BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University opens a stretch of seven consecutive home games hosting the 17th Chuck Randall Classic with four games played Friday and Saturday on WECU Court in Carver Gym.

 

WWU welcomes Azusa Pacific University , Concordia University Irvine and Seattle Pacific University to Bellingham for the two-day tournament that features games at 5:00 and 7:30 pm each day. WWU will play the featured game both days, taking on CUI Friday night and APU on Saturday. 

 

The Vikings are 0-2 coming off a pair of heartbreaking one-point losses to open the 2021-22 season last week at the CCAA/GNAC Challenge hosted by Cal State Dominguez Hills. WWU dropped both games on free throws by the opposing team in the final three seconds game, recording a 70-69 loss to Humboldt State and 61-60 vs. Dominguez Hills. Junior guard Daniel Hornbuckle leads the Vikings through two games averaging 14.5 points per game, with Lucas Holden (12.5 ppg), Jalen Green (12.5 ppg) and Luke Lovelady (12.0 ppg) also averaging double-digits in scoring.

 

Tickets for the Chuck Randall Classic are available online at wwuvikings.com/MBB_Tickets and in person one hour prior to games at the Carver Gym Box Office. A reminder that all fans must show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours to gain admittance into Carver Gym.

 

All four games of the Chuck Randall Classic will stream live via Vikings TV on YouTube, with Shawn Walli and Ben Bagley calling the action courtside inside Carver Gym.

 

 

The tournament is named after the legendary former WWU coach and basketball pioneer Chuck Randall, who passed away in 2016 at the age of 89. Randall, who coached the Vikings for 18 seasons from 1963 to 1981 and posted a record of 275-186, was named the WWU men's Coach of the Century for 1900 to 1999. He received hall of fame honors from Central Valley High School, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, Western and Eastern Washington University.

 

"Chuck Randall is a pioneer in basketball, not only at Western, but on the national level," said head coach Tony Dominguez. "He was always very gracious to me and our program. Honoring Chuck and his legacy each year reminds us how special this program is and how many people have contributed to all the success of WWU men's basketball."

 

Please note that all spectators ages 12 and older are required to provide proof of vaccination, including a CDC-issued Vaccination Record Card (or photo of the card) to enter ticketed events per WWU's updated fan policy for indoor events (went into place Oct. 18). Fans ages 12 and older who cannot provide proof of vaccination may present proof of negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours instead of proof of vaccination (for non-WWU students). WWU students need to show just their "Green Badge" that they are in good standing with the campus vaccination policy.

 

The Vikings went 13-3 in Carver Gym during the 2019-20 season, continuing the success in the on-campus venue from over the years. WWU owns an all-time record of 577-173 (.796) in Carver Gym, with head coach Tony Dominguez leading the Vikings to a 76-16 record.

 

Here is a look at the series history between WWU and its opponents this week, Concordia University Irvine and Azusa Pacific:

 

• Concordia Irvine: WWU won the only meeting between the two schools 79-72 on November 15, 2019 in a tournament hosted by CUI. The Vikings scored 54 second-half points to overcome a 32-25 halftime deficit to defeat the No. 23 Eagles.
• Azusa Pacific: Owns a 1-2 record vs. APU with the series dating back to the first meeting in 1971-72 (78-71 WWU win). WWU was dealt a 90-80 loss in the last meeting during the 2019-20 season in a tournament hosted by CUI.

 

WWU played a pair of preseason games to prepare for the 2021-22 season, hosting the annual Blue-White Scrimmage on October 17 and defeating the Gary Payton-led Lincoln Oaklanders October 27. Luke Lovelady led the Vikings in the Blue-White with 27 points and eight rebounds. In the 83-72 win over Lincoln, D'Angelo Minnis and Jalen Green each scored 15 points, with Luke Lovelady (14 points) and Daniel Hornbuckle (10 points) also scoring in double-digits.

 

Sophomore guard D'Angelo Minnis and junior guard/forward Jalen Green were unanimous selections to the 2021-22 GNAC Preseason All-Conference Team. Minnis and Green, both honorable mention All-GNAC selections in 2019-20 when the Vikings won the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Tournament, were among 15 players to earn Preseason All-GNAC honors in a vote of the conference's 10 head coaches. Green averaged 13.0 points, 5.9 rebounds and blocked 41 shots in 27 games in 2019-20. In two seasons on the court he has totaled 562 points in 54 games (43 starts) to average 10.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. Minnis started all 29 games during the GNAC championship season in 2019-20, averaging 12.3 points, 3.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game. He made 55-of-142 3-pointer attempts (38.7%) and shot .891 from the free throw line (49-for-55).

 

Fans wishing to purchase season tickets for the 2021-22 season can call the WWU Box Office at (360) 650-6103 to reserve their seats for the upcoming season. 

 

WWU won the 2020 GNAC Championships title finishing the season with a 20-10 overall record. The Vikings completed a 2-0 run through the GNAC Championships to earn the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Championships. Finished the regular season with a 13-7 league record to earn the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament. Qualified for the NCAA II Championships for the ninth time, but the West Regional Tournament was cancelled due to the national pandemic.

 

WWU has made nine appearances in the NCAA Division II Championships. Owns an all-time NCAA Tournament record of 17-7 (.708) and have won at least one game in six of eight previous championships appearances (2+ games  in 4 of 8). The Vikings are three-time West Region Champions (2001, 2012, 2013), advancing the NCAA II Final Four in all three of the Elite 8 appearances in program history. The Vikings won the 2012 NCAA II National Championship.

 

Head coach Tony Dominguez is in his 10th season at the helm of the program, and 27th overall at WWU. Dominguez has led the Vikings to a 168-78 record (.683) and was the 2016-17 GNAC Coach of the Year. He is assisted by David Dunham (6th season), Bob Hofstetter (9th season), Atiavo Jude (9th season) and lead support staff members AJ Albritton (Director of Basketball Operations and Garrett Thibodeaux(Assistant Coach & Video Coordinator).

 

More information on the 2021-22 season, including statistics, schedule, roster and program history can be found online at WWUVikings.com/MBB and via social media on Twitter (@WWUHoops) and Facebook (@WWUmensbball).

 

One of the premier basketball programs in NCAA Division II, WWU has recorded a 20-win season in eight of the last 11 seasons. WWU is a six-time Great Northwest Athletic Conference champion and has appeared in the NCAA II Elite 8 three times. The Vikings won the 2011-12 NCAA Division II National Championship and advanced the following season to the NCAA II Final Four. Western has 20-win seasons in three of the last four years (and seven of nine) and won the 2020 GNAC Championships Tournament. WWU is the 12th winningest Division II program with its 1,514 all-time victories.