BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University men's basketball team concludes a stretch of three road games in six days Tuesday in a rivalry game at Central Washington University in Ellensburg.
 
Tip-off between the Vikings and Wildcats in Nicholson Pavilion is set for 7 pm in a makeup game that was originally scheduled to be played on December 30.
 
WWU is 11-8 overall and 4-5 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play heading into another stretch with four games in seven days. Following the contest at CWU, WWU will host home games in Carver Gym on Thursday (Western Oregon), Saturday (Saint Martin's) and Monday (Montana State Billings) – all featuring a 7 pm tip-off on WECU Court on the WWU campus.
 
After sweeping three consecutive road trips to Alaska, the Vikings were dealt a pair of losses in the 49th state with a pair of matching 81-75 six-point defeats.
 
The last two months have featured several game postponements, causing for the Vikings to play over half of their conference schedule (10 of 18 games) in the month of February. The three upcoming home games will close out the Carver Gym schedule for 2021-22, with the Vikings owning a 10-2 record in their home venue. Including the Alaska trip and Tuesday's game at CWU, seven of the Vikings final 10 games are on the road.
 
Although not the final home game of the season, Saturday will serve as Senior Night with Luke Lovelady, RJ Secrest and Dakota Ayala honored before the game against Saint Martin's for their great contributions as WWU student-athletes.
 
The Vikings are led in scoring by junior guard/forward Jalen Green, who is averaging 15.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.23 blocks per game. He was awarded the GNAC Player of the Week honor for games of January 24-30, recording consecutive 25-point performances in wins over Northwest Nazarene and CWU. He was injured 12 minutes into the January 31 home game vs. Alaska Anchorage and did not play in both road games at UAF and UAA last week.
 
Sophomore point guard D'Angelo Minnis has strung together three consecutive impressive games, averaging 26.0 points (78 total points) on 26-for-52 shooting in three games last week. He scored a career-high 35 points in the 93-91 overtime victory over UAA.
 
All games are open to fans following the WWU Fan Policy with proof of vaccination or a negative medically-administered COVID-19 test within 72 hours shown to gain admission (see policy for age restrictions). Regardless of vaccination status, masks are required inside of Carver Gym for all fans.
 

UPCOMING GAMES FOR WWU MEN'S BASKETBALL
Tuesday, February 8	Live Coverage
at Central Washington  »  7:00 pm  »  Ellensburg, WA  »  Nicholson Pavilion	📊 LiveStats   🎥 Webcast
Thursday, February 10	Live Coverage
Western Oregon  »  7:30 pm AKT/8:30 pm PT  »  Fairbanks, AK	📊 LiveStats   🎥 Webcast
Saturday, February 12 – Senior Night	Live Coverage
Saint Martin's  »  7:00 pm  »  Bellingham, WA  »  WECU Court in Carver Gym	📊 LiveStats   🎥 Webcast
Monday, February 14	Live Coverage
Montana State Billings  »  7:00 pm  »  Bellingham, WA  »  WECU Court in Carver Gym	📊 LiveStats   🎥 Webcast

  Here is a look at the all-time series between WWU and its four opponents over the next seven days:
 

• Central Washington: Defeated the Wildcats 90-88 on a last-second game-winning shot by Jalen Green in Carver Gym on January 29…won seven of the last nine games in the rivalry series dating back to the 2016-17 season…CWU leads the all-time series 157-105, which dates back to the first meeting in 1908, but WWU holds a 32-16 advantage since WWU moved to NCAA Division II (1998-99 season)…WWU is 5-5 in its last 10 trips to Nicholson Pavilion in Ellensburg.
• Western Oregon: Had January 15 game postponed that was to be played in Monmouth…will travel to play WOU on Monday, February 21 to open the final week of the regular season…split vs. the Wolves during last time the two teams played in 2019-20, winning 86-79 in overtime in Bellingham and dropping a 89-72 contest at WOU…Vikings have won 8 of last 13 in the series dating back to 2014-15 and lead the all-time series 48-20…17-3 vs. WOU in games played in Bellingham dating back to the 2000-01 season and carry a four-game home winning streak vs. WOU into Thursday's game.
• Saint Martin's: Rematch of January 13 game won by Saint Martin's 82-71 in Lacey…WWU has won seven of the last 11 in the series dating back to the 2016-17 season and are 21-6 going back to the 2008-08 season…Vikings lead the all-time series vs. the Saints 136-65…Vikings have won 11 of last 12 in Bellingham (9 of last 10 in Carver Gym).
• Montana State Billings: Playing MSUB on Valentine's Day as a makeup for the January 22 postponed game…playing the Yellowjackets for the first time since splitting the series with a home victory by each team in 2019-20…WWU leads the all-time series 24-9 with MSUB winning three of the last four games…the Vikings are 15-2 in home games vs. MSUB, including a 14-1 record all-time in Carver Gym.

