The OUAZ Men's basketball 18-9 overall and 10-8 in final conference action heads to Fullerton, Calif., to take part in the Golden State Athletic Conference Tournament. OUAZ will be the fifth-seed and play fourth-seeded Westmont on Thursday evening (6 pm MST). The winner of this game will play top-seeded Arizona Christian on Friday at 6 pm MST.
OUAZ enters the game having received votes in the latest NAIA coaches poll after dropping it's final two regular season contests at Jessup (89-87) and at home to No. 2 Arizona Christian (78-71).
All tickets to the GSAC Men's Basketball Tournament must be purchased online through the HomeTown Ticketing page which can be found on the GSAC website: www.gsacsports.org/tickets. Tournament ticket prices are $10 for adults and $5 for students/seniors. Tournament passes will be sold for $25 and are valid for all three days of the 2023 tournament. For fans that cannot make it out to Darling Pavilion this week, all tournament games will be streamed live on the GSAC Sports Network.
Spirit Tournament History
The defending tournament champions, the Spirit are making their second-ever appearance in the league postseason show. With a perfect 3-0 record, they beat Vanguard (69-50), Westmont (95-76) and Jessup (78-77) to take the crown and collect the league's automatic bid into the NAIA National Tournament. The men's tournament champion will secure an automatic berth into the NAIA Men's Basketball Opening Round which begins on March 7th.
Vs. Westmont
OUAZ is 3-6 all-time against the Warriors, however, that includes an 0-4 mark at the beginning of the series. Since then, the Spirit are 3-2 including the victory in the tournament last year. This season the teams split their two games with Westmont winning in at home (84-75) and OUAZ winning on its home floor, 80-74.
Vs. ACU
The Spirit are 0-12 vs ACU in the series that began in 2017, including a 0-6 in games played away from Faith Arena. This season both games were highly-contested, physical battles with ACU squeezing out a 76-72 win in Glendale and a 78-71 decision in Surprise.
De'laCerda & Bruner Honored
Seniors Josiah De'laCerda and Keshawn Bruner were named to the GSAC All-Conference Team. This is the second consecutive season De'laCerda has been honored, becoming the first two-time honoree in program history. Bruner is only third Spirit basketball player to ever be named to the postseason team, joining De'laCerda and Kam Malbrough (2021).
De'laCerda led OUAZ in scoring (18.4 ppg) this year and second in rebounds (6.8 rpg). He also ranks fourth in the league in scoring and rebounding, as well as second in 3pt-FG percentage (47.6%). This season De'laCerda scored at least 20 points nine times, including 31 against Rocky Mountain and 30 versus San Diego Christian.
Bruner, who topped 20 points seven times on the year, finished his regular season second on the team in scoring (15.1 ppg) and as the best free throw shooter on the squad (.808). He scored a season-high 29 points against Oklahoma City, 27 versus Menlo and 25 versus Benedictine Mesa, Life Pacific and Menlo.
Spirit Record Setters
Josiah De'laCerda
- With 22 points against ACU last Saturday he now has 20 or more points in 25 of 73 career games. Took over as the Spirit all-time career scorer (1,280 career points) is also second all-time in rebounds with 509 heading into the tournament.
- Has 14 games with 18 or more points this season which is the most in school history.
- His 17.7 career scoring average is the best ever at OUAZ, while his rebounding average (7.0) is second to teammate Devin Collins.
- With 60 career blocks, he now tops the career list.
Keshawn Bruner
- Had a season-best 13 rebounds against Life Pacific late in the season.
- With 773 points, he's now 5th on the all-time scoring list at OUAZ, 3 shy of Tanner Riley's 776 for his career.
- Fifth all-time in rebounds (275) and second in blocked shots (41).
Devin Collins
- Ranks third in the GSAC in rebounding (8.9 rpg)
- With 672 points, he's ranks 7th on the all-time scoring list at OUAZ.
- The school all-time rebounder for boards (636) and average (8.6) in 74 career games.
