Men's Basketball 1/21/2021 2:00:00 PM

Spirit Return Home for Weekend Series against No. 9 Mustangs

#9 THE MASTER'S MUSTANGS (8-0, 0-0 GSAC) at OUAZ SPIRIT (7-1, 2-0 GSAC)
Game Details	Friday, January 22• 7 p.m. (Arizona) • Surprise, Ariz. • Faith Arena Saturday, January 23• 2 p.m. (Arizona) • Surprise, Ariz. • Faith Arena
Video Stream	ouazspirit.com/digital
OTT App	NAIA Network (Android TV, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Roku)
Live Stats	ouazspirit.com/sidearmstats/mbball
Game Notes	OUAZ (PDF)

SPIRIT NOTES
•   Coming off the program's first-ever sweep of a conference weekend, the OUAZ men's basketball team returns to Faith Arena this weekend to host No. 9 The Master's in GSAC play. The teams will tip at 7 p.m. on Friday before a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m.

•   Due to the ordinance by the City of Surprise limiting public gatherings to less than 50 people, fans will not be allowed to attend the game.

•   Each of the weekend games will be broadcast live on the OUAZ Digital Network. Fans can view the game online at OUAZSpirit.com/network or on the NAIA Network app on Android TV, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Roku devices.

•   Live stats will also be available during the games with a link will be available on the men's basketball schedule on the OUAZ website or at OUAZSpirit.com/live.

•   The Spirit will enter the weekend series with a 7-1 overall record and on a four-game winning streak. They are alone atop the GSAC standings with a 2-0 record after sweeping the two games at Life Pacific last weekend. OUAZ ha snow won four straight conference games dating back to last season.

•   In the program's history, OUAZ has a 19-18 record when playing at home. Since moving into Faith Arena at the start of last season, the Spirit have gone 11-7 and won five of its past six home games.

•   The "Play Fast" offense of the Spirit took a hit over the weekend as they managed just 122 total points in the two wins. That dropped the season average to 80.88 per game which ranks 76th in the NAIA.

•   OUAZ is one of 18 teams in the country shooting at least 50 percent from the field. The Spirit is currently 10th nationally at 50.8 percent. having been above 50 percent in five of the eight games played.

•   The 58.3 percent shooting in the season opener against Park Gilbert is the second-best shooting night in program history. That was followed by 57.6 percent against Randall, including 71.9 percent in the second half.

•   A key to the team's scoring average this season has been the addition of the long ball to the offense. OUAZ is making 9.25 threes per game on average and they are 22nd in the NAIA by shooting 38.9 percent from beyond the arc.

•   The team has made 10-plus 3-pointers in five games this season, including a program record of four straight games with at least 10 made 3-pointers to start the season.

•   One of the top teams in the NAIA in sharing the ball, OUAZ is 25th nationally with an average of 16.63 assists per game. They have recorded a minimum of 15 assists in a game five times, including a season-high

•   Kam Malbrough was named the GSAC Player of the Week on Monday after helping the Spirit to a 4-0 week. He averaged 17.5 points and 4.8 assists during the week and twice scored 20-plus points with one double-double.

•   Malbrough currently leads the team in scoring at 17.25 points per game having scored in double figures in all eight games. He has twice gone for at least 20 points in a game while leading the team in scoring in three games.

•   Malbrough also ranks 49th in the NAIA with his average of 4.50 assists per game. He has recorded 5-plus assists in a game four times, including a season-high 11 against SAGU and January 12.

•   Kolten Hitt has scored in double figures six times this season and is currently averaging 12.63 points per game. Hitt has gone 15 of 24 from distance to currently rank seventh in the NAIA with that 62.5 percent clip.

•   Quentin Guliford has come on strong since joining the lineup in January. In his five games played, Guliford is scoring 11.20 points per game and shooting 51.5 percent from the field.

•   Guliford posted a double-double of 25 points and 13 rebounds against Benedictine Mesa on January 13. In addition to his scoring, Guliford is grabbing 8.80 rebounds per contest.

•   Devin Collins made his OUAZ debut over the weekend at LPU and averaged 15.00 points and 10.00 rebounds in the two wins. He had a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds on Friday. Collins is currently shooting 66.7 percent from the field and he went 4 of 6 from beyond the arc.

•   The 2021 GSAC schedule will feature two separate pods. There will be no crossover games scheduled by the conference. Representing Pod A will be Hope International, Vanguard, and Westmont. Pod B will feature Arizona Christian, Life Pacific, OUAZ, San Diego Christian, The Master's, and William Jessup. Menlo has decided to opt-out of men's basketball competition this season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

•   There will be no GSAC Basketball Tournament conducted in 2021. The conference's two automatic berths will be represented by the two pod champions. Should a tie occur in either pod, the two tied teams will play a championship game on February 27.

•   The 2020-21 NAIA basketball season marks a return to one division for the first time since the end of 1990-91. That move will also change the National Championship to a 64-team field, although this season it has been reduced to a 48-team field.

•   With the change, 16 schools will host a three-team Opening Round bracket with those winners advancing to the final site at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo.

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Players Mentioned

#23 Quentin Guliford: F; 6' 5"; Junior

#14 Kolten Hitt: G; 6' 3"; Junior

#2 Kam Malbrough: G; 5' 9"; Junior

#3 Devin Collins: F; 6' 5"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#23 Quentin Guliford
: 6' 5"; Junior
: F

#14 Kolten Hitt
: 6' 3"; Junior
: G

#2 Kam Malbrough
: 5' 9"; Junior
: G

#3 Devin Collins
: 6' 5"; Junior
: F