This Week In WAC Men's Basketball - Nov. 29
This Week In WAC Men's Basketball - Nov. 29
SAM HOUSTON, SEATTLE U FALL FROM THE RANKS OF THE UNBEATEN
Two of the final undefeated teams in NCAA Division I men’s basketball for the 2022-23 season resided in the WAC heading into games on Nov. 28. Despite a pair of competitive showings, both Sam Houston and Seattle U were ultimately knocked out of the ranks of the unbeaten after a pair of road results. Sam Houston dropped a 78-60 decision at Nevada, while Seattle U fell 77-66 to crosstown foe Washington. Sam Houston still sits atop the current WAC standings at 6-1, with Seattle U just behind at 5-1 as of Nov. 29.
GCU WINS TWO IN A ROW TO MOVE INTO THIRD IN THE WAC
Grand Canyon extended its active winning streak to two games to climb into the third position in the WAC nonconference standings. The Lopes earned a victory in the final game of the Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City, defeating Northern Iowa 69-67 on Nov. 22 before rolling past Benedictine Mesa 110-53 back in Phoenix on Nov. 26. Gabe McGlothan went for back-to-back double-doubles for GCU, including scoring 13 points and pulling down a conference season-high 18 rebounds in the game against Northern Iowa.
JOHNSON LIGHTS UP THE SCORING COLUMN FOR UTRGV
UTRGV forward and reigning WAC Player of the Year Justin Johnson flexed his scoring ability for the Vaqueros in a 2-1 week. Johnson averaged 26.0 points per game over three starts, hitting 48.1 percent of his shots from the floor.
Johnson’s 34 points scored in the 78-77 win against Western Illinois on Nov. 21 was one point from equaling the WAC single-game high of 35 this season (Cameron Tyson for Seattle U on Nov. 7 against UC San Diego). Johnson’s total of three 20-point games this season rank second in the conference behind the four of Southern Utah’s Tevian Jones.
TOP TEAM IN THE CONFERENCE IS THE MOST EFFICIENT ON OFFENSE
As of Nov. 29, only one team in the WAC found itself in the conference top five in all four major offensive statistical metrics amongst all 13 members in the league (scoring, field goal percentage, 3-point field goal percentage and rebounds). Sam Houston checked in third in rebounding, fourth in scoring and field goal percentage and fifth in 3-point field goal percentage through seven games.
20 POINTS A GAME AND UP CLUB
Three players from the WAC were averaging more than 20.0 points per game as of Nov. 29. Seattle U’s Cameron Tyson was first in the conference with a 25.8 points per game clip in four starts, with Tarleton’s Freddy Hicks second with 22.8 points over four games and Southern Utah’s Tevian Jones at 21.5 points per contest in six contests.
THE WAC IN THE NATIONAL STATS RANKINGS
In the latest NCAA DI national statistics rankings that were released on Nov. 27, Sam Houston ranked first nationally with 45.0 bench points per game and scoring margin (33.2), second in scoring defense (48.3), third in rebound margin (15.0), and fourth in field goal percentage defense (.329) and turnover margin (8.2). SFA was first in turnovers forced (22.71). UTRGV ranked fourth in free throws made per game (20.1), Seattle U was fifth in made 3-pointers per game (11.8) and UT Arlington was fifth in offensive rebounds per game (15.14).