  Home court advantage – whether it be Carver Gym or Nicholson Pavilion – has proven to be a key factor in outcome of the rivalry series with the home team winning in 10 of the last 15 games over the last seven seasons. The WWU-CWU rivalry dates back to 1908 with CWU holding a 157-105 advantage in the all-time series, but lead the series 32-16 in in 48 meetings since both schools moved up to the NCAA Division II level in 1998-99.
  While not the final home game of the season, Saturday vs. Saint Martin's will be Senior Night in Carver Gym with Luke Lovelady, RJ Secrest and Dakota Ayala honored for their great contributions to the program as student-athletes. A special pregame salute to these outstanding seniors will take place prior to the 7 pm tip-off.   News and notes on the 2021-22 WWU Men's Basketball team:
 

• The Record – 11-8 overall, 4-5 GNAC, 10-2 at home, 1-6 on the road (0-4 in true away games).
• GNAC Standings – Tied for 6th in the GNAC table and tied for 7th in the new GNAC Points Rating System.
• At the Half – When leading (9-1), When Trailing (2-5), When Tied (0-2).
• Lately – Won three of last five games…3-4 over last seven games.
• Block Party – Leads the GNAC and 26th in NCAA II averaging 4.4 blocked shots per game.
• Close Calls – Three of seven losses by a combined four points, with pair of last-second 1-point losses to open season…eight of 19 games decided by 2-or-fewer points (5-3 record).
• Carver Success – 10-2 in Carver Gym this season and 23-5 over last two seasons.
• Cleaning the Glass – Ranks 20th in NCAA II with +6.4 rebounding margin.
• Sharp Shooters – Leads GNAC and 16th in NCAA II with 49.7 field goal percentage.
• Consistent Hornbuckle – Junior G Daniel Hornbuckle has scored in double-digits in 17 of 19 games…second on the team averaging 14.4 points per game and one of the top 3-point shooters in the GNAC at 46.7% (56-for-120).
• Efficient Lovelady – Senior F Luke Lovelady is 5th in the GNAC in field goal percentage (.581/79-for-136) and 7th averaging 6.5 rebounds per game…team leader with two double-doubles…also averaging 11.9 points per game scoring in double-digits in 11 of 17 games.
• Dependable RJ – Senior RJ Secrest has stated all 19 games and is averaging 26.3 minutes per game…averaging 8.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per game while shooting 51.1% (67-for-131).
• GNAC Prediction – Picked to finish 3rd in GNAC Preseason Coaches Poll…defending GNAC Tournament Champions.
• National Champs – This season is the 10th anniversary of the 2011-12 NCAA II National Championship.

  WWU leading scorer Jalen Green is averaging 15.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocked shots per game in 13 games (all starts) this season. Green missed both games last week (and the second half in the home win over UAA) with a knee injury. He has missed three GNAC games this season, with WWU going 0-3 in those games while averaging 76.7 points per game. In six GNAC games, Green is averaging 16.2 points per game with the Vikings going 4-2 and averaging 81.7 points per game. The three losses in GNAC play without Jalen have been by a combined 14 points.
  The GNAC announced a change to the format and qualifying criteria for its 2022 men's and women's basketball championships. The conference's Management Council and CEO Board unanimously voted to expand this year's tournament to all 10 men's and women's programs. The GNAC Championships will now run from March 2 to 5. To accommodate full fields in both genders, the first two rounds of games will be split between Saint Martin's University in Lacey, Washington, and Seattle Pacific University. In total, six games – two play-in contests and four quarterfinals matchups – will be contested at SPU's Royal Brougham Pavilion. The other 12 games, including the semifinals and championship games in both genders, will be played at Marcus Pavilion on the campus of Saint Martin's, which was awarded tournament-hosting rights two years ago. For each gender, the No. 7 through No. 10 seeds will compete in play-in games on Wednesday, March 2. The winners will advance to an eight-team bracket, which will begin play on Thursday, March 3.
 
