There was no Thanksgiving break for PacWest men’s basketball teams last week, but plenty of teams and players were thankful. Two squads went unbeaten—Azusa Pacific and Biola, while Point Loma (1-1) was close in part because of Kaden Anderson’s 46 points against Western Washington. Maximo Milovich was terrific on defense again for Biola as PacWest teams got ready for the start of conference play.

2022-23 Results/Schedule
2022-23 Standings
2022-23 Statistics
D2SIDA West Region Poll

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Point Loma’s Kaden Anderson, F, 6-8, 220, Sr., Enumclaw, Wash.                            
For the second time this season and eighth time overall, Point Loma’s Kaden Anderson is the PacWest Player of the Week. All he did last week is put up 46 points during an overtime thriller against Western Washington, the fourth highest total in conference history and the second highest mark in PLNU’s record books. He also had 12 rebounds against the Vikings in the 91-89 loss, and including their win earlier in the week over Cal State San Marcos, the 2021-22 PacWest Player of the Year totaled 61 points, 15 rebounds, four assists and four blocked shots. In his already storied career, Anderson has 12 PacWest weekly awards--eight POW, three Defender of the Week and one Freshman of the Week. That's second all-time in PacWest history, only behind Azusa Pacific's Selom Mawugbe's 15 (2018-20).
 
DEFENDER OF THE WEEK: Biola’s Maximo Milovich, F, Soph., 6-8, 215, Buenos Aires, Argentina                     
Biola sophomore Maximo Milovich continues to anchor the Biola defense as the Eagles chalked up wins against SAGU and Cal State Dominguez Hills, holding the two clubs to an average of 55 points a game. The Argentinian equaled his and the PacWest season high of 15 boards against SAGU and added 11 more in the victory over the Toros. For good measure, he was big on the offensive end of the court as well with 32 total points (22 against SAGU) and double-doubles each night. On the season, Milovich is averaging 11.7 rebounds a game, two more boards per game than anyone else in the conference.

COUGARS CLAW GNAC FOES IN IDAHO: The PacWest Team of the Week is the AZUSA PACIFIC COUGARS. This was a tough call as two teams went unbeaten (including Biola), and Academy of Art knocked off No. 2 regionally ranked St. Martin’s. But the Cougars went into enemy territory and took down two traditionally tough GNAC squads, defeating host Northwest Nazarene (65-64) and Central Washington (89-79). Five different players were in double figures in the win over the Wildcats and three others did the same against the Nighthawks. Heading into PacWest play, the balanced preseason favorites are now 5-2 and have won four straight games.

CROSSING OVER: The PacWest went 12-9 in the final week of preseason play before the start of conference action. That included a 3-1 record against teams from the GNAC and an even 5-5 mark against CCAA teams.

REGIONAL REVIEW: The PacWest now has four of the ten teams in the D2SIDA West Region poll, announced today (Monday). The list, voted on by a panel of Sports Information Directors (two from each conference) looks like this. (1) Cal State San Bernardino 5-1, (2) Academy of Art 5-1, (3) Saint Martin’s 5-1, (4) Western Washington 5-1, (T-5) Azusa Pacific 5-2, (T-5) Cal Poly Pomona 3-1, (7) Point Loma 4-3, (8) Montana State Billings 4-2, (T-9) Biola 4-2, (T-9) Seattle Pacific 4-2.

PACWEST PLAY BEGINS: PacWest play tips off this week with a full slate of games. Oahu will be the location of the first game on Tuesday (Nov. 29) when Chaminade visits Hawaii Pacific. On Thursday, ten of the 11 teams play--Dominican at Concordia, Academy of Art at Point Loma, Azusa Pacific at Holy Names, Biola at Fresno Pacific and Hawaii Hilo at Hawaii Pacific. Saturday features five more contests—Dominican at Point Loma, Hawaii Hilo at Chaminade, Biola at Holy Names, Azusa Pacific at Fresno Pacific and Academy of Art at Concordia.

PACWEST NEWS AND NOTES: Concordia’s Lance Coleman II had 33 points, eight rebounds and two steals during a 90-86 loss to Bethesda…Academy of Art lost for the first time in 2022-23 to Stanislaus State (75-69), but Klay Brown was his typical self with 14 points, ten rebounds, four assists, four steals and two blocked shots…Fresno Pacific’s Mike Mensah hit six treys for 21 points in a 83-73 loss to Cal State LA…In Point Loma’s victory over Cal State San Marcos, Luke Haupt had 11 points, seven assists and five rebounds…Biola’s Alex Wright had 21 points in the Eagles win over Cal State Dominguez Hills…Edward Gray had 20 for Holy Names against CSU Maritime…Hawaii Hilo was leading No. 8 nationally ranked Central Oklahoma in the second half 62-54 when the game was cancelled due to wet floor conditions…Dominican had three players with double-doubles in their loss to Cal State East Bay—Marcus McCuthchen (21-10), Garrett Siebels (11-10) and PJ Volz (11-10)…Hawaii Pacific’s Melo Sanchez had 21 points versus UC Colorado Springs…Against that same squad, UH Hilo’s Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones had 25 points, ten rebounds and six assists…Academy of Art handed Saint Martin’s their first loss of the year on their own court in Lacey, Wash., 78-73. Will Balata had 19 and Latrell Williams had 14 points…Ross Reaves had 22 in Chaminade’s loss to No. 1 regionally ranked Cal State San Bernardino…Roman Behrans of Holy Names had 31 points in his team’s 85-78 victory over San Francisco State…Isaac Amaral-Artharee hit 6-of-7 treys and scored 31 points for Chaminade in its 83-76 win over Lincoln CA.