Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Northern Arizona
Weber State returns home and opens Big Sky play Thursday
11/30/2021 2:39:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The 6-0 Wildcats host NAU Thursday. WSU will play six of the next seven games at the Dee Events Center.
• After five straight games away from home, the 6-0 Weber State men's basketball team returns to the Dee Events Center and opens Big Sky Conference play with two games this week. The Wildcats host Northern Arizona on Thursday night in the first of 20 Big Sky games this season. The Wildcats and Lumberjacks will tipoff at 7 p.m. at the Dee Events Center.
• The game will be televised on ESPN+ and the ESPN app and will also be broadcast on the radio on 103.1 FM "The Wave". Live stats will be available at WeberStateSports.com.
• Weber State is 6-0 on the season and off to its best start since the 1985-86 season. It's just the fourth time in school history WSU has started a season 6-0. The Wildcats opened the year with a home win over Western Colorado, then won a road game at Duquesne, followed by three wins at the Jersey Mike's Classic in St. Petersburg, Florida. Weber State beat UMass, Ball State and Green Bay to secure the tournament title.
• The 'Cats are coming off an 87-70 win at Dixie State on Saturday night. Five players scored in double figures and Weber State shot 56 percent from the field in the win over the Trailblazers, the first ever meeting between the two instate teams.
• As of Tuesday, Nov. 30, Weber State is one of just 20 teams in the nation that are still undefeated.
• Weber State is second in the country in field goal percentage, shooting 53.9 percent from the field. Only Gonzaga has a better shooting percentage than Weber State. The Wildcats have shot 50 percent or better from the field in four of six games this season.
• After five straight games away from home, Weber State finally returns to the Dee Events Center this week. The Wildcats will play six of the next seven games at home starting with Thursday's game.
• Weber State currently has a 12-game winning streak at the Dee Events Center, tied for the 13th longest home winning streak in the country.
• Under coach Rahe, the Wildcats are 179-39 (.821) at home and 106-24 (.816) at home in Big Sky Conference games.
• Sophomore Seikou Sisoho Jawara, a preseason Big Sky All-Conference selection, has led the Wildcats in scoring in each of the last two games. He scored 20 points in a win over Green Bay and followed that up with a season-high 23 points in Saturday's win at Dixie State. He was 10 of 16 from the field, including 3 of 6 from 3-point range, and also added three assists and three steals.
• On the season, Sisoho Jawara is averaging 14 points per game and is fourth in the league in field goal percentage at 54 percent. He is also shooting 44.8 percent from 3-point range and ranks fourth in the conference in assists at 4.0 per game and fifth in steals.
• Wildcat senior transfer Koby McEwen leads the team and is second in the Big Sky in scoring at 18.2 points per game. He has scored in double figures in five of six games this season and is also third in the conference in 3-point field goal percentage.
• Another senior transfer JJ Overton is eighth in the Big Sky at 15 points per game. He also ranks 12th in the nation in field goal percentage at 68.2 percent.
• Dillon Jones is second in the Big Sky and 10th in the nation in rebounding at 10.7 per game. Jones has had four double doubles in six games this season.
• The Wildcats lead the Big Sky in field goal percentage, 3-point field goal percentage, scoring offense and scoring margin. Weber State is also second in scoring defense, steals and turnover margin and ranks third in the league in 3-point defense.
• Northern Arizona begins Big Sky play with a 3-4 overall record. The Lumberjacks opened the season with losses at Arizona and Washington, then won three straight games with wins over Benedictine Mesa, CSU Bakersfield and UTRGV. They lost to UTRGV and last lost to Cal State Fullerton last Wednesday.
• NAU is second in the Big Sky in blocks and ranks fourth in rebounding and fifth in field goal percentage, 3-pointers per game, rebounding margin and assists. Jalen Cone ranks sixth in the Big Sky in scoring at 16.1 points per game and Ezekiel Richards is first in the conference in blocks.
• The Lumberjacks were 6-16 overall and 4-10 in Big Sky play last season.
• NAU is coached by Shane Burcar who is in his third season with the Lumberjacks.
• This will be the 114th all-time meeting between Weber State and Northern Arizona with the Wildcats holding an 83-30 series lead. The 83 wins over NAU is the second-most for Weber State against any opponent. The Wildcats have won three straight, including two last season, and 10 of the last 11 against the Lumberjacks.
• In games in Ogden, Weber State is 49-9 all-time and has won seven straight games.
• Weber State is 35-23 all-time in Big Sky Conference opening games. WSU is 22-6 all-time when opening conference play at home. Weber State has never opened Big Sky play against Northern Arizona at home.
• Weber State is now ranked 10th in the latest CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major poll.
• The Wildcats have had the same starting lineup in all six games this season.
• WSU improved to 143-9 under Randy Rahe when scoring 80 or more points in a game.
• Wildcat senior Michal Kozak has played in 121 career games at Weber State. With one more game played, he will move into the WSU career top 10.
• Weber State was picked to finish second in the Big Sky preseason polls. The Wildcats were 17-6 last season and tied for second in the conference at 12-3. WSU returns four starters and 10 players off last year's team. WSU also welcomed four new players, including three Division I transfers.
• Head coach Randy Rahe made history in the November 21 win over Green Bay, as he won his 300th career game as head coach of the Wildcats. Rahe is in his 16th season at Weber State and is WSU's and the Big Sky Conference's all-time leader in wins and games coached. He has a career record of 301-179 at Weber State and has led the Wildcats to five Big Sky titles and three NCAA Tournament appearances. He has coached six Big Sky MVP's, including NBA superstar Damian Lillard.
• The Wildcats will be back home to host Portland State on Saturday night, in a game that will begin at 6 p.m. at the Dee Events Center. WSU will play its final non conference road game at Washington State next Wednesday, Dec. 8.
