2023-24 WAC Men's Basketball Release - Week 9 

GCU, TARLETON ST., UTAH TECH IN THE LEAD AS WAC PLAY RESTARTS
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 in November and December to lead the league standings. Five teams, California Baptist, Seattle U, Stephen F. Austin, UT Arlington and Utah Valley, logged matching 1-1 marks in the opening week of league play.

GCU HEADS INTO NEW YEAR LEADING THE WAC RESUME SEEDING SYSTEM
In the latest WAC Résumé Seeding System rankings that were compiled on Jan. 2, Grand Canyon extended its advantage with 4.29 points on the strength of a lengthy winning streak. Tarleton State (0.43 points) and Seattle U (0.19 points) rounded out the top three as the only other WAC teams with positive point values.

GCU BACK TO WAC PLAY AS THE WINNER OF NINE STRAIGHT
Grand Canyon kept its winning streak rolling with a ninth straight victory, defeating Louisiana Tech 73-70 on Dec. 30. The Lopes took over following a 38-all tie at halftime by scoring nine of the final 11 points to surge in front of Louisiana Tech for good in Phoenix. Ray Harrison led four GCU scorers in double figures with 22 points, with Tyon Grant-Foster tallying 13 points and Gabe McGlothan and Collin Moore turning in 11 points each in the win.

GADDY TAKES HOME POTW WITH ANOTHER DOUBLE-DOUBLE FOR TARLETON STATE 
Tarleton State forward KiAndre Gaddy earned WAC Player of the Week honors for the first time in his career following a standout performance for the Texans in a 79-66 win at Loyola Marymount. Gaddy logged his league-high fifth double-double of the season after pouring in 24 points and pulling down 12 rebounds for Tarleton State in the road victory, shooting 11-of-17 (64.7 percent) from the floor during the game.

END OF CONFERENCE PLAY SEES SUCCESSFUL COLLECTIVE SHOWING FOR THE WAC 
The conclusion of conference play for the 2023-24 regular season saw WAC teams post a collective 66-55 (.545) record against teams outside of the league. WAC members owned a 12-7 (.632) cumulative mark against Conference USA, a 4-1 (.800) showing against the Southland, a 4-2 (.667) performance against the West Coast Conference and a 4-3 record (.571) versus the Big West.

WAC IN THE NATIONAL STATS RANKINGS
Stephen F. Austin remained third in turnovers forced per game (18.77) in the latest NCAA Division I national statistics report on Jan. 2. The Lumberjacks were also ranked sixth in bench points (39.38). UTRGV was fifth in free throws attempted (26.7), while Grand Canyon checked in eighth in winning percentage (.923). Seattle U’s Cameron Tyson was third in 3-pointers made per game (3.75) and 10th in total made 3-pointers (45) this season according to the latest rankings. 

WAC IS BACK
Conference play resumes for the WAC following the holiday break with 10 matchups on the schedule during ther week. Co-leaders Grand Canyon (Southern Utah) and Utah Tech (Seattle U) hit the road while co-leader Tarleton State (UT Arlington) remains at home on Jan. 4. GCU and Utah Tech are set to collide in St. George, Utah on Jan. 6.