Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Northern Arizona
Game notes: 'Cats close out regular season at NAU Monday night
2/26/2023 2:18:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Weber State has clinched the No. 3 seed in the Big Sky Tournament.
• Weber State closes out the 2022-23 regular season with a Monday night game at Northern Arizona. The Wildcats and Lumberjacks will tipoff at 6 p.m. in the Walkup Skydome in Flagstaff. The game will be televised on ESPN+ with WSU radio coverage on 103.1 FM "The Wave".
• Weber State is 16-14 overall and 11-6 in Big Sky play following Saturday's 67-53 win over Idaho in the final home game of the season. With the win, the Wildcats have clinched the third seed in the Big Sky Tournament, which begins Saturday in Boise, Idaho.
• Northern Arizona is 9-21 overall and 5-12 in Big Sky play, tied for eighth in the league standings. The Lumberjacks have won their last two, including an 85-82 win at Northern Colorado on Saturday. NAU is locked into playing in the quarterfinals on Day 1 of the tournament.
• Dillon Jones reached the 20 point mark for the ninth time this season as he posted 21 points, along with 14 rebounds and four assists. He has led the Wildcats in scoring 18 times this season, including 10 of the last 11 games.
He also posted his 18th double-double of the year, which is tied for the third-most of any player in the country this season. Jones has led the Wildcats in rebounding in 28 of his 29 games played this season, including every Big Sky game. He leads the nation in defensive rebounds at 10.2 per game and is sixth in the country in overall rebounds at 11.0 per game.
Jones leads the Wildcats in scoring, rebounds, assists and steals. He is eighth in the Big Sky in scoring at 16.3 per game, and also ranks second in steals, fourth in assists, and fifth in free throw percentage.
He surpassed 800 career rebounds and ranks fifth in school history with 801 rebounds in 85 games. He is also 26th in career scoring, fifth in career steals, eighth in career field goal percentage and 10th in career free throw percentage.
• Junior Steven Verplancken scored in double figures for the 24th time this season as he finished with 14 points in Thursday's win, including four 3-pointers. He is the only Wildcat to start all 30 games this season and is second on the team in scoring at 12.7 points per game. He is shooting 41.4 percent from 3-point range this season and ranks 10th in the Big Sky in 3-pointers made per game at 1.9.
• Eastern Washington snapped its 18-game winning streak, which was the longest in the country, with a 71-63 loss at Idaho State Thursday night. The Eagles have clinched the Big Sky regular season title and are 16-1 in league play.
Montana State has clinched the second seed with a 14-3 conference record.
Weber State has clinched the third seed in the tournament, currently at 11-6. The Wildcats could end in a tie with Montana for third but would win the tiebreaker, based off a win over Montana State. Montana has clinched the fourth seed. Other seeds remain to be determined based on action Monday night and a possible game between Portland State and Montana on Wednesday night.
• Weber State will take on the No. 6 seed in the quarterfinals of the tournament on Monday, March 6 at 8 p.m. in Boise, Idaho. The Wildcats could still play Idaho State, Sacramento State or Portland State in the quarterfinals.
• Northern Arizona is locked into playing on Day 1 at the Big Sky Tournament but could still finish anywhere from seventh to tenth, depending on Monday's results. The Lumberjacks have won their last two games, with road wins at Idaho and Northern Colorado.
The Lumberjacks are second in the Big Sky in assists at 14.1 per game and rank third in 3-point percentage, 3-pointers per game, rebounding, and turnover margin.
Jalen Cone is sixth in the conference in scoring at 16.9 per game, is first in 3-pointers per game, and second in 3-point field goal percentage.
• Weber State defeated Northern Arizona 76-60 on Dec. 31, 2022, in Ogden, in just the second Big Sky game of the season. The Wildcats shot a season-high 58 percent from the field, including 61 percent in the second half.
• WSU holds an 86-30 all-time series lead over Northern Arizona and the Wildcats have won six-straight and 13 of the last 14 against the Lumberjacks. The 86 wins is the second-most for Weber State against any opponent in its history.
In games in Flagstaff, Weber State is 33-20 all-time and has won 11 of the last 12 games.
