LACEY, Wash./MONMOUTH, Ore. – The Western Oregon University men's basketball team will get used to facing Saint Martin's this week as the teams will play twice in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action. The first meeting will be on Thursday night at 7 p.m. in Lacey and then the teams will turn around and play in Monmouth on Saturday at 4:15 p.m. The Thursday night game is a rescheduled contest that was postponed on New Year's Day.
WOU (3-10, 2-3 GNAC) continues the road trip to start the week after playing in both Idaho and Washington this past week. The Wolves ran into a hot-shooting NNU team in Idaho as the Nighthawks took the 95-59 victory. WOU battled Central Washington in another tough road test before the Wildcats were able to pull away for the 90-67 win. Cameron Cranston closed the week strong posting a double-double with 29 points and 10 rebounds at Central Washington.
On the season, the Wolves average 71.7 points, making 349-797 (43.8) from the field, 128-343 (37.3) from three and 106-152 (69.7) at the foul line. WOU also averages 32.3 rebounds, 14.0 assists, 6.5 steals and 3.1 blocks per game. Opponents average 78.9 points per game, making 399-838 (47.6) from the field, 97-267 (36.3) from three and 131-178 (73.6) at the foul line. Opponents also average 39.1 rebounds, 14.2 assists, 6.7 steals and 1.8 blocks per game.
Cranston leads the Wolves in multiple categories including points per game (19.4), rebounds (5.7), field goals (91), three-pointers (41), free throws (29), steals (20) and blocks (13). John Morrill-Keeler is second on the team in both scoring (10.4) and rebounds (5.6). He is also second on the team in field goals (56) and adds 13 assists and 10 steals. Yosani Clay is at 9.5 points and 3.5 rebounds per contest, adding 27 assists and 15 steals. Tyreek Price tallies eight points per game, making the second-most three-pointers on the team (26). Elihu Cobb is at 6.9 points per game and adds 3.8 rebounds and 12 blocks. He leads the team with a 67.9 field goal percentage. Daisone Hughes tallies 6.6 points per game and adds 25 assists and 11 steals. Qiant Myers leads the team in assists with 43.
WOU ranks high nationally and in the top-three in the GNAC in several categories including: 11th nationally and fifth in the GNAC in fewest fouls (186), 61st nationally in fewest turnovers (180), 22nd nationally and third in the GNAC in personal fouls per game (14.3), 28th nationally and second in the GNAC in three-point field goals per game (9.8), 53rd nationally in three-point field goal percentage (37.3), and third in the GNAC in three-point field goals made (128).
Individually, Cranston is fifth in the GNAC in blocked shots per game (1), eighth in the GNAC in field goal percentage (47.4), 21st nationally and first in the GNAC in minutes per game (36:34), 56th nationally and second in the GNAC in points per game (19.4), seventh in the GNAC in steals per game (1.54), 25th nationally and second in the GNAC in three-point field goals per game (3.15), 14th nationally and second in the GNAC in three-point field goal percentage (46.6), 88th nationally and third in the GNAC in total three-point field goals made (41), fifth in the GNAC in total blocks (13), third in the GNAC in total field goals made (91) and second in the GNAC in total points (252). Myers is 68th nationally and sixth in the GNAC in assists-to-turnover ratio (2.15) and ninth in the GNAC in assists per game (3.3). Cobb is fourth in the GNAC in blocked shots per game (1.09) and seventh in the GNAC in total blocks (12). Price is ninth in the GNAC in three-point field goals per game (2). Morrill-Keeler is 10th in the GNAC in offensive rebounds per game (2.15).
WOU holds a 31-13 series record since 2001 against Saint Martin's and have won the past three meetings. During the 2019-20 season, the Wolves won in Monmouth (108-73) and then completed the season sweep in Lacey (80-52). The last win for the Saints was on Feb. 16, 2019 in Lacey taking the 64-56 victory.
Saint Martin's has been one of the early stories of the new season as the Saints are 11-4 overall and 4-2 in GNAC play. SMU is currently second in the GNAC standings trailing only Simon Fraser's 3-1 conference mark. Alaska Anchorage is third in the standings at 2-1, followed by a three-way tie for fourth in Central Washington, Northwest Nazarene and Montana State Billings all at 3-2. Seattle Pacific is seventh at 3-4, followed by the Wolves in eighth at 2-3, Western Washington is ninth at 1-3 and Alaska in 10th at 1-5.
The Saints opened the year nearly defeating Oregon State before falling by just three points in Corvallis. SMU had a seven-game winning streak snapped by Seattle Pacific on Jan. 17 in Seattle. The games the rest of the week were postponed for Saint Martin's.
On the year, SMU is averaging 80.7 points, making 453-925 (49) from the field, 142-346 (41) from three and 163-261 (62.5) at the foul line. The Saints also average 36 rebounds, 16.3 assists, 8.1 steals and 3.2 blocks per game. Opponents average 67.5 points, making 386-905 (42.7) from the field, 132-374 (35.3) from three and 108-165 (65.5) at the foul line. Opponents also average 31.8 rebounds, 14.6 assists, 4.7 steals and 1.6 blocks per game.
Brett Reed leads the way averaging 14 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, along with 22 assists and 13 steals. Alex Schumacher is at 12.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 47 assists. Kyle Greeley tallies 11.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 13 steals. Christian Haffner gives the Saints four averaging in double-figures at 10.3 points. Jaden Nielsen-Skinner has a team-high 80 assists and adds 9.9 points per game.
Live video and stats for the game at Saint Martin's can be found here: Live video click here and live stats click here.
For the home game against Saint Martin's, live video and stats can be found here: Live video click here and live stats click here.
Tickets can be purchased here.
Also, please see the press release found here on updated fan policy for WOU indoor athletic events that went into effect Nov. 15.
