's Cam Allen posted a career-high 22 points in a road loss at California Baptist … Chicago State's Andrew Lewis averaged 17.0 points per game and led the Cougars in scoring in losses to NM State and UT Rio Grande Valley … Kansas City's Rob Whitfield averaged 11.0 points per game for the Roos in a pair of home losses to UT Rio Grande Valley and NM State … NM State's Ivan Aurrecoechea continued to lead the Aggies, scoring 23 points in a road win at Kansas City … Seattle U's Morgan Means put up 19 points, including the game-tying basket at the end of regulation and the game-winner in overtime, to help the Redhawks earn an 87-85 win at Utah Valley … UT Rio Grande Valley's Lesley Varner II put up a pair of 23-point games, including his 1,000th-point at Kansas City and an 18-0 run at Chicago State, in a pair of road wins.

 

Just one month remains before the WAC heads to #WACVegas and several teams will be looking to get big wins this week to put themselves in a strong position. League-leader NM State will be at home against Seattle U and Utah Valley as the Aggies look to continue to build their lead at the top of the standings. The Redhawks and Wolverines will also head to Texas to take on a UT Rio Grande Valley team that has won three straight games. Kansas City and Chicago State head west, taking on Grand Canyon and CSU Bakersfield. Finally, California Baptist hosts Westcliff on Thursday in a non-conference matchup.

 

California Baptist leads the WAC in scoring (79.7), free throw percentage (.771), field goal defense (.417), 

three-point field goal percentage (.375), rebounding offense (40.8), assists (14.7), defensive rebounds (29.1) and three-pointers made (9.7). League-leader NM State is also on top in scoring defense (59.8), scoring margin (+10.9), field goal percentage (.458) and rebounding defense (27.6). Kansas City is the leader in three-point field goal defense (.305). CSU Bakersfield holds the top rebounding margin (+7.4) and also leads the league in offensive rebounds (13.3). Utah Valley is the leader in blocked shots (5.6) and UT Rio Grande Valley is the leader in steals (8.3), turnover margin (+5.26) and assist/turnover ratio (1.1).

 

Individually, Seattle U's Terrell Brown is the scoring leader at 20.0 points per game. CBU's De'jon Davis holds the top spot in rebounding with 9.4 per game and his 2.8 offensive rebounds per game and 6.7 defensive rebounds per game are also WAC bests. NM State's Ivan Aurrecoechea leads the league in field goal percentage (.598). SU's Morgan Means has the top free throw percentage (.895) and CBU's Ferron Flavors, Jr. has the top three-point shooting percentage (.432) and also leads the league in three-pointers per game (3.0). UTRGV's Javon Levi holds the top mark in assists (8.3) and steals (2.2) and his 2.9 assist/turnover ratio is a WAC-best. UVU's Emmanuel Olojakpoke is the blocked shots leader at 2.8 per contest. 

 

In WAC-only play, Seattle U is the scoring leader at 80.9 points per game and the Redhawks also hold the top spot in field goal defense (.405) and turnover margin (+6.11). NM State is the leader in scoring defense (60.0), scoring margin (+13.6), field goal percentage (.485), three-point field goal percentage (.388), rebounding defense (25.6), rebounding margin (+7.7), assists (15.6), assist/turnover ratio (1.3) and three-pointers made (9.3). California Baptist holds the free throw percentage (.777) and the Lancers lead as well in rebounding offense (38.6). Utah Valley's 5.3 blocks per game are a league best and the Wolverines lead the league in defense rebounds (27.3). Kansas City has the top three-point defense (.311)  and UTRGV is the leader in steals (7.4). CSU Bakersfield is the top offensive rebounding team at 12.7 per game.

 

Individually, SU's Brown is the scoring leader with 19.2 ppg. CBU's Davis has the rebounding lead at 10.4 per game. UTRGV's Sean Rhea boasts the top field goal percentage (.682) while CBU's Brandon Boyd has the top free throw percentage (.932) and Seattle U's Jordan Dallas has the top three-point percentage (.500). UTRGV's Levi is the leader in assists (8.4) and assist/turnover ratio (2.7). CSUB's Czar Perry and SU's Brown are tied for the lead in steals at 2.0 each. KC's Rob Whitfield is the leader in three-pointers per game at 2.8 and UVU's Olojakpoke is the block shots leader at 2.8.

 

NM State used wins at Chicago State and at Kansas City to push their record-settiong WAC win streak to 25 straight games. The Aggies used a win over Seattle U on Jan. 18 to move past Utah, who won 19 straight from 1998-99. 

 

Two players joined the 1,000-point club this week as UTRGV's Lesley Varner II hit the milestone at Kansas City and CBU's Milan Acquaah followed on Saturday against Grand Canyon. They join SU's Morgan Means and GCU's Alessandro Lever as active members of the 1,000-point club. SU's Terrell Brown looks to be the next player to hit the mark, coming into this week's games with 943 career points.

 

Former NM State Aggie and current Toronto Raptor Pascal Siakam was named a starter for the Eastern Conference at the 2020 NBA All-Star Game on Feb. 16 in Chicago. The 2014-15 WAC Freshman of the Year and 2015-16 WAC Player of the Year is averaging 23.5 points per game for the defending NBA Champions. He was selected by the Raptors with the 27th pick of the 2016 NBA Draft.

 

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.

 

UT Rio Grande Valley junior Javon Levi is tied for second in program history in career steals with 183. He is also ranked fifth in UTRGV history in career assists with 475.

 

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.