Ken West had a career-high 32 points and totaled 53 for the week in helping Azusa Pacific to a pair of big wins. Point Loma also had a pair of victories at home, including a buzzer-beater against conference contender Hawai`i Hilo. Latrell Williams has been a defensive standout all year for Academy of Art and gained Defender of the Week honors this week.
2023-24 Standings
2023-24 Statistics
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Azusa Pacific's Ken West, F, Jr., 6-8, Bellevue, Wash.
Azusa Pacific's Ken West scored a career-high 32 points to lead the Cougars to a 96-69 win over Chaminade on Saturday, and he added 21 more earliler in the week in a big win over Hawai`i Hilo. The 32 points came via just 15 shots (10-15), converting six-of-10 three-point attempts. West's 21 counters against the Vulcans included 4-of-9 nine marksmanship from behind the arch, giving him 10-of-19 accuracy from three-point range and 58 percent from the field. The two-time First Team All-PacWest pick also had 12 rebounds for the Cougars, who have now won three of their last four games.
DEFENDER OF THE WEEK: Academy of Art's Latrell Williams, F, Sr., 6-5, Gary, Ind.
Academy of Art's Latrell Williams earned his second Defender of the Week award with four steals and eight rebounds in the Urban Knights' 79-69 win over Westmont. The senior forward also had 10 points as ART U improved to 4-2 in conference play. Willliams has 29 steals on the season, a 2.2 per game average, tied for first in the PacWest. “Latrell’s defense was key to our wins over wins over Hawaii Pacific and Westmont," said his coach Scott Waterman. "He dominated the boards as seen by his 7.0 average per game, and also averaged three steals a contest which helped turn our defense into offense. Serving as an anchor to our defense, Latrell’s positioning and talk helped elevate our entire defensive scheme.”
TEAM OF THE WEEK: Point Loma Sea Lions
Point Loma won two games to improve to 5-1 in PacWest play with victories over Fresno Pacific (68-60) and Hawai`i Hilo (74-71). Against the Vulcans, the Sea Lions rallied back from a 16-point second half deficit for the buzzer beater from three-point range by
Colby Barnes. Barnes also had two big free throws with 26 seconds left.
Jake Lifgren led PLNU with 22 points, five rebounds and five assists.
Zack Paulsen added 21 points. Earlier in the week (Wednesday), Point Loma held off the Sunbirds with 19 points from Lifgren, 15 from Paulsen and 13 from
Luke Smith. The Sea Lions, 10-4 overall, have won six of their last seven games.
TWO PACWEST TEAMS GRAB BACK END OF POLL: In the first D2CIDA west region poll of the season, PacWest teams grabbed two spots towards the back end of the ranking.
Point Loma checks in at No. 8 and
Biola is ninth in the listing just posted today (Jan. 8). Here is the list, with records through the weekend. (1) Saint Martin's 13-1, (2) CS Los Angeles 11-2, (3) Chico State 10-2, (4) CS San Bernardino 10-3, (5) CS East Bay 10-3, (6) CS Dominguez Hills 10-3, (7) Western Washington 10-4,
(8) Point Loma 10-4, (9) Biola 11-4, (10) Montana State Billings 10-4. RV--Central Washington,
Hawai`i Hilo.
PACWEST NEWS AND NOTES: It's still early, but the race for PacWest tournament spots is already heating up. Six teams have a .500 record or better---
Biola (6-1),
Point Loma (5-1),
Hawai`i Pacific (3-1),
Academy of Art (4-2),
Hawai`i Hilo (4-3) and
Azusa Pacific (3-3)...
Chaminade built a 45-31 first half lead on their way to a 82-74 win over Concordia.
Connor Gleason had 24 points on 10-of-13 shooting for the Golden Eagles, while
Ross Reaves had 21 with seven rebounds and seven assists for CUH...
Hawai`i Pacific topped Dominican (65-60) in their only game of the week. East Tennessee State transfer
Charlie Weber had 17 points and 11 rebounds in his first game as a Shark.
Nathan Ilunga had a double-double for the Penguins (16-13)...In Hilo's loss to APU,
Charles Elzie III had 26 points.
Kalique Mitchell had 32 points and 21 rebounds on the week for the Vulcans...For APU against UHH,
Ethan Speaker had 19 points, six rebounds and eight assists...
Biola defeated Fresno Pacific to stay in first place behind a balanced attack from
Nathan Medina (19) and
Daniel Esparza (18).
THIS WEEK IN THE PACWEST: 11 PacWest games are on the slate this week as conference action heats up. It begins on Wednesday with Concordia at Fresno Pacific, Westmont at Azusa Pacific and Biola at Point Loma (battle of first and second place teams). On Thursday, Academy of Art is at Hawai`i Pacific and Dominican is at Hawai`i Hilo. Saturday's full slate features Dominican at Hilo, Point Loma at Fresno Pacific, Biola at Azusa Pacific, Academy of Art at Chaminade and Westmont at Concordia. To see the complete schedule and results,
click here.