Men's Basketball | 11/15/2016 1:22:00 PM
SAN FRANCISCO— The San Francisco State Gators will be back in action this weekend in Monmouth, Ore., when they participate in the WOU/Doubletree by Hilton D2 Shootout. The Gators will face the defending NCAA Division II West Region Champions, Western Oregon, this Friday at 7pm and Concordia-Portland this Saturday at 5pm.
San Francisco State is coming off a 2-0 weekend in which the Gators defeated Academy of Art 84-69 and Dominican University of California 91-67. In those two games, the Gators averaged 87.5 points per game while giving up 68 points per game. They shot 56% from the field including 40% from three's while connecting on 76.5% of their attempts from the charity stripe. The Gators held their opponents to just 37% shooting from the field and 28% from three-point while forcing 14.5 turnovers per game.
Western Oregon is also 2-0 after defeating Point Loma 64-62 and Fresno Pacific 85-54 in the GNAC/PacWest Challenge in Fresno. The Wolves are averaging 74.5 points per game while giving up 58 points per game. They are shooting 43.9% from the field including 40% from three-point land while connecting on 64% of their attempts from the line. Western Oregon is holding its opponents to just 37% shooting from the field and 28% from three-point land.
Concordia-Portland is 1-1 after defeating Cal State Monterey Bay 80-73 and losing to Cal State San Bernardino 85-72 in the CCAA/GNAC Crossover in Seaside, Calif. After the two games, the Cavaliers are averaging 76 points per game while giving up 79 points per game. They are shooting 46.7% from the field including 46.9% from three-point land. Their opponents are shooting 47% from the field and just 34% from three-point land.
After this weekend, the Gators will participate in another tournament in Belmont, Calif., on Nov. 25-26. San Francisco State will take on Holy Names and Notre Dame de Namur in the NDNU Thanksgiving Classic.
GAME NOTES
GATORS: San Francisco State is 2-0 after capturing the San Francisco State Tip-Off Classic they hosted this past weekend. The Gators have four players averaging double digits in scoring in
Coley Apsay (18.0 ppg),
Warren Jackson (18.0 ppg),
Nick Calcaterra (14.0 ppg) and
Parker U'u (11.5 ppg).
AJ Kahlon leads the team with his 6.0 rebounds per game average and 5 blocked shots. Apsay has recorded a team high 11 steals while Jackson has dished out a team leading 10 assists.
QUOTES FROM THE COACH: "This will be a great test for us on the road at Western Oregon this weekend," said seventh-year head coach
Paul Trevor. "We scheduled this game as we want to play the best. I'm very enthusiastic to see how our team competes against the best this weekend."
WESTERN OREGON: This will be the second time that the Gators and Wolves have faced each other. Western Oregon defeated the Gators 73-70 in 1996 in San Francisco. The Wolves were the 2015-16 NCAA Division II West Regional Championships and advanced to the Final Four. They are currently 2-0 after defeating Point Loma 64-62 and Fresno Pacific 85-54 in Fresno this past weekend. Western Oregon is averaging 74.5 points per game while giving up 58 points per game. Ali Faruq-Bay leads the team with his 15.5 scoring average along with his 50% shooting from three's. Tanner Omlid is next at 14.5 ppg and is averaging a team high 10.0 rebounds per game while shooting 54.5% from the field. As a team, they are averaging 11.0 steals and 16.0 assists per game while holding their opponents to 37% shooting from the field including 28% from three-point land.
CONCORDIA-PORTLAND: This is the first ever meeting between the Gators and the Cavaliers. Concordia-Portland is 1-1 after defeating Cal State Monterey Bay 80-73 on Nov. 11 and losing to Cal State San Bernardino 85-72 in Seaside, Calif., on Nov. 12. They are averaging 76.0 points per game while giving up 79.0 points per game. Four players averaging double digits in scoring paced by Latrell Wilson's 17.5 points per game average followed by Christopher Edward's 15.0 scoring average. Concordia is shooting 46.7% from the field including 46.9% from three-point land. The Cavaliers will face UC San Diego on Friday in Monmouth, Ore., before taking on the Gators.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM: Three Gators were named to the All-Tournament Team of the San Francisco State Tip-Off Classic this past weekend.
Warren Jackson,
Coley Apsay and
Parker U'u were selected to the All-Tournament Team with Jackson being named the Tournament MVP.
HOME COURT ADVANTAGE: The Gators are 49-24 at home during Coach Trevor's previous six years on the sidelines. San Francisco State has only one losing record at home (5-6 during 2011-12). The Gators went 10-2 during the 2012-13 season.
17-2: The Gators are now 17-2 in the last two years when they score over 70 points in game. The first two games this season, San Francisco State is 2-0 as the Gators defeated Academy of Art 84-69 and Dominican 91-67.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE: AJ Kahlon recorded his first double-double in a Gator uniform on Friday as he scored 13 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Kahlon went six-for-nine from the field and was one-for-two from the line. He also blocked a career high 5 shots.
UP NEXT: After this weekend, the Gators will return to the court on Nov. 25-26 when they participate in the NDNU Thanksgiving Classic taking on PacWest foes Holy Names and Western Oregon.
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Gator Athletics has a proud tradition of competitive success within the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The department offers 12 intercollegiate sports programs: Baseball, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Men's and Women's Soccer, Softball, Women's Track & Field, Women's Volleyball and Men's Wrestling.
Gator Athletics places great emphasis on academic performance as well as athletic achievement. The program offers student athletes the opportunity to reach their educational goals, as well pursue