The points rating system is an end-of-season calculation that attaches numeric values to each result based on whether the game was at home or on the road and where each opponent's final conference winning percentage fell (i.e., .750 and above, .500 to .749, .250 to .499 and .249 and below). The better an opponent's final winning percentage, the greater the point values for a win or a loss. It is similar to one of the key metrics used by Division II in ranking teams under consideration for NCAA postseason at-large berths in multiple sports, including men's and women's basketball.
 
Here is a look at the new rating system heading into games this week:   WWU recorded three consecutive two-point victories January 27-31, with an 83-81 win over Northwest Nazarene, 90-88 victory against Central Washington and a 93-91 overtime win vs. Alaska Anchorage – all in home games in Carver Gym. The Vikings have had eight games decided by two-or-fewer points this season (5-3 record). Western opened the season with back-to-back one-point losses to Cal Poly Humboldt and Cal State Dominguez Hills and a were on the short end of a two-point 82-80 overtime loss to Simon Fraser. Western also defeated Lindenwood 60-58 in Las Vegas and Alaska Fairbanks 94-92 on January 8 in GNAC play.
  Sophomore guard D'Angelo Minnis scored a career-high 35 points on 13-for-24 shooting in the Vikings Monday 93-91 overtime victory over Alaska Anchorage. The sophomore guard poured in 21 of his career-high points following halftime. The performance is tied for the 5th-best by a GNAC player this season (T2nd in GNAC games). In three games last week (UAA-UAF-UAA), Minnis scored 78 points for a 26.0 per game average while shooting 26-for-52 (50.0%) from the field. For the season Minnis is averaging 12.4 points and 4.4 assists per game.
  Here is a look at upcoming games that have either a new date for makeup games that will be played in the next few weeks. View the most up-to-date listing of games, results and box scores at wwuvikings.com/MBB:
 

• February 8 (Tuesday): at Central Washington, 7:00 pm (Ellensburg, WA)
• February 14 (Monday): vs. Montana State Billings, 7:00 pm (Bellingham, WA)
• February 21 (Monday): at Western Oregon, 3:00 pm (Monmouth, OR)

  Here is a look at the results for the Vikings in the first 19 games of the 2021-22 season:
 

