Seven PacWest teams went 1-1 on the first weekend of the 2023-24 season as crossover games took over the schedule. Biola's Nathan Medina averaged 23 points a game in BU's split and Casey Cappo pulled down 11.5 rebounds a game to pace the Eagles.
2023-24 Standings
2023-24 Statistics
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Biola's Nathan Medina, G, Soph., 6-3, 165, Long Beach, Calif.
Biola sophomore guard Nathan Medina put up 21 and 25 points respectively in a BU loss to CS Los Angeles and a win over CS San Marcos. For the weekend in La Mirada, Medina shot .552 from the field, was 7-of-13 from three-point range, 7-of-10 from the free throw line and he had four steals. In the win over CS San Marcos, the Long Beach native's line included seven rebonds and two steals to go with his 25 points. The Eagles scored 48 second half points to top the Cougars, 78-70. Last year as a freshman, Medina came off the bench to average seven points a game.
DEFENDER OF THE WEEK: Biola's Casey Cappo, F, Jr. 6-6, 205, Walnut Creek, Calif.
Junior forward Casey Cappo was a model of consistency in the paint for Biola, averaging 11.5 rebounds a game in the Eagles' divide of games on their own court. The second-year Eagle, who like Medina came off the bench last season for his squad to average 7.5 points and 4.4 rebounds, had 14 points and 11 boards in the loss to CS Los Angeles. The 6-foot-6 junior had 13 rebounds against CSUSM, including nine on the defensive end. The former Diablo Valley College player also had a blocked shot in each game.
PACWEST NEWS AND NOTES: Point Loma's Jake Lifgren hit for a career high 34 points in the Sea Lions' 2023-24 debut, leading his team to a 82-79 overtime win over Stanislaus State. He had six points in overtime and nailed 7-of-10 trey attempts to help give new head coach
Justin Downer his first win...
Carlos Ramsey, Jr. had 25 points in
Hawai`i Hilo's 91-80 loss to St. Martin's...
Jamal Fuller had 19 points in
Academy of Art's overtime loss to Sonoma State (64-62). The Urban Knights then bounced back with a 67-57 victory over San Francisco State due in part to
Isaiah Williams' 21 points, six rebounds and four steals...
Maximo Milovich had 14 rebounds in
Biola's loss to CS Los Angeles and
Tyus Parrish-Tillman had five blocked shots...
Westmont scored 53 second half points to pick up its first D-II win versus Montana State-Billings, 82-65...
Concordia opened the season with an impressive 81-74 win over CS San Marcos..
.Ethan Speaker nearly had a double-double with 16 points and nine boards in
Azusa Pacific's 77-70 loss to Chico State.
Bryce Sloan had 21 in APU's 67-57 win over Cal Poly Pomona...
Jamir Thomas put up 26 points in a 80-72
Chaminade win over Alaska.
Isaac Amaral-Artharee totaled 39 points in the Silverswords split of games...
Fresno Pacific's Isaac Peralta had 17 in FPU's 5-point loss to CS East Bay...
Dominican's Dale Currie also had 17 in the Peng's 69-57 loss to Sonoma State.
NOVEMBER CROSSOVER GAMES CONTINUE: Games continue every night this week, beginning with a battle between two 2023 NCAA playoff teams when
Point Loma hosts St. Martin's. The Sea Lions will also play at another playoff squad when they travel within San Diego Country to take on CS San Marcos on Friday.
Domincan has a busy slate with games at Stanislaus State, CS East Bay and CS Monterey Bay, while
Hawai`i Pacific heads very far north to take on Western Washington (Tuesday) and Simon Fraser (Wednesday).
Azusa Pacific will do the same with games at WWU and Seattle Pacific, ditto for
Concordia. Biola takes on Cal Poly Pomona and CS San Bernardino.
Fresno Pacific plays San Francisco State and CS Dominguez Hills, while
Chaminade and
Hawai`i Hilo will square off in our first conference encounter of the year.
Academy of Art will face Chico State,
Westmont hosts Bethseda and travels to San Francisco State.