March 3, 2015
Contact: Bob Guptill ([email protected])
503-305-8756 /www.gnacsports.com
Western Oregon Top Seed, But Five Others Look For Ticket to NCAAs
Conf.
All
GNAC
W
L W
L
H
(1) Western Oregon
15
3 23
5 12-2
(2) Seattle Pacific
13
5 21
7 10-3
(3) Central Washington 12
6 17
8 10-2
(4) Alaska Anchorage
12
6 16 12 11-6
(5) Western Washington 11
7 18 10 13-2
(6) Northwest Nazarene 11
7 13 15
7-4
Simon Fraser
6 12 11 15
8-5
Alaska
4 14
7 19
6-7
Saint Martin’s
3 15
6 22
4-8
MSU Billings
3 15
5 23
3-10
Number in parentheses indicates tournament seed
A
10-3
7-4
5-5
5-5
4-6
5-8
2-10
1-9
2-9
1-11
SPU, which has made 10 straight NCAA appearances, is
ranked just 10th in the West Region and likely will need to
win the tournament to keep its NCAA streak alive.
N
1-0
4-0
2-1
0-1
1-2
1-3
1-0
0-3
0-5
1-2
Western Oregon, which was ranked fourth in last week’s
regional poll, comes to Billings as the GNAC regular-season
champion and the top seed. With a 23-5 record, the
Wolves appear to be a good bet to advance to the
regionals.
But upsets in the GNAC, PacWest and/or CCAA
tournaments could drop WOU closer to the bubble.
LAST WEEK: Thursday – Saint Martin’s 78 at Alaska 82 (ot);
Western Oregon 78 at Alaska Anchorage 80 (ot); Central
Washington 47 at Seattle Pacific 69 Northwest Nazarene 91 at
MSU Billings 67; Simon Fraser 77 at Western Washington 110.
Saturday – Western Oregon 75 at Alaska 60; Saint Martin’s 67 at
Alaska Anchorage 101; Central Washington 104 at MSU Billings 99
(ot); Northwest Nazarene 49 at Seattle Pacific 60. (End-of-regular
season).
Coach Brady Bergeson’s team is led by GNAC MVP Andy
Avgi, who ranks third in the GNAC in scoring, averaging
18.1 points per game. Avgi is third in the GNAC in
shooting percentage (61.6) and 10th in rebounding
claiming 5.8 caroms per game.
GNAC Newcomer of the Year Julian Nichols is also a key
player for the Wolves averaging 12.4 points and leading
the conference in steals (2.4) and ranking second in assists
(5.9).
GNAC Championships (March 5-7 at Billings, MT): Thursday - #6
Northwest Nazarene vs. #3 Central Washington, 5:15 p.m.; #5
Western Washington vs. #4 Alaska Anchorage, 7:30 p.m. Friday #2 Seattle Pacific vs. 3/6 winner, 5:15 p.m.; #1 Western Oregon
vs. 4/5 winner, 7:30 p.m. Saturday – Championship game at 7:30
p.m. (Note: All times are Mountain Standard Time).
Riley Stockton averages just 9.7 points for Seattle Pacific,
but is a multi-purpose standout, ranking fifth in the GNAC
in rebounding (6.7) and sixth in assists (3.9). He is the
GNAC’s No. 8 all-time rebound leader (726) from the guard
position and ranks 9th in career assists (42.5).
Tourney Opens Thursday With 2 First-Round Games
PORTLAND, Ore. – Seattle Pacific will be seeking its third
straight GNAC tournament title beginning Thursday in
Billings, Mont., as six teams battle for an automatic berth
in next week’s NCAA West Regional.
Stockton was voted the GNAC Defensive Player of the Year
earning that award for the second time in three seasons.
Led by Stockton, Matt Borton (7.4 rpg) and Mitch Penner
(5.7), SPU leads the nation in rebounding with a 13.6
margin.
Corey Hutsen provides much of the offense
scoring 15.8 points per contest.
The GNAC champion will join the winners of this week’s
PacWest and CCAA tournaments in the regional which
begins Friday, March 13.
Five other teams will be selected by the NCAA Regional
selection committee (RAC) to compete in the eight-team
regional. The qualifying teams and site for the tournament
will be announced Sunday at 7:30 p.m. (Pacific) with a
webcast on ncaa.com.
Central Washington, which won the inaugural GNAC
tournament in 2011, is the No. 3 seed.
Dom Williams is second in the GNAC in scoring averaging
nearly 19.9 points per game. Joseph Stroud is a force
inside for the Wildcats scoring 12.1 points, shooting a
NCAA Division II best 71.4 percent, grabbing 5.3 rebounds
and blocking 67 shots.
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