THE AGENDA
The OUAZ men's basketball team will play a pair of Golden State Athletic Conference games this week for the first time in school history. The historic week begins on Thursday at 7 p.m. when the Spirit host No. 1 The Master's. On Saturday, No. 23 Westmont comes to Surprise to face the Spirit at 2 p.m.
 
Both homes games will be played at Willow Canyon High School as part of a doubleheader with the OUAZ women's team. Fans are encouraged to park on the south side of the gymnasium and enter the building through the west doors. Admission is free to al OUAZ home basketball games this season.
 
OUAZ will broadcast both games live on the NAIA Network and through the Spirit Game Central portal. The NAIA Network is available on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, and Roku devices by searching NAIA. Live stats will also be available during each game. Links for all live coverage is available at OUAZSpirit.com/live.
 
The latest news and information on OUAZ men's basketball can be found at OUAZSpirit.com, by downloading the OUAZ Athletics app from the Apple and Android app stores, and by following the Spirit on social media by searching OUAZSpirit and OUAZMBB.
 
ABOUT THE SPIRIT
OUAZ will begin its first round of GSAC play at 1-4 on the season and 1-0 at home. The Spirit are coming off a 90-84 home win over Benedictine Mesa on November 20. Dating back to last season, OUAZ is 5-5 in their last 10 games and they are 6-2 all-time at home.
 
The Spirit will enter Thursday averaging 75.2 points per game while shooting 42.8 percent from the field. They are making 6.0 3-pointers per game in hitting on 29.7 percent from beyond the arc. OUAZ grabs 36.0 rebounds per game and they hand out 9.4 assists per game.
 
OUAZ opponents are scoring 86.6 points per game and making 42.6 percent from the field. The opposition shoots 31.5 percent from three and makes 7.8 triples per game. OUAZ forces 14.6 turnovers per game with an average of 6.6 steals and 1.8 blocks per outing.
 
Brian King Jr. leads OUAZ – and ranks this in the GSAC – in averaging 21.4 points per game. He has scored in double figures in every game this season and has 20-plus two times, including a school-record tying 37 at Benedictine Mesa on November 7. King also leads the team with 36 rebounds and nine steals.
 
Tanner Riley has scored in double figures four times and ranks 11th in the GSAC by scoring 15.2 points per game. He has scored at 19 or more on three occasions. Riley has added 25 rebounds, eight steals, and seven assists on the year.
 
Dimetres Moore is third on the team in scoring at 11.0 points per game. He has been hot of late, scoring 17 and 21 points in the past two games respectively. Moore is tied for the team lead with six 3-pointers and he shoots 54.5 percent from deep.
 
ABOUT THE MASTER'S
The Master's makes their first trip to Surprise ranked No. 1 in the NAIA Preseason Poll and holding a 6-1 overall record. The Mustangs have won six straight entering the week and they score 91.7 points per game on 46.3 percent shooting. Hansel Atencia is the team leader in scoring at 17.1 points per game.
 
ABOUT WESTMONT
Westmont starts the week with a No. 23 national ranking and with a 5-1 overall record. The Warriors are on a three-game winning streak and are 7-3 in their past 10 games dating back to last season. They average 98.3 points per game by shooting 56.1 percent from the field. Maxwell Hudgins leads the team at 14.3 points per game.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
Next week, the Spirit will be home for one non-conference game when they host Westcliff at 7 p.m. on Friday, December 7. The game will be played at Willow Canyon High School.