IRVINE, Calif. -- Hawai`i Hilo has now won four-straight games against Hawai`i Pacific to take a two-game lead over Chaminade in the PacWest standings. Sasa Vuksanovic turned in two 20-point double-double performances for the Vulcans to lead them to crucial wins over Hawai`i Pacific after splitting against Chaminade. The Silverswords will return to action this week with a pair of games against Hawai`i Pacific with a chance to make up some ground in the battle for the pod championship.
 
Biola tightened the race at the top of the standings in the SoCal Pod with a pair of wins over Concordia. Chris Rossow scored 25 points in the second win after going for a 15-point, 10-assist double-double the previous day. Point Loma is scheduled to return to action on Friday with a game at Concordia. It will be the Sea Lions’ first games since sweeping Concordia on January 23.
 
Fresno Pacific had another dramatic win against Academy of Art to remain undefeated in conference play this season. Adrian Antunez made a pair of 3-pointers in the final minutes of the game to give the Sunbirds an 82-78 win despite trailing with two minutes left. This week, Dominican will play at Academy of Art. Both teams are looking for their second win as they chase the Sunbirds in the standings. They split results the last time they faced each other.
 
Weekly awards based on the week of Feb. 1-7
 
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Alex Wright, Biola
G, Jr., 6-5 -- Riverside, Calif.
Wright helped Biola earn its first sweep of the season with a pair of wins over Concordia to improve to 3-1 in conference play this season.  Wright tallied 15 points and seven rebounds in the first win on 7 of 11 shooting.  The junior then scored 28 points in the second game to go along with 13 rebounds for a double-double. Wright also had four assists and a block, while going a perfect 11 for 11 from the free throw line. Wright is now averaging a double-double this season.
 
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Nate Kendricks, Fresno Pacific
G, Jr., 6-1 -- Fresno, Calif.
Kendricks led the Sunbirds in scoring in their lone game last week, beating Academy of Art to improve to 3-0 in conference play. It was the junior’s best performance offensively during the three wins against the Urban Knights. He made 7 of 10 shots from the field and went 2 for 5 from beyond the arc for a total of 22 points. He also made big plays for the Sunbirds on the defensive end, coming up with three steals. Kendricks is now averaging 11.0 points per game and has scored at least seven in every game this year.
 
HAWAI`I PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sasa Vuksanovic, Hawai`i Hilo
F/C, Sr., 6-10 -- Novi Sad, Serbia
The Vulcans have taken a commanding lead in the PacWest Hawai`i Pod after two wins over Hawai`i Pacific in which Vuksanovic recorded his third and fourth consecutive double-doubles. The senior scored 20 points in both wins on 16 of 31 shooting. He had 10 rebounds in the first win and 11 in the second. Vuksanovic also added four assists, three blocks and two steals on the weekend. He is averaging 17.2 points and 10.5 rebounds per game as the Vulcans are off to a 5-1 start to conference play.