Men's Basketball 11/21/2022 1:05:00 PM

2022-23 Men's Basketball Notes -- Week 4

THE WEEK AHEAD
With the first weekend of conference play complete, the OUAZ men's basketball team returns to Faith Arena on Tuesday to host Embry-Riddle in non-conference action. The game tips at 6 p.m. and leads into a short break for the Thanksgiving Weekend.

Tickets for the game can be purchased at OUAZSpirit.com/tickets and by searching OUAZ in the HomeTown Fan app. You can watch the game online at OUAZSpirit.com/watch or on the GSAC Sports Network via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, or Roku devices.

OPENING TIP
The Spirit enters the game with a 4-2 overall record after splitting its two games last week in California. They hold a 2-0 mark in home games and have won seven straight at home dating back to last season.

OUAZ averages 83.2 points per game while shooting 47.7 percent from the field and 32.8 percent from beyond the arc. They score 40.0 points per game in the paint while posting 13.8 assists per contest. OUAZ leads the GSAC by averaging 17.0 makes and 24.8 attempts from the foul line.

At the defensive end, OUAZ is giving up 81.3 points per game, with the opposition shooting 43.3 percent overall and 41.8 percent from three. In forcing 14.8 turnovers per outing, the Spirit gets 7.2 steals per game. They lead the conference by blocking 4.0 shots per game.

On the boards, the Spirit is third in the conference in controlling 40.5 rebounds per game, with 12.5 coming at the offensive end.

NATIONAL POLL
OUAZ moved closer to its first-ever appearance in the NAIA Coaches' Poll with 51 points in the poll released on Wednesday. That has the Spirit fourth among the teams outside the poll but receiving votes.

The Spirit is at No. 36 in the current Massey Ratings. The computer ratings have the Spirit as the No. 33 offense and having played the 47th-toughest schedule.

PLAY FAST
It is no secret that the Spirit likes to push the tempo, which has led to three games this season where they scored at least 80 points. In the program's history, the Spirit has a 42-20 record when scoring at least 80 points in a game while winning 15 straight.

Through four games, OUAZ has an offensive rating of 106.3 while having an in-game rating of over 100 in four times and three straight.

BACK-AND-FORTH THEY GO
Lead changes have been aplenty, with an average of 6.7 lead changes per game thus far into the season. Five of the games have seen at least five lead changes, with Saturday's game at Westmont featuring 11 lead changes.

Despite all the trading of leads, the Spirit has led for 57.9 percent of the total minutes played. In contrast, they have only trailed for 32.4 percent of the time played.

SPIRIT LEADERS
Keshawn Bruner has three 20-point scoring games, and he is seventh in the GSAC and 91st in the NAIA by averaging 17.8 points per game. Bruner shoots 59.7 percent from the field and 84.8 percent at the foul line. Bruner also grabs 4.5 rebounds per contest.

Josiah De'laCerda is averaging 17.2 points per game to rank eighth in the GSAC. He is now 109 points away from becoming the second player in program history to score 1,000 career points. De'laCerda is 20th in the NAIA, getting 7.7 defensive rebounds per game and 62nd nationally at 8.5 total boards per contest.

Alex Villi is giving the Spirit 16.0 points per game with a team-best 18 made threes. He scored 36 points with an OUAZ record 10 made 3-pointers at The Master's on Saturday. Villi averages 3.0 makes from beyond the arc per game and shoots 40.9 percent from deep.

Kolten Hitt scores 12.2 points per game with four games in double figures. His 2.2 steals per game is good for fourth in the GSAC, and he has a made 3-pointer in 21 straight games dating back to last season.

Devin Collins has grabbed 10-plus rebounds four times, and he is second in the GSAC and 16th in the NAIA with an average of 10.5 rebounds per game. He gets 3.8 boards at the offensive end, which is good for 12th in the country.

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Players Mentioned

#23 Keshawn Bruner: G; 6' 2"; Senior

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

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

#3 Kolten Hitt: G; 6' 4"; Senior

#10 Alex Villi: G; 6' 7"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#23 Keshawn Bruner
: 6' 2"; Senior
: G

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

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

#3 Kolten Hitt
: 6' 4"; Senior
: G

#10 Alex Villi
: 6' 7"; Sophomore
: G