2023-24 WAC Men's Basketball Release - Week 7

GCU, TARLETON ST., UTAH TECH OPEN WAC PLAY 2-0
With the first official week of conference play in the books in the 2023-24 season, Grand Canyon, Tarleton State and Utah Tech posted matching 2-0 records in WAC matchups to lead the league standings prior to the resumption of conference action in January.

GCU REMAINS ATOP WAC RESUME SEEDING SYSTEM
In the latest WAC Résumé Seeding System rankings that were compiled on Dec. 18, Grand Canyon extended its advantage with 3.76 points. Tarleton State was in second with 0.65 points, while California Baptist (0.06 points) added positive point values in the most recent posting of rankings.

LOPES WINNING STREAK NOW SIX STRAIGHT
With wins in six straight games during the early stages of the young season, Grand Canyon improved to 9-1 overall in 2023-24 with a dominant 91-63 showing against Portland on Dec. 16 during the Jerry Colangelo Classic in Phoenix. The Lopes, ranked 32nd in the latest NCAA NET rankings on Dec. 18, shot 48.6 percent (35-of-72) from the floor and owned the glass by a 51-32 rebounding margin in the victory over Portland. Gabe McGlothan earned WAC Player of the Week honors for the second straight week after tallying 26 points and 11 rebounds in the Jerry Colangelo Classic, while Tyon Grant-Foster filled the stat sheet with 20 points, four rebounds, five assists and three steals in the Portland game.

RUSSELL ANNOUNCES HIS ARRIVAL IN ARLINGTON WITH EMPHATIC PERFORMANCE IN UTA DEBUT
Transfer guard Phillip Russell made an impactful debut in his first game in a UT Arlington uniform, scoring 28 points for the Mavericks in a 76-73 win over Air Force on Dec. 16 at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth. Russell tallied 13 points in the second half, to go along with two assists and two steals during the contest, to claim the WAC Newcomer of the Week award.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE LEADERS IN THE WAC
Heading into games on Dec. 19, three players share the WAC lead in double-doubles thus far this season. Tarleton State’s KiAndre Gaddy and UT Arlington’s DaJuan Gordon and Shemar Wilson have each logged four double-doubles to date in 2023-24. Gordon registered the most recent among the three with 15 points and 15 rebounds in a win over Air Force on Dec. 16 at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth.

WAC IN THE NATIONAL STATS RANKINGS
Grand Canyon was the second ranked team in NCAA Division I in free throw attempts per game according to the Dec. 17 NCAA national stats report, averaging 28.6 trips to the free-throw line per game. The Lopes were third in made free throws at 20.8 per contest. Abilene Christian ranked ninth in attempted free throws with 26.7 per game and 10th in makes at 19.4 a game. Stephen F. Austin checked in seventh in turnovers forced per game (18.10) and eighth in bench points (36.30 per game) in DI.

LEADING UP TO THE HOLIDAYS WITH QUALITY BASKETBALL
Highlighted games on the upcoming WAC nonconference schedule for the week leading into the holidays include Liberty traveling to Utah Valley, Sam Houston venturing to Grand Canyon and Louisiana Tech at Seattle U on Dec. 20, along with Utah Tech at Colorado and Tarleton State with a big test at No. 7/8 Tennessee on Dec. 21.