MONMOUTH, Ore. – Following a stretch of three straight road games in which the Western Oregon University men's basketball team finished strong winning the final two games, the Wolves will now return home to host two games beginning with Northwest Nazarene on Saturday at 4:15 p.m. for Senior Day before facing Western Washington at 3 p.m. on Monday with all games being played inside the New PE Gym. Thursday's game against Central Washington was canceled.
It will be Senior Day on Saturday as the Wolves will honor their only senior in Tyreek Price. Price has played the past two seasons with the Wolves. During the 2019-20 year he saw time in 26 games, coming away with 124 points, 18 rebounds, 11 assists, 16 steals, 39 field goals and 30 three-pointers in 398 minutes. So far this season, the guard has scored 145 points, 36 rebounds, 24 assists, 14 steals, made 50 field goals and 35 three-pointers in playing 545 minutes. For his career, Price has played in 46 games, posting 269 points, 54 rebounds, 35 assists, 30 steals, 89 field goals, 65 three-pointers and played 943 minutes. Five times this season Price has scored in double-figures, reaching a season-high 14 against Fort Lewis. He grabbed five rebounds against Montana State Billings and has multiple rebounds in nine games. Price has at least two assists in seven games with a high of five and tallied two steals in two games.
WOU completed a solid road trip defeating Western Washington (73-71) and then used a big second half to take down Simon Fraser (76-63). The Wolves are now 5-15 overall and 4-8 in GNAC play. During the three-game road swing, Cameron Cranston continued to pile up the points going for 58, including a 27-point effort in the win at Western Washington.
The Wolves enter the week ranked ninth in the GNAC Points Rating System that will be used this year to decide the seeding for the GNAC Championships with all 10 teams making the field. WOU has 2.75 points and are just behind Western Washington and Simon Fraser both tied for seventh with 3.0 points. Seattle Pacific is in sixth with 3.32 points. Alaska Fairbanks is behind WOU with a 2.54 points rating.
WOU enters the week averaging 70.9 points, making 524-1,225 (42.8) from the field, 179-501 (35.7) from three and 190-251 (75.7) at the foul line. The Wolves also average 31.8 rebounds, 13.7 assists, 6.8 steals and 3.2 blocks. Opponents average 78.1 points, making 597-1,250 (47.8) from the field, 157-422 (37.2) from three and 211-288 (73.3) at the foul line. Opponents also average 38.2 rebounds, 15.7 assists, 6.5 steals and 2.4 blocks.
Cranston continues to lead the way averaging 19.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 44 assists, 31 steals, 24 blocks, making 137 field goals, 55 three-pointers and 53 free throws in averaging 37.4 minutes per game. He leads the team in points, steals, blocks, field goals, three-pointers, free throws and minutes played. Cranston is shooting 46.8 percent (137-293) from the field and 43.7 percent (55-126) from three. John Morrill-Keeler is at 10.8 points and 6.3 rebounds, along with 21 assists, 24 steals, 13 blocks and is shooting 51.5 percent (165-165) from the field. Yosani Clay is at 9.5 points, along with 3.9 rebounds, 41 assists, 20 steals and has made 30 three-pointers. Daisone Hughes tallies 7.4 points, 29 rebounds, along with 35 assists. Price is at 7.3 points, 24 assists and is second on the team with 35 three-pointers, making 41.7 percent (35-84). Qiant Myers leads the team with 73 assists.
The Wolves will open the week against Northwest Nazarene on Saturday afternoon at 4:15 p.m. During the earlier meeting in Nampa back on Jan. 20, the Nighthawks took the 95-59 victory. Cranston led the Wolves with 16 points, while Morrill-Keeler added 11 points and Myers with 10.
NNU is 8-7 overall and 6-4 in GNAC play, going 2-6 away from home and 2-5 in true road contests. The Nighthawks have won three straight, all coming in Nampa. This past week they defeated Alaska Anchorage (70-66) and Alaska Fairbanks (73-66) and earlier in the week defeated Saint Martin's (71-65).
The Nighthawks average 74.3 points, making 383-931 (41.1) from the field, 105-330 (31.8) from three and 243-332 (73.2) at the foul line. NNU averages 38.9 rebounds, 12.3 assists, 7.5 steals and 3.4 blocks. Opponents average 73.2 points, making 389-925 (42.1) from the field, 106-326 (32.5) from three and 214-278 (77) at the foul line. Opponents also average 37.8 rebounds, 11.5 assists, 6.5 steals, 2.7 blocks.
James Nelson leads the team averaging 17.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and is shooting 46 percent (40-87) from the field. George Reidy is at 14.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 23 assist sand 23 steals. Tru Allen adds 12.5 points, 32 assists and 27 steals. Gabriel Murphy gives NNU four averaging in double-figures at 10 points and nearly averages a double-double with 9.4 rebounds.
WOU is 13-7 at home against NNU since 2001 having split the past two meetings. The Nighthawks won on Jan. 23, 2020 in Monmouth (87-82) and WOU won the meeting before that on Feb. 21, 2019 (81-66).
The Wolves finish the homestand on Monday hosting Western Washington at 3 p.m. WOU just faced the Vikings last week taking the 73-71 win in Bellingham. Cranston led the way with 27 points, Hughes added 16 points and Price hit the go-ahead three-pointer.
Western Washington is 12-11 overall and 5-8 in GNAC play. After falling to WOU last week, the Vikings then lost to Saint Martin's (86-68) and Montana State Billings (91-64) at home. The game against the Yellowjackets was this past Monday. WUU is 2-6 away from home and 1-4 in true road contests.
WWU averages 80.7 points, making 695-1,425 (48.8) from the field, 174-464 (37.5) from three and 293-404 (72.5) from the foul line. The Vikings average 36.9 rebounds, 14.5 assists, 5.8 steals and 4.4 blocks. Opponents average 76.4 points, making 639-1,435 (44.5) from the field, 190-494 (38.5) from three and 290-374 (77.5) from the foul line. Opponents average 31.4 rebounds, 14.3 assists, 6.0 steals and 2.6 blocks.
Jalen Green leads the way averaging 15.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, 35 assists, 23 blocks and is shooting 54 percent (107-198) from the field. Daniel Hornbuckle adds 14.2 points and 64 assists, while shooting over 47 percent (110-233) from the field. D'Angelo Minnis is at 12.1 points and 93 assists. Luke Lovelady adds 11.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, 22 blocks and is shooting almost 57 percent (96-169) from the field.
WOU is 11-9 at home against WWU since 2001 having won the past three meetings in Monmouth. The last road win for the Vikings was in 2017 coming away with the 84-76 victory.
Live video and stats will be available for both games: 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.
