BILLINGS, Mont./SEATTLE, Wash. -- The Western Oregon University men's basketball team will return to the court for the first time since Dec. 11 when they play at Montana State Billings this Thursday at 4:15 p.m. (Pacific). The game that was scheduled for Saturday against Seattle Pacific has been postponed. WOU last played a GNAC game on Dec. 4 at home against Alaska Anchorage taking the nine-point victory. The Wolves were scheduled to play at Saint Martin's this past Saturday, but that game was postponed and has been rescheduled for Jan. 27 in Lacey.
Last time out, WOU (3-7, 2-0 GNAC) played an exciting back-and-forth battle with Corban that went right down to the last shot with the Warriors taking the 80-77 win. John Morrill-Keeler went for 17 points and seven rebounds. Cameron Cranston tallied 13 points and both Daisone Hughes and Collin Warmouth added 12 points apiece.
The Wolves average 73.5 points per game, making 277-614 (45.1) from the field, 96-255 (37.6) from three and 85-123 (69.1) from the foul line. WOU also averages 33.6 rebounds, 14.5 assists, 6.5 steals and 3.5 blocks. Opponents average 76.4 points per game, making 297-649 (45.8) from the field, 74-207 (35.7) from three and 96-135 (71.1) at the foul line. Opponents also average 38.6 rebounds, 13.2 assists, 6.5 steals and 1.5 blocks per game.
Cranston leads the Wolves in points per game (17.2), rebounds per game (5.7), assists (27), steals (15), field goals (61), three-pointers (27) and free throws (23) and is second on the team in blocks (11). Morrill-Keeler is second on the team in scoring at 10.4 points, along with 5.3 rebounds and is shooting over 64 percent from the field. Yosani Clay is averaging 9.2 points per game, along with 21 assists. Hughes is at 7.9 points per game and has 20 assists. Tyreek Price and Elihu Cobb add 7.6 points apiece, with Price hitting 20 three-pointers for second on the team. Cobb leads the team shooting over 69 percent and also leads the team in blocks with 12.
WOU ranks high nationally and in the top-three in the GNAC in several categories including 77th nationally and third in the GNAC in blocked shots per game (3.5), 31st nationally in personal fouls per game (145), 85th nationally in fewest turnovers (137), 38th nationally and second in the GNAC in three point field goals per game (9.6), 50th nationally in three point field goal percentage (37.6), 100th nationally in total three point field goals made (96), and second in the GNAC in blocks (35).
Individually Cranston ranks fourth in the GNAC in blocked shots per game, 33rd nationally and second in the GNAC in minutes per game, third in the GNAC in points per game, seventh in the GNAC in steals per game, 72nd nationally and fourth in the GNAC in three point field goals per game, 40th nationally and second in the GNAC in three point field goal percentage, third in the GNAC in total three point field goals made, fifth in the GNAC in total blocks, ninth in the GNAC in total field goals made and fifth in the GNAC in total points. Cobb is 93rd nationally and third in the GNAC in blocked shots per game and third in the GNAC in total blocks. Price is ninth in the GNAC in three point field goals per game.
WOU will open the road trip in Montana against Montana State Billings on Thursday evening. The Yellowjackets are 5-7 overall and 1-1 in GNAC play. They weren't able to play either game this past week against the Alaska schools with one postponed due to COVID-19 and the other due to travel restrictions.
Last time out, MSUB faced Rollins in Las Vegas taking the 18-point victory. They also came close against nationally-ranked West Texas A&M falling by just two points.
In GNAC play this season, the 'Jackets have played a couple of tight games decided by a total of three points. Northwest Nazarene won in overtime in Billings, 68-67, and then against Central Washington, MSUB took the 66-64 win. On the season, the 'Jackets average 63.8 points per game, making 279-678 (41.2) from the field, 81-268 (30.2) from three and 127-176 (72.2) at the foul line. MSUB also averages 36 rebounds, 11.7 assists, 7.1 steals and 1.7 blocks per game. Opponents average 63.9 points per game, making 271-674 (40.2) from the field, 97-302 (32.1) from three and 128-178 (71.9) from the foul line. Opponents also average 33.3 rebounds, 11.9 assists, 8.2 steals and 2.3 blocks per game.
Carrington Wiggins leads the team averaging 15.5 points, along with 4.4 rebounds, 27 assists and 15 steals. Damen Thacker tallies 14.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 43 assists and 21 steals. Nicholas Sebastiao is third on the team averaging 8.3 points.
Since 2003, WOU holds a 21-10 series record against MSUB having won the past nine meetings. During the 2019-20 season, the Wolves won by 12 in Monmouth and 23 in Billings. The last win for the 'Jackets came in 2016-17 when MSUB claimed the 79-71 win in Billings.
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