2024-25 WAC Men's Basketball Release - Week 10

HOME TEAMS SWEEP OPENING WEEKEND OF WAC PLAY
Home teams carried the day in the opening wave of WAC games in the 2024-25 season on Jan. 4, as all four hosts emerged victorious to kick off conference play. California Baptist, Grand Canyon, Tarleton State and Utah Valley each opened the league slate with 1-0 records.

TGF EARNS FIRST POTW OF THE YEAR AS GCU WINS FIFTH STRAIGHT
Grand Canyon continued its recent surge with an 82-71 win over Southern Utah in the conference opener on Jan. 4, the fifth straight win overall for the Lopes and the 10th straight home victory in conference games for GCU dating back to the start of the 2023-24 league season. Preseason WAC Player of the Year Tyon Grant-Foster equaled his season high with 23 points in the win over Southern Utah, pulling down nine rebounds to go along with three steals and two blocked shots to earn conference player of the week honors. 

UTAH VALLEY WINNING STREAK UP TO FOUR IN A ROW
Utah Valley maintained its recent run of form with a fourth straight win overall, kicking off WAC play 1-0 following a 64-53 win over Abilene Christian at home on Jan. 4. Dominick Nelson led the way for Utah Valley with 16 points, seven rebounds, and two blocked shots in the victory against ACU, while Kylin Green added 11 points and five boards.

CBU’S BRAUN CLAIMS WAC NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK FOLLOWING DOUBLE-DOUBLE
California Baptist forward AJ Braun captured WAC Newcomer of the Week accolades for the first time following his third double-double of the season in CBU’s 61-59 win against Seattle U to begin conference play on Jan. 4. Braun, a transfer from Wright State, scored 16 points and pulled down a season-high 12 rebounds in just 24 minutes to help the Lancers complete the comeback after trailing 30-27 at halftime.

TARLETON STATE WINS THIRD STRAIGHT, OPENS WAC SCHEDULE 1-0
Tarleton State kept its recent momentum surging on the first night of WAC basketball against UT Arlington on Jan. 4, emerging with a 77-74 win at home for a third straight win overall. Bubu Benjamin powered the Texans with 21 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals in the triumph. Transfer guard Dantwan Grimes enjoyed his best game to date for Tarleton State, pouring in 18 points and logging three steals in the UTA showdown.

DANIELS IN THE NATIONAL TOP 10 IN SCORING
California Baptist guard Dominique Daniels Jr. checked in sixth in points per game in the latest NCAA Division I statistics report on Jan. 7 after averaging 21.7 points over his first 15 starts. Daniels’ 325 total points ranked ninth in the country in the most recent national stats standings.