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OUAZ Athletics

MBB Notes - November 17, 2021

Men's Basketball

Men's Basketball Notes -- Week 3

THIS WEEK
Off to a 3-0 start for the second consecutive season, the OUAZ men's basketball team will now hit the road to open GSAC play this weekend with a pair of games in California. On Thursday, the Spirit will begin its trip when they face San Diego Christian at 8:30 p.m. (AZ) in El Cajon. Then, OUAZ will head to Fullerton for a 3 p.m. (AZ) game on Saturday against Hope International.

HOW TO FOLLOW
Both games this week will be available live on the OUAZ Digital Network and the GSAC Sports Network app. The OUAZ Network is available on your computer or mobile device at OUAZSpirit.com/watch. You can download the GSAC Network app on all Amazon Fire, Android TV, Apple TV, Roku devices.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
OUAZ has achieved that perfect record by picking up three home wins. The Spirit has won seven of their past ten games dating back to last season. They went 3-2 in road games and 7-3 in all games played away from Faith Arena last season.

Behind the "Play Fast" mentality in place by head coach Matt Keeley, the Spirit currently lead the GSAC and ranks 15th in the NAIA by attempting 71.3 shots per game while placing 23rd nationally in scoring 89.0 points per game. OUAZ has twice scored at least 90 points in a game.

The Spirit shoot 45.8 percent from the field and 29.1 percent from three. They lead the GSAC in converting 76.7 percent at the foul line.

While OUAZ allows 67.0 points per game to the opposition, they hold those opponents to just 40.8 percent shooting and only 24.5 percent from beyond the arc.

Another area the team has grown over the past two-plus seasons is in games decided by one possession. Since the 2019-20 season, OUAZ has a 6-1 record in games decided by three points or less. They are 8-3 during that period when the game ended within four points, including a 3-0 record last season.

ABOUT THE SPIRIT
Kam Malbrough is averaging 14.0 points per game while leading the team with an average of 4.3 assists per outing. He has gone 15 of 17 at the foul line while shooting 42.9 percent from the field. Malbrough has scored double figures in all but one game at OUAZ with six games with at least 20 points.

Newcomer Jayce Catchings has been an impact on the Spirit through the team's first three games. The sophomore is leading the team in scoring at 17.0 points per game with consecutive games of at least 20 points. Catchings has gone 9 of 15 from three, and he made six triples against SAGU on Monday.

Josiah De'laCerda has posted a pair of double-digit scoring efforts and is averaging 13.3 points per game. He also leads the Spirit by getting 8.7 rebounds per contest while notching his first double-double of the season with 19 points and 10 rebounds against Park Gilbert on November 9. De'laCerda is shooting 55.2 percent with 19 rebounds and four assists.

ABOUT SAN DIEGO CHRISTIAN
San Diego Christian has started the season with three straight losses – all on the road – and they are scoring 69.3 points per game. The Hawks shoot 39.9 percent from the field and 26.2 percent from three. 

Tristan Angelo leads the Hawks in scoring at 15.7 points per game, with Kavonte Kinney adding 14.7 per outing. Kinney also ranks third in the GSAC by grabbing 7.3 rebounds per game.

ABOUT HOPE INTERNATIONAL
Hope International will start the week with a 4-1 record, having only lost to No. 10 Jamestown with all five games at Darling Pavilion. The Royals average 87.2 points per game and shoot 51.9 percent.

Josh Powell-Davis is fourth in the GSAC by scoring 17.5 points per game, and he is 14th in the league at 6.0 rebounds per contest.
 
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Players Mentioned

Josiah De

#35 Josiah De'laCerda

F
6' 8"
Junior
Kam Malbrough

#2 Kam Malbrough

G
5' 9"
Junior
Jayce Catchings

#21 Jayce Catchings

G
6' 4"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Josiah De

#35 Josiah De'laCerda

6' 8"
Junior
F
Kam Malbrough

#2 Kam Malbrough

5' 9"
Junior
G
Jayce Catchings

#21 Jayce Catchings

6' 4"
Sophomore
G