BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Daniel Hornbuckle led the Vikings with 19 points against his former team, Kai Johnson scored 18 points with nine rebounds and six assists and D'Angelo Minnis passed the 1,000-point mark for his career to help lead the Western Washington University men's basketball team to an 87-80 victory over Alaska Fairbanks Thursday night.
Fighting for a playoff berth with the regular-season winding down, the Viking built a big second-lead and fought off a ferocious UAF comeback to net the seven-point victory. WWU moves into sole possession of sixth place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings at 6-8 in league play and 13-11 overall. The top six teams in the 10-team GNAC standings at the end of the season advance to play in the GNAC Championships March 2-4 in Carver Gym.
Western held a 54-42 halftime lead, growing its advantage to double-digits with a 15-5 run to pull away from a 29-29 tie at the 6:47 mark. The lead grew to as many as 17 points early in the second half, but the Nanooks fought back going on an 20-7 run to pull to within two points at 76-74 with four minutes remaining. The Vikings answered with a 9-3 spurt, capped by a three-pointer from Jonathan Ned at the 1:40 mark to push WWU's lead to eight points at 85-77.
Hornbuckle, a Fairbanks native who spent his first collegiate season at UAF, led all players with 19 points on 5-for-11 shooting, including a trio of three-pointers. Johnson filled up the stat sheet with 18 points on 6-for-9 shooting, also grabbing nine rebounds, dishing out six assists and recording a pair of steals.
Minnis added 17 points to pass the 1,000-point milestone for his career, becoming the 27th player in WWU history to score at least 1,000 points as a Vikings.
BJ Kolly neared a triple-double with 10 points, nine rebounds and six blocked shots. The Vikings shot 50.0-percent from the field (31-for-62).
UAF (9-12, 4-9 GNAC) featured five players scoring in double-digits, led by 18 points each from Abdullahi Mohamed (6-for-12 FG) and an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double by Nick Hopkins.
The Vikings (13-11, 6-8 GNAC) remain at home hosting Alaska Anchorage on Saturday with tip-off at 7 pm on WECU Court in Carver Gym. The complete 2022-23 WWU men's basketball schedule – complete with links on how to purchase tickets for home games and links to follow the team on the road – can be viewed online at WWUVikings.com/22-23_MBB.
Here is a look at the statistical comparison between WWU and Alaska Fairbanks:
|
COMPARISON
|
WWU
|
UAF
|
|
Points
|
87
|
70
|
|
Field Goal Pct.
|
.500 (31-62)
|
.467 (.28-60)
|
|
3 Point FG Pct.
|
.435 (10-23)
|
.429 (6-14)
|
|
Free Throw Pct.
|
.714 (15-21)
|
.750 (18-24)
|
|
Rebounds
|
34
|
34
|
|
Offensive Rebounds
|
12
|
10
|
|
Assists
|
16
|
15
|
|
Turnovers
|
15
|
18
|
|
Steals
|
9
|
8
|
|
Blocked Shots
|
6
|
3
|
|
Time Led
|
27:40
|
8:57
|
|
Points off Turnovers
|
17
|
16
|
|
Points in the Paint
|
30
|
34
|
|
Bench Points
|
23
|
16
|
|
Fouls
|
23
|
20
|
|
Biggest Lead
|
17
|
6
|
|
Lead Changes: 7 Times Tied: 7
|
Here is a look at the Vikings record breakdown for the 2022-23 season:
|
RECORD BREAKDOWN
|
|
Overall
|
13-11
|
|
GNAC
|
6-8
|
|
Non-Conference
|
7-3
|
|
Streak
|
W1
|
|
Home
|
4-5
|
|
Away
|
5-4
|
|
Neutral
|
4-2
|
|
vs. Ranked Teams
|
0-1
|
|
Leading at Half
|
9-2
|
|
Trailing at Half
|
3-8
|
|
Tied at Half
|
1-1
|
|
Overtime
|
2-1
|
|
BY UNIFORM
|
|
White
|
6-6
|
|
Black
|
6-2
|
|
Navy
|
1-3
|
|
Light Blue
|
0-0
|
MINNIS REACHES 1000 CAREER POINT MILESTONE
Junior guard D'Angelo Minnis passed the 1,000 point milestone for his career Thursday night, scoring 17 points to become the 27th player the 121-year history of WWU Men's Basketball to reach 1,000 career points as a Viking. Minnis is now 25th in program history with 1,015 career points, accomplishing the milestone in three seasons (79 games). Here is a look at the 1,000-point scorers in WWU history (all points scored as a Viking):
|
WWU ALL-TIME LEADING SCORERS
(sorted by total points scored)
|
|
Rk
|
Player
|
Points
|
G
|
Avg.
|
|
1.
|
Jeffrey Parker (2013-17)
|
1,867
|
121
|
15.4
|
|
2.
|
Grant Dykstra (2002-06)
|
1,844
|
113
|
16.3
|
|
3.