Record: 11-8    GNAC: 4-5    Home: 10-2    Away: 0-4    Neutral: 1-2
Date	Opponent		Score	High Points	High Rebounds
11/12/21	vs Humboldt State	L	69-70	(17) Holden	(5) Minnis/Lovelady
11/13/21	at Cal State Dominguez Hills	L	60-61	(16) Green	(9) Hornbuckle
11/19/21	CONCORDIA IRVINE	W	87-77	(18) Green	(6) Green/Ayala/Hornbuckle
11/20/21	AZUSA PACIFIC	W	83-63	(22) Green	(6) Lovelady/Ayala
11/26/21	POINT LOMA	W	74-67	(18) Hornbuckle	(10) Lovelady
11/27/21	UT PERMIAN BASIN	W	70-64	(18) Secrest	(12) Ayala
11/30/21	NORTHWEST INDIAN COLLEGE	W	139-59	(36) Weary Jr.	(10) Welp
12/04/21	SIMON FRASER	Lot	80-82	(21) Ayala	(7) Ayala
12/12/21	NORTHWEST INDIAN COLLEGE	W	121-63	(32) Weary Jr.	(12) Johnson
12/17/21	vs. Lindenwood (Las Vegas)	W	60-58	(15) Lovelady	(11) Lovelady
12/18/21	vs. #1 Lubbock Christian (Las Vegas)	L	74-84	(22) Hornbuckle	(6) Hornbuckle/Green
01/08/22	ALASKA FAIRBANKS*	W	94-92	(22) Hornbuckle	(7) Green
01/13/22	at Saint Martin's*	L	71-82	(17) Minnis	(7) Secrest/Holden
01/20/22	SEATTLE PACIFIC*	L	59-78	(17) Green	(9) Green
01/27/22	NORTHWEST NAZARENE*	W	83-81	(25) Green	(9) Lovelady/Green
01/29/22	CENTRAL WASHINGTON*	W	90-88	(25) Green	(12) Green
01/30/22	ALASKA ANCHORAGE*	Wot	93-91	(35) Minnis	(7) Secrest
02/03/22	at Alaska Fairbanks*	L	75-81	(19) Minnis	(8) Secrest/Johnson
02/05/22	at Alaska Fairbanks*	L	75-81	(24) Minnis	(11) Lovelady
02/08/22	at Central Washington*			7 pm
02/10/22	WESTERN OREGON*			7 pm
02/12/22	SAINT MARTIN'S*			7 pm
02/14/22	MONTANA STATE BILLINGS*			7 pm

  The Vikings are off to a 10-2 start to the home season in Carver Gym. WWU went 13-3 on WECU Court during the 2019-20 season continuing the success in the on-campus venue from over the years. WWU owns an all-time record of 587-175 (.770) in Carver Gym, with head coach Tony Dominguez leading the Vikings to a 86-18 record (.827).
  While the regular-season conference champion and seeing for the GNAC tournament will be decided on a new points system, here is an updated look at the league standings heading into games this week. View the conference schedule, scores, stats and updated standings at GNACSports.com.
 

MEN'S BASKETBALL		CONF	PCT	OVERALL	PCT	HOME	AWAY	NEUTRAL	STREAK
1.	Saint Martin's	7-3	.700	14-5	.737	8-2	5-3	1-0	Lost 1
2.	Alaska Anchorage	5-3	.625	10-5	.667	7-0	2-5	1-0	Won 2
3.	Central Washington	6-4	.600	12-5	.706	6-1	5-3	1-1	Won 1
	Montana State Billings	6-4	.600	10-10	.500	5-6	3-3	2-1	Lost 1
5.	Seattle Pacific	5-4	.556	12-8	.600	7-1	2-5	3-2	Won 2
6.	Western Washington	4-5	.444	11-8	.579	10-2	0-4	1-2	Lost 2
	Simon Fraser	4-5	.444	9-8	.529	5-1	3-6	1-1	Lost 2
8.	Northwest Nazarene	3-4	.429	5-7	.417	3-1	2-5	0-1	Lost 2
9.	Alaska Fairbanks	4-7	.364	7-10	.411	4-1	1-7	2-2	Won 3
10	Western Oregon	2-7	.222	3-14	.176	2-4	1-7	0-3	Lost 8
THIS WEEK'S GNAC SCHEDULE & RESULTS
Monday, February 7 at Alaska Fairbanks 62, Montana State Billings 36 Tuesday, February 8 Western Washington at Central Washington, 7 pm Saint Martin's at Northwest Nazarene, 7 pm MT Montana State Billings at Alaska Anchorage, 7 pm AKT Western Oregon at Seattle Pacific, 5 pm Thursday, February 10 Western Oregon at Western Washington, 7 pm Alaska Anchorage at Northwest Nazarene, 5:15 pm MT Saint Martin's at Simon Fraser, 7 pm Alaska Fairbanks at Central Washington, 7:30 pm Saturday, February 12 Saint Martin's at Western Washington, 7 pm Western Oregon at Simon Fraser, 3 pm Montana State Billings at Seattle Pacific, 2 pm Alaska Fairbanks at Northwest Nazarene, 5:15 pm MT Alaska Anchorage at Central Washington, 6:15 pm

  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 canceled 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 179-84 record (.681) 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 1,525 all-time victories.