MONMOUTH, Ore. – The Western Oregon men's basketball looks to continue their three-game winning streak this week, hosting the Saint Martin's Saints Jan. 9 and the Great Northwest Athletic Conference-leading Seattle Pacific Falcons Jan. 11 at NPE Gym.
 
Western Oregon (8-2, 2-2 GNAC) entered the NCAA Division II rankings this week, taking the No. 24 spot in the latest NABC national poll. They are the only GNAC team represented in the poll and one of four teams from the West Region inside of the top 25.
 
The Wolves secured their first conference wins of the year last week, easily topping both the Concordia Cavaliers and MSUB Yellowjackets to get back to .500 in conference play. Dalven Brushier scored a combined 35 points over the two games, including a 21-point performance against the 'Jackets to close the week.
 
Junior Emanuel Gant nearly recorded a double-double in his debut in a Western Oregon uniform, going for 10 points and nine rebounds against the 'Jackets.
 
WOU is averaging 84.3 points per game while allowing only 75.0 to opposing teams. They continue to lead the GNAC in free throw (79.9), field goal (50.3) and 3-point (42.4) shooting percentages.
 
Individually, Brushier has moved to third in conference scoring by averaging 18.6 points a game. Additionally, junior Darius Lubom has established himself as the top-shooting guard in the GNAC with a 57.4 field goal percentage. Lubom also leads the conference with 4.9 assists a night.
 
Saint Martin's (4-9, 2-2 GNAC) enters the week tied with WOU for sixth in the GNAC standings. A year after advancing all the way to the West Regional Championship, the Saints have experienced some growing pains with a relatively new group together on the court. SMU will try and snap a five-game losing streak this week, having not won since Dec. 7 when they topped Central Washington by three on the road.
 
The Saints have the third-lowest scoring margin in the GNAC, allowing 82.6 points per game and scoring just 75.3 a night. SMU opponents have managed to shoot 41.3 percent from deep, matching up well for the Wolves and their hot hands beyond the arc.
 
A trio of SMU players average over 14 points per game, led by the 14.9 of junior CJ Jennings.
 
WOU is 29-13 all-time against SMU. The Saints won both of the regular season meetings a year ago, but the Wolves were able to get the better of them, winning by 17, in the GNAC Tournament semis. Western has won 12 of the last 14 meetings with the wins last season for Saint Martin's being their first since 2014. WOU is 15-5 at home in the series.
 
Seattle Pacific (8-4, 4-0 GNAC) remains the last undefeated team in conference play. With four teams sitting right behind them at 3-1, the Falcons don't have any wiggle room to hold the top spot early on in the conference slate.
 
SPU dropped their first four games of the year before going on their current eight-game winning streak. They have not lost since Nov. 14 and of their four losses, two have been by six or fewer points.
 
Freshman Shaw Anderson has quickly established himself as one of the best overall shooters in the conference, hitting 56.3 percent of field goals and 52.9 percent of 3-pointers.
 
WOU is 18-25 against SPU all-time. Last season saw the teams split their regular season contests with both sides winning at home. The Falcons bested the Wolves in the GNAC Tournament Championship, winning by 12 for the conference title. The two wins last season for SPU ended a 10-game winning streak in the series for WOU. The Wolves are 10-9 at home.
 
Western Oregon will take on Saint Martin's Thursday, Jan. 9, at 7 p.m. while their matchup Saturday, Jan. 11, against Seattle Pacific is slated to begin at 4:15 p.m. PST— immediately following the Western Oregon women's basketball team taking on the MSUB Yellowjackets. Both games will be played at NPE Gym with live video and stats available here.