West Regional Championship goes through Monmouth

Wolves hosting NCAA MBB Tournament

No. 3/3 Western Oregon (27-3) vs. Humboldt State (21-8)
Friday, March 11, 2016 | 7:30 p.m. PT | New P.E. Building | Monmouth, Ore.
NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Championship – West Regional

LIVE STATS/VIDEO: WOU Portal

WOU NCAA REGIONAL TOURNAMENT NOTES

NCAA TOURNAMENT NOTES

Western Oregon is making its second consecutive NCAA Tournament Appearance, while hosting for the West regional for the first time.
WOU is 0-1 all-time in the NCAA Tournament
Last season, Western Oregon was the No. 8 seed in the West and dropped a 75-67 decision to No. 1 Azusa Pacific in the 2015 West Regional.
Western Oregon is 4-0 this season against NCAA Tournament teams (3-0 vs. SPU, 1-0 vs. UCSD).

ABOUT WESTERN OREGON

Head coach Jim Shaw is in his first season at WOU. He was named GNAC Coach of the Year after leading the Wolves to the GNAC title. His previous assistant coaching stops include Saint Mary's, Washington, Oklahoma, Portland, Montana State, Southern Utah, Oregon State, Chemeketa and Idaho State.
WOU won its second consecutive Great Northwest Athletic Conference regular season title and followed it with the program's first-ever GNAC Tournament title.
Western Oregon's balanced scoring attack is led by GNAC Player of the Year Andy Avgi at 20.6 points per game. He is among six Wolves that average at least 9.0 points per game.
The Wolves rank No. 2 in turnovers per game (9.0), third in fewest turnovers (270) and fifth in turnover margin (+4.4) in the country.
WOU is also 28^th in steals per game (8.4), 32^nd in scoring defense (68.9 ppg) and scoring margin (9.3), and 58^th in total 3-point field goals made (257).
Earlier this year, Western Oregon set an NCAA-era school record with 13 consecutive victories.
The 27 wins is second all-time in school history, behind the 30-win season posted by the 1981-82 team under head coach Jim Boutin that featured All-American Jim Shaw.
WOU took two major GNAC postseason awards: Andy Avgi (Player), Jim Shaw (Coach).
Western Oregon placed Avgi on the All-GNAC First Team, Julian Nichols and Tanner Omlid on the second team, and Jordan Wiley on the honorable mention list.

ABOUT THE SERIES

This will be the 49^th meeting between Western Oregon and Humboldt State. The Wolves have won the last two games dating back to 2008. HSU was in the GNAC until 2006, when they joined the California Collegiate Athletic Association.

ABOUT HUMBOLDT STATE

Head coach Steve Kinder is in his sixth year at the helm and led the Jacks to a tie for fourth in the CCCAA with a 21-8, 12-8 mark.
All-CCAA First Team selections Rakim Brown and Malik Morgan lead HSU. Brown led the Jacks in scoring (18.7) and rebounding (9.3) in the regular season. Morgan averaged 13.4 points while leading the league in assists.
Thomas Witzel was a CCAA second team pick with regular-season averages of 14.4 points and 4.9 rebounds a game.
The Bison average 83.3 points per game and give up only 76.0.
HSU won the CCAA Tournament with a 12-point victory over UC San Diego.

A WIN WOULD...

Be the first NCAA Tournament victory for Western Oregon men's basketball.
Be the 74th in the careers of Andy Avgi, Jordan Wiley, Devon Alexander and Jordan Schriber.

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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

#24 Jordan Schriber: G/F; 6' 6"; Senior; 3V

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

#11 Tanner Omlid: G/F; 6' 4"; Redshirt Sophomore; TR

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

#24 Jordan Schriber
: 6' 6"; Senior; 3V
: G/F

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

#11 Tanner Omlid
: 6' 4"; Redshirt Sophomore; TR
: G/F