|
Ryan Diggs (2002-06)
|
1,783
|
109
|
16.4
|
|
4.
|
Jared Stevenson (1996-2000)
|
1,728
|
106
|
16.3
|
|
5.
|
Mike Palm (1999-2003)
|
1,649
|
111
|
14.9
|
|
6.
|
Manny Kimmie (1986-1990)
|
1,624
|
126
|
12.9
|
|
7.
|
Harold Doyal (1991-95)
|
1,571
|
117
|
13.4
|
|
8.
|
Trevor Jasinsky (2016-19)
|
1,518
|
120
|
12.7
|
|
9.
|
John Allen (2010-13)
|
1,480
|
96
|
15.4
|
|
10.
|
Ira Graham (2004-05, 2006-09)
|
1,465
|
91
|
16.1
|
|
|
Jeff Dick (1990-94)
|
1,465
|
114
|
12.9
|
|
12.
|
Mike Franza (1969-73)
|
1,436
|
90
|
16.0
|
|
13.
|
Tim Dickerson (1984-88)
|
1,347
|
123
|
11.0
|
|
14.
|
Jacob Stevenson (1998-2002)
|
1,320
|
106
|
12.5
|
|
15.
|
Kevin Bryant (1976-1980)
|
1,310
|
109
|
12.0
|
|
16.
|
Rory Blanche (2008-12)
|
1,273
|
109
|
11.7
|
|
17.
|
Richard Woodworth (2009-14)
|
1,262
|
123
|
10.3
|
|
18.
|
Shelton Diggs (1998-2002)
|
1,251
|
109
|
11.5
|
|
19.
|
A.J. Geisa (1998-2002)
|
1,189
|
109
|
10.9
|
|
20.
|
Mike Clayton (1966-70)
|
1,093
|
89
|
12.3
|
|
21.
|
Stan Peterson (1947-51)
|
1,084
|
93
|
11.7
|
|
22.
|
Jason Burrell (2000-04)
|
1,032
|
102
|
10.1
|
|
23.
|
James Johnson (1986-88)
|
1,026
|
71
|
14.5
|
|
24.
|
Rob Visser (1973-76)
|
1,024
|
78
|
13.1
|
|
25.
|
D'Angelo Minnis (2019-)
|
1,015
|
79
|
12.8
|
|
26.
|
Dwayne Kirkley (1992-94)
|
1,008
|
62
|
16.3
|
|
27.
|
Jim Adams (1960-63)
|
1,007
|
77
|
13.1
|
SERIES HISTORY VS. ALASKA FAIRBANKS
The Vikings and Nanooks split the regular season series, with each team winning on their home court, matching last year's season series outcome. WWU improved to 38-17 all-time vs. UAF and has now won eight of the last 11 meetings. The Vikings are 20-6 all-time vs. UAF in home games.
Here is an updated look at the GNAC standings, complete with Thursday's results:
|
MEN'S BASKETBALL
|
CONF
|
PCT
|
OVERALL
|
PCT
|
HOME
|
AWAY
|
NEUTRAL
|
STREAK
|
|
1.
|
Montana State Billings*
|
13-1
|
.929
|
19-5
|
.792
|
7-1
|
9-3
|
3-1
|
Won 5
|
|
2.
|
Saint Martin's*
|
11-2
|
.846
|
19-4
|
.826
|
11-1
|
6-2
|
2-1
|
Won 6
|
|
3.
|
Seattle Pacific
|
9-5
|
.643
|
14-9
|
.609
|
9-2
|
3-6
|
2-1
|
Lost 1
|
|
4.
|
Northwest Nazarene
|
7-6
|
.538
|
10-11
|
.476
|
6-7
|
4-4
|
0-0
|
Won 3
|
|
5.
|
Western Oregon
|
6-7
|
.462
|
9-11
|
.450
|
4-6
|
4-4
|
1-1
|
Lost 2
|
|
6.
|
Western Washington
|
6-8
|
.429
|
13-11
|
.542
|
4-5
|
5-4
|
4-2
|
Won 1
|
|
7.
|
Alaska Anchorage
|
5-8
|
.385
|
11-11
|
.500
|
7-4
|
2-6
|
2-1
|
Won 2
|
|
|
Central Washington
|
5-8
|
.385
|
9-13
|
.409
|
5-4
|
4-5
|
0-4
|
Lost 3
|
|
9.
|
Alaska Fairbanks
|
4-9
|
.308
|
9-12
|
.429
|
7-4
|
1-8
|
1-0
|
Lost 2
|
|
10.
