Jacob Thompson/Thompson Sports

Men's Basketball 11/9/2016 8:19:00 PM

Men's Hoops Opens Regular Season at the GNAC/PacWest Challenge

WOU begins campaign with Point Loma, Fresno Pacific

GNAC/PacWest Conference Challenge

(RV/RV) Western Oregon (0-0) vs. Point Loma (0-0)
Game 1 | Nov. 11 | 6 p.m. PT | FPU Special Events Center | Fresno, CA
Series: Series tied 1-1
Last Meeting: Nov. 13, 2015 – Won, 82-76 in Olympia, WA

(RV/RV) Western Oregon (0-0) vs. Point Loma (0-0)
Game 2 | Nov. 12 | 7:30 p.m. PT | FPU Special Events Center | Fresno, CA
Series: Western Oregon leads 5-1
Last Meeting: Nov. 14, 2015 – Won, 82-73 in Olympia, WA

LIVE STATS/VIDEO: FPU Portal | NOTES: WOU – PLNU – FPU

STORYLINES

The Western Oregon men's basketball team will open the 2016-17 regular season this Friday and Saturday with a pair of games at the GNAC/PacWest Conference Challenge in Fresno, Calif. The Wolves will take on Point Loma at 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 11 before squaring off against tournament host Fresno Pacific at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Last time out: Western Oregon saw a fantastic postseason run halted by eventual NCAA Division II National Champion Augustana (S.D.) in a 74-55 loss during the national semifinals at the Dr. Pepper Arena in Frisco, Texas. The loss ended WOU's quest for the first NCAA team championship in school history with a 31-4 overall record.

WOU IN SEASON OPENERS

The 2016-17 season marks the 94^th season of men's basketball at Western Oregon.
Western Oregon is 53-38 all-time in season openers since 1920-21.
Western Oregon did not play basketball from 1943-45 due to World War II.
Western Oregon won its season opener last season, defeating Point Loma in Olympia, WA

ABOUT WESTERN OREGON

The Wolves return just one starter from last year's team – junior forward Tanner Omlid. Four others – Julian Nichols, Devon Alexander, Jordan Wiley and Andy Avgi – graduated or exhausted their basketball eligibility. Alex Roth, who started in the opening 18 games of 2015-16, is expected to miss this season recovering from an injury.
Lettermen returning for the Wolves include guard Nick Nestell, forward Buster Souza, center Connor Thompson and forward J.J. Chirnside. Senior guard Desmond Dupree Turner and senior forward Yanick Kulich return to the squad after redshirting last season. Redshirt freshmen Akil Reese and Isaiah Edwards are back as well. Janvier Alaby is expected use a redshirt year.
Western Oregon welcomes eight new faces to the teams for 2016-17:
- guards Evan Garrison (Portland State), Bryan Berg (Clark College), Demetrius Trammell (Yakima Valley), Ali Faruq-Bey (Idaho State), Malik Leaks (Lane), Ryan Lacey (Auburn Mountainview HS)
- forward Riley Hawken (transfer from Concordia, will redshirt)
- center Tristan Miguel (Auburn Mountainview HS, will redshirt)
Head coach Jim Shaw is in his second season at Western Oregon. Shaw was the 2015-16 GNAC and NABC West Region Coach of the Year. His previous assistant coaching stops include Saint Mary's, Washington, Oklahoma, Portland, Montana State, Southern Utah, Oregon State, Chemeketa and Idaho State.
New faces also appear on Shaw's bench with the addition of Gage Aker, Zach Payne and Jalen James to the coaching staff. Josh Reber is the only other assistant coach to carry over from the 2015-16 staff.
Western Oregon was picked to finish sixth in the 2016-17 GNAC regular season title race by the league's coaches.

ABOUT POINT LOMA

Head coach Ryan Looney is in his first year at Point Loma after leading Seattle Pacific to seven NCAA West Regional appearances and winning at least 20 games every season. He was a two-time GNAC Coach of the Year (2010, 2014) at SPU.
Point Loma was 13 -14 overall last season and 8-12 in the Pacific West. The Sea Lions did not qualify for the PacWest Conference Tournament.
The Sea Lions return four starters and six letterwinners from 2015-16 including PacWest Freshman of the Year Josh Ramirez. The sophomore guard was eighth in the country last year with 6.4 assists per game while scoring 17.3 points a night.

ABOUT FRESNO PACIFIC

Fresno Pacific opens the season under first-year head coach C.J. Haydock, who served as an assistant at FPU last year. This is Haddock's first collegiate head coaching position after success in the high school ranks in Fresno.
FPU was 14-13 overall in 2015-16 with a 9-11 mark in the PacWest. Their marquee win last year came on Jan. 30, 2016 with a 94-90 win at Azusa Pacific.
The Sunbirds return five letterwinners from last season including the team's second-leading scoring in guard Spencer Krannitz (14.9ppg). FPU has nine newcomers on the 2016-17 roster.

-- WOUWolves.com --

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Players Mentioned

#0 Devon Alexander: G; 6' 1"; Senior; 3V

#32 Andy Avgi: F; 6' 6"; Redshirt Senior; 3V

#10 Julian Nichols: G; 6' 2"; Senior; 1V

#22 Jordan Wiley: G; 6' 6"; Senior; 3V

Janvier Alaby: G; 6' 2"; Senior; 1V

#15 Isaiah Edwards: G; 6' 5"; Redshirt Freshman; RS

#20 Yanick Kulich: F; 6' 6"; Senior; RS

Nick Nestell: G; 5' 11"; Junior; 2V

#11 Tanner Omlid: F; 6' 3"; Junior; 1V

#0 Akil Reese: G; 6' 2"; Redshirt Freshman; RS

Alex Roth: G; 6' 4"; Junior; 1V

#24 Buster Souza: F; 6' 8"; Sophomore; 1V

Players Mentioned

#0 Devon Alexander
: 6' 1"; Senior; 3V
: G

#32 Andy Avgi
: 6' 6"; Redshirt Senior; 3V
: F

#10 Julian Nichols
: 6' 2"; Senior; 1V
: G

#22 Jordan Wiley
: 6' 6"; Senior; 3V
: G

Janvier Alaby
: 6' 2"; Senior; 1V
: G

#15 Isaiah Edwards
: 6' 5"; Redshirt Freshman; RS
: G

#20 Yanick Kulich
: 6' 6"; Senior; RS
: F

Nick Nestell
: 5' 11"; Junior; 2V
: G

#11 Tanner Omlid
: 6' 3"; Junior; 1V
: F

#0 Akil Reese
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Freshman; RS
: G

Alex Roth
: 6' 4"; Junior; 1V
: G

#24 Buster Souza
: 6' 8"; Sophomore; 1V
: F