Men's Basketball 1/26/2022 4:32:00 PM

Men's Basketball Notes -- Week 11

THIS WEEK
The final week of January brings the OUAZ men's basketball team back to Faith Arena for a pair of home games. The Spirit will host No. 17 Hope International on Thursday at 7 p.m. before facing San Diego Christian on Saturday at 2 p.m.

TICKETS AVAILABLE
Tickets for both home games 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.

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.

OUAZ STORYLINES
OUAZ returns home with a 13-8 overall record after dropping a pair of road games last weekend. Saturday's loss snapped a span of six straight games the Spirit had alternated wins and losses. The team sits in a tie for sixth place in the GSAC with a 4-7 record in conference play.

Last week, the GSAC announced that the GSAC Tournament has been expanded to include all 10 teams due to the number of forfeit results across the league due to COVID. The tournament will begin on Wednesday 23 and be hosted by Hope International in Fullerton, California.

Faith Arena is developing into one of the better home atmospheres in the conference as OUAZ is second in the conference – and 39th in the NAIA – in average home attendance. That has translated into the Spirit going 6-3 at home this season.

Behind the "Play Fast" mentality in place by head coach Matt Keeley, the Spirit are scoring 77.5 points per game with a pair of games with at least 90 points. The team is attempting 59.8 shots per game.

Scoring at least 80 points in a game has been key to the team's success this season. The Spirit is 6-0 when they reach 80 points in a game this season, and they are 13-2 over the past two seasons.

OUAZ leads the GSAC by shooting 74.9 percent at the foul line, and they have converted at least 75 percent at the stripe 11 times this season. The team ranks 24th nationally with that percentage while placing 13th in making 15.8 free throws per game.

The Spirit shoot 46.3 percent from the field and 29.3 percent while making 6.3 3-pointers per game. While they have struggled from three at times this season, OUAZ hit 10 triples and made a season-high 45.5 percent from beyond the arc on Saturday at The Master's.

ABOUT THE SPIRIT
Josiah De'laCerda is the Spirit's leading scorer at 17.4 points per game – second in the GSAC – and he has scored in double figures in 15 straight games. De'laCerda is sixth in the conference by shooting 57.1 percent, and he is fourth by grabbing 7.0 rebounds per game.

Kam Malbrough is scoring 12.1 points per game and has also been in double figures 12 times. Malbrough is 24th in the NAIA by shooting 87.7 percent at the foul line and 85th with an average of 3.9 assists per game.

Jayce Catchings has scored in double figures nine times with a pair of 20-point outings, and he is averaging 10.3 points per game. He leads the Spirit with 78 free throw attempts while sitting 15th in the GSAC by making 73.1 percent at the stripe.

Devin Collins currently leads the GSAC by grabbing 8.5 rebounds per game – 59th in the NAIA –and he gets 2.8 offensive rebounds per outing. Collins has five games this season with 10-plus rebounds.

ABOUT HOPE INTERNATIONAL
Hope International comes to town with a 16-4 overall record and tied for first in the GSAC at 9-2 in conference play. The Royals are 8-2 in their last 10 games, with both losses coming against William Jessup.

HIU has five guys that average at least 11.2 points per game, with Josh Powell-Davis leading the team at 12.9 per night. The Royals leads the GSAC by shooting 50.6 percent from the floor.

ABOUT SAN DIEGO CHRISTIAN
San Diego Christian starts its road trip to Arizona with a 5-15 record and tied for ninth in the conference at 3-8. The Hawks are just 1-11 on the road this season, with that win being a COIVD forfeit.

San Diego Christian ranks third in the GSAC by holding opponents to 30.4 percent shooting from three. JaMario Harris leads the team by scoring 9.3 points per game.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#5 Devin Collins: F; 6' 5"; Senior

#35 Josiah De'laCerda: F; 6' 8"; Junior

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

#21 Jayce Catchings: G; 6' 4"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#5 Devin Collins
: 6' 5"; Senior
: F

#35 Josiah De'laCerda
: 6' 8"; Junior
: F

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

#21 Jayce Catchings
: 6' 4"; Sophomore
: G