2023-24 WAC Men's Basketball Release - Week Two

FIVE WAC TEAMS FINISH OPENING WEEK UNBEATEN
A total of five WAC men’s basketball members emerged from the opening week of the 2023-24 season with matching 2-0 records. California Baptist, Grand Canyon, Seattle U, UT Arlington and Utah Valley each claimed a pair of victories to kick off the season. Stephen F. Austin and Tarleton State opened 2-1 overall.

UTA’S GORDON ENJOYS A DOUBLE-DOUBLE SURGE TO START THE YEAR
UT Arlington graduate transfer guard DaJuan Gordon enjoyed a successful debut week for the Mavs, averaging 19.0 points and 12.5 rebounds per game as part of a 2-0 start to the season. Gordon scored 24 points and pulled down 14 boards in a 75-71 win against 2023 NCAA Tournament team Oral Roberts on Nov. 6 before adding 14 points, 11 rebounds and four steals in just 23 minutes of game action in a win against UT Tyler on Nov. 11 to capture WAC Player of the Week accolades.

CONFERENCE NEWCOMERS SHOW WELL DURING OPENING WEEK
A pair of conference newcomers contributed dynamic performances for their teams on the way to 2-0 starts to the 2023-24 season. California Baptist guard Dominique Daniels Jr. earned WAC Newcomer of the Week after averaging a conference-high 23.5 points per game while shooting an impressive 57.9 percent from 3-point range over two games for the Lancers. Grand Canyon guard Tyron Grant-Foster arrived for the Lopes in his debut week with 20.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game on 61.9 percent shooting, which included a 30-point showing against Southeast Missouri State on Nov. 6.

BIG TIME WIN FOR ACU TO OPEN THE NEW YEAR 
Abilene Christian started its season with a bang on Nov. 6 at Oklahoma State. The Wildcats rode an 11-point halftime lead (36-25) to an impressive 64-59 win on the road in Stillwater. Ali Abdou Dibba led ACU with 15 points in the victory at Oklahoma State, while Airion Simmons scored 11 points and pulled down 11 rebounds.

SCORING IN BUNCHES FROM BEYOND THE ARC, HITTING THE OFFENSIVE GLASS
As of the NCAA Division I men’s basketball national statistics report on Nov. 13, UT Arlington ranked third in the country in 3-point attempts per game (34.5) and fourth in made 3-pointers per contest (13.0) after two games. The Mavs combined for a 3-point shooting clip of 37.7 percent as a team to kick off the new season. UTA, who also led the WAC and ranked sixth nationally in total rebounds per game (51.50) in the season’s first week, have averaged 18.50 rebounds per contest on the offensive glass. Forward Shemar Wilson was second in NCAA DI with 6.00 offensive rebounds per game as of Nov. 14.