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OUAZ Athletics

MBB Notes - November 8, 2021

Men's Basketball

Men's Basketball Notes -- Week 2

THIS WEEK
After opening the new season with a win over Benedictine Mesa, the OUAZ men's basketball team will play a pair of games this week. The week begins with a home game against Parl Gilbert on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The Spirit then plays an exhibition game at Denver University on Friday at 6 p.m.

Tickets for Tuesday's game are available now from the OUAZ digital office at OUAZSpirit.com/tickets or by downloading the HomeTown Ticketing Fan App and searching OUAZ. As a reminder, masks are required when inside Faith Arena, per OUAZ policies.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
OUAZ brings that 1-0 record into the week along with a 1-0 record at home. They have won three straight home games dating back to last season and nine of the last 12 overall.

This year's team returns eight players that appeared in a game for the Spirit last season, including all five starters and the top six – and seven of the top eight – scoring leaders from a season ago.

The group of returners accounted for nearly 86 percent of the team's total scoring output during the 2020-21 season. The eight returning players also played 79 percent of the minutes and totaled 80 percent of the assists and blocked shots.

Behind the "Play Fast" mentality in place by head coach Matt Keeley, the Spirit averaged 80.7 points per game last season, and they scored 80-plus points in a game nine times with a 7-2 record in those outings. They opened this season with 84 points against Benedictine Mesa.

OUAZ was also a solid defensive team last season, where they allowed just 74.3 points per game. After holding BenU to 74 points, the Spirit are 30-8 when they keep the opposition to under 80 points, including an 11-0 record last season.

Another area the team has grown over the past two seasons is in games decided by one possession. Since the start of 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 scored a team-high 19 points against BenU after leading the Spirit in scoring at 18.3 points per game last season. Malbrough scored in double figures in all but one game last season with six games with at least 20 points. He became the first player in program history to be named the GSAC All-Conference Team and an NCCAA Third Team All-American.

Malbrough converted all 12 attempts at the foul line in the opener while adding three rebounds and three assists. He led the Spirit with 91 assists a season ago, and he finished 32nd in the NAIA by averaging 4.79 assists per game. He dished out at least five assists in a game nine times.

Josiah De'laCerda added 17 points in the opening win to match his 17.0 points per game average last season. He had five games of 20-plus points and was named to the NCCAA National Championship All-Tournament Team.

De'laCerda made 7 of 13 shots – including a buzzer-beating three at the end of the first half – while getting nine rebounds and three assists.

Keshawn Bruner came off the bench to score ten points and grab seven rebounds in his OUAZ debut. His night included a highlight-reel dunk that electrified the Faith Arena crowd in the second half.

ABOUT PARK GILBERT
Park Gilbert will come to Surprise with a 1-3 record and coming off a 97-52 loss at Arizona Christian on November 6. The Buccaneers average 63.3 points per game and allow 80.5.

Jacob Bingham leads the team in scoring at 11.7 points per game, while Tyson Beringer Jr. and Erik Palmer score 10.5 and 10.3 per game, respectively. Beringer gets a team-best 7.5 rebounds per game.

ABOUT DENVER
Denver will begin its season on Tuesday with a home contest against Regis. The Pioneers went 2-19 last season, including 2-10 at home.

Tristan Green is the team's leading returning scorer with 5.9 points per game average last year. He was also the team's leading returning rebounder with a 4.6 average.

LOOKING AHEAD
OUAZ will play three games next week, including the first two games of GSAC play. The Spirit begins the week with a home game against SAGU AIC on November 15. They will then play at San Diego Christian on November 18 and Hope International on November 20.
 
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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
Keshawn Bruner

#23 Keshawn Bruner

G
6' 2"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Josiah De

#35 Josiah De'laCerda

6' 8"
Junior
F
Kam Malbrough

#2 Kam Malbrough

5' 9"
Junior
G
Keshawn Bruner

#23 Keshawn Bruner

6' 2"
Junior
G