MONMOUTH, Ore. – The Western Oregon men's basketball team begins their 2019-20 regular season schedule this week when they host a four-team tournament that includes an exhibition matchup Friday, Nov. 15, with Warner Pacific and a non-conference meeting with the University of Hawaii at Hilo Saturday, Nov. 16, at NPE Gym.
The Wolves opened their campaign with an exhibition matchup against the Lewis & Clark Pioneers last Saturday, topping their Division III foe 98-70 at home.
WOU led the entirety of Saturday's contest, out-scoring the Pioneers by 11 in the first half and 17 in the second. Western Oregon shot an impressive 56.9 percent from the field in the game, going 37-for-65.
This weekend's tournament, played Friday and Saturday in Monmouth, will also feature fellow Great Northwest Athletic Conference team Concordia who will also take on the Vulcans and Knights.
Western Oregon will try and continue their trend of winning regular season openers, having not lost in their first game since the 2014-15 season. Most recently, they sailed past Warner Pacific last season 80-65 at NPE Gym to open the year.
Dalven Brushier and
Darius Lubom were named to the GNAC Men's Basketball Preseason All-Conference team at the end of October, and will help lead a group picked to finish ninth in the GNAC. Despite the low pick by conference coaches, on a national level, the Wolves are still drawing eyes. They received votes in the first NABC Division II national poll released two weeks before the beginning of the season.
Warner Pacific (3-2) has already put five official games and one exhibition on their ledger, snapping a two-game losing streak on Saturday with a 73-57 win over Montana Western. The Knights are currently on a run of nine consecutive road games, playing the fourth of that stretch on Friday against the Wolves.
WOU is 4-1 against WPU all-time. In their most recent meeting, Western picked up an 80-65 win Nov. 15, 2018, in Monmouth. Warner Pacific's only win in the series was a 77-72 win Nov. 15, 2005, at NPE Gym.
Hawaii at Hilo represents the first opponent of the season for WOU that will count towards their regular season record. The Vulcans have yet to play a game, exhibition or otherwise, this season and will open their year with Concordia on Friday before seeing the Wolves on Saturday.
They are coming off a 12-14 record in the 2018-19 season, including going 10-12 in PacWest play.
WOU is 2-0 against UHH all-time. The Wolves won their meeting last season, 80-69 in Hawaii. This will be their first-ever meeting in Monmouth.
Tipoff in both games is set for 7 p.m. PST.
Live stats and video will be available for all four games of the tournament here.
