Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Northern Arizona
Wildcats host NAU Saturday at 2:00 in final home game
3/1/2024 3:54:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Weber State is in second place in the Big Sky standings with two games remaining. Saturday will be Senior Day for Steven Verplancken, Dillon Jones, and KJ Cunningham.
• After a thrilling comeback overtime win Thursday night, Weber State will play its final home game of the season when the 'Cats host Northern Arizona Saturday afternoon.
• The Wildcats and Lumberjacks will tipoff at 2 p.m. from the Dee Events Center in Ogden. The game will be televised on ESPN+ and the ESPN app with Tony Parks and former Weber State head coach Joe Cravens on the call. Weber State radio coverage will be on 103.1 FM "The Wave" with Steve Klauke and former Weber State standout and Big Sky MVP David Patten calling the action. Live stats available at WeberStateSports.com and the Weber State Wildcats app.
• Weber State sits at 19-10 overall and 10-6 in Big Sky play with two games remaining. The Wildcats are coming off a wild 85-81 overtime win over Northern Colorado on Thursday.
WSU is in a three-way tie with Montana and Northern Colorado for second place in the league standings at 10-6. The Wildcats would win a tiebreak, based on a 3-1 record against those teams. If WSU wins its final two games, the Wildcats will be the No. 2 seed for the Big Sky Tournament.
Northern Arizona is 14-16 overall and 7-9 in Big Sky play, currently tied for sixth.
• Dillon Jones had an historic night in Thursday's win. Jones tied his career-high with 30 points, pulled down a career-high 23 rebounds, and tied his career-high with nine assists. He played all 45 minutes and was 11 of 11 from the free throw line. From Sports Reference, he's the only player to compile a stat line of 30, 23, and 9 since at least the 2010-11 season. The 23 rebounds is also the most in a game by any player in the country this season.
• Jones currently leads the Big Sky in points, rebounds, and assists, the only player in the country currently leading a conference in all three categories. He is one of two players in the country currently averaging at least 20.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game. He ranks 20th in the nation in scoring, is 15th in rebounding, and is sixth in double-doubles with 17. He is also eighth in the country in minutes played and third in defensive rebounds.He's also third in the Big Sky in steals, fourth in free throw percentage, and fifth in field goal percentage.
• In the eight games in February, Jones averaged 24.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game. He scored at least 20 seven times and shot 89 percent from the free throw line.
• Jones continues to make history in the career records as well. He moved past Larry Krystkowiak into fourth on the Big Sky career rebounding list. Jones is WSU's all-time leader in steals, is second in assists, third in rebounding, third in free throws made, and fifth in points. He is the only active player in the country and the only player in Big Sky history with at least 1,500 points, 1,000 rebounds, 350 assists, and 200 steals. Since the 1992-93 season, he is one of only four players in the nation to post those numbers in a career.
• Three other Wildcats scored in double figures in Thursday's win. Steven Verplancken had 16 points, Blaise Threatt had 15, and Dyson Koehler added 14. Weber State improved to 11-0 this season when four or more players score in double figures.
This year, WSU is also 13-1 when leading in field goal percentage, 14-2 when leading at halftime, and 12-0 when scoring 80 or more points in a game.
• Weber State won its 10th Big Sky game of the season. WSU has won 10 or more conference games in eight of the last nine years and 16 of the last 18 seasons.
• Saturday's game will be Senior Day for the final home game. WSU will honor Dillon Jones, Steven Verplancken, and KJ Cunningham prior to tipoff.
• Northern Arizona is coming off a 92-88 double overtime win at Idaho State on Thursday night. Carson Basham scored 33 points with 13 rebounds in the win. NAU leads the Big Sky in 3-point defense, allowing 32.2 percent shooting. Trenton McLaughlin is third in the Big Sky in scoring and Basham leads the Big Sky and is 24th in the nation in field goal percentage.
• Weber State beat Northern Arizona 72-70 on February 1 in Flagstaff, that started a six-game winning streak for the 'Cats. Jones had 26 points, eight reobunds, and four assists, and Blaise Threatt added 19 points.
• The Wildcats hold an 89-29 all-time lead over Northern Arizona, and the 'Cats have won eight straight against NAU, inclduing earlier this season.
In games in Ogden, Weber State is 52-8 all-time and has won nine straight games.
• Weber State will close out the regular season on Monday, March 4 at Montana State in a game that will be televised nationally on ESPNU.