|
Simon Fraser
|
1-13
|
.071
|
6-18
|
.250
|
3-9
|
1-8
|
2-1
|
Lost 8
|
|
* Clinched GNAC Championships berth
|
|
This Week's GNAC Schedule
|
|
Thursday, February 9
at Saint Martin's 94, Seattle Pacific 76
Alaska Anchorage 58, at Simon Fraser 51
at Western Washington 87, Alaska Fairbanks 80
Montana State Billings 91, at Western Oregon 88 (3 ot)
Saturday, February 11
Montana State Billings at Saint Martin's, 7:30 pm
Seattle Pacific at Western Oregon, 4:15 pm
Northwest Nazarene at Central Washington, 6:15 pm
Alaska Anchorage at Western Washington, 7:00 pm
Alaska Fairbanks at Simon Fraser, 7:00 pm
|
Here is a game-by-game look at the 2022-23 season following the seven-point win over UAF:
|
Date
|
Opponent
|
|
Score
|
Top Scorer
|
Top Rebounder
|
|
11/11
|
vs. Cal Poly Humboldt (Burnaby, BC)
|
W
|
104-95
|
Hornbuckle (22)
|
Holden/Kolly (8)
|
|
11/12
|
vs. Cal St. Dominguez Hills (Burnaby, BC)
|
W
|
94-69
|
Hornbuckle (21)
|
Welp (8)
|
|
11/18
|
vs. Concordia Irvine (Azusa, CA)
|
W
|
92-78
|
Minnis (25)
|
Minnis (7)
|
|
11/19
|
at Azusa Pacific (Azusa, CA)
|
L
|
86-72
|
Johnson (14)
|
Holden (7)
|
|
11/22
|
Maine Fort Kent
|
W
|
108-54
|
Holden (16)
|
Welp (12)
|
|
11/26
|
at Point Loma
|
W
|
91-89 (ot)
|
Johnson (25)
|
Holden (9)
|
|
12/3
|
at Simon Fraser (GNAC)
|
W
|
75-61
|
Ned (21)
|
Johnson/Welp (7)
|
|
12/12
|
Langara
|
W
|
135-87
|
Minnis (23)
|
3 Players (7)
|
|
12/17
|
vs. Texas Permian Basin (Honolulu, HI)
|
L
|
76-66
|
Holden/Ned (13)
|
Kolly/Johnson (8)
|
|
12/18
|
vs. Emmanuel College (Honolulu, HI)
|
L
|
105-98 (ot)
|
Minnis (25)
|
Ned (8)
|
|
12/19
|
at Hawai'i Pacific (Honolulu, HI)
|
W
|
70-69
|
Johnson (18)
|
Kolly/Welp (6)
|
|
12/29
|
at Western Oregon (GNAC)
|
W
|
95-93 (ot)
|
Welp (17)
|
Welp (12)
|
|
12/31
|
at Saint Martin's (GNAC)
|
L
|
89-84
|
Johnson (17)
|
Johnson (7)
|
|
1/5
|
Montana State Billings (GNAC)
|
L
|
80-76
|
Ned (16)
|
Kolly (11)
|
|
1/7
|
Seattle Pacific (GNAC)
|
L
|
90-73
|
Kolly (24)
|
3 Players (6)
|
|
1/12
|
at Alaska Anchorage (GNAC)
|
W
|
79-74
|
Kolly (14)
|
Johnson (8)
|
|
1/14
|
at Alaska Fairbanks (GNAC)
|
L
|
75-73
|
Johnson (18)
|
Kolly (9)
|
|
1/19
|
Central Washington (GNAC)
|
L
|
84-82
|
Kolly (18)
|
Holden (8)
|
|
1/21
|
Northwest Nazarene (GNAC)
|
W
|
78-60
|
Minnis (20)
|
Kolly (11)
|
|
1/26
|
Saint Martin's (GNAC)
|
L
|
75-71
|
Kolly/Hornbuckle (16)
|
Kolly (10)
|
|
1/28
|
Western Oregon (GNAC)
|
L
|
72-70
|
Ned/Hornbuckle (15)
|
Kolly (8)
|
|
2/2
|
at Seattle Pacific (GNAC)
|
W
|
72-67
|
Minnis (21)
|
Johnson (10)
|
|
2/4
|
at Montana State Billings (GNAC)
|
L
|
80-75
|
Minnis (20)
|
3 Players (8)
|
|
2/9
|
Alaska Fairbanks (GNAC)
|
W
|
87-80
|
Hornbuckle (19)
|
Johnson/Kolly (9)
|
|
2/11
|
Alaska Anchorage (GNAC)
|
|
|
7:00 pm
|
|
|
2/16
|
at Northwest Nazarene (GNAC)
|
|
|
7:00 pm MT
|
|
|
2/18
|
at Central Washington (GNAC)
|
|
|
6:00 pm
|
|
|
2/25
|
Simon Fraser (GNAC)
|
|
|
7:00 pm
|
|
|
GNAC Basketball Championships – March 2-4 in Bellingham, WA (Carver Gym)
|
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 2012 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 1,541 all-time victories. Head coach Tony Dominguez is in his 10th season and 11th year as the Vikings head coach (28th overall at WWU).
