Another interesting week of Men’s NCAA Division I basketball has ended with San Diego State at No 2 on the NCAA ranking table. With Yanni Wetzell playing a big part in the Aztecs success it’s not a surprise he heads the Lowdown Player of the Week standings.
The full team is:
Yanni Wetzell, senior at San Diego State University
San Diego (19-0) remain the only unbeaten team in Men’s NCAA Division I basketball after defeating Nevada 68-55. The occasion was a personal triumph for Yanni Wetzell who amassed 17 points (7/13FG, 2/2 3PG) and a career high 16 rebounds plus 2 assists, 2 blocks and a steal in a dominating performance.
Angus McWilliam, sophomore at University California Riverside
In a probable first for New Zealand basketball Angus McWilliam and Callum McRae were the two leading scorers for University of California Riverside Highlanders in the 80-68 loss to CSUN on Thursday.
Cantabrian McWilliam led the Highlanders effort with 15 points (5/8FG) closely followed by McRae – the former Palmerston North Boys High centre scoring 14 points (6/11FG). McWilliam also topped the UCR rebounding count with 8 boards.
I will stand corrected but I believe it is the first time a pair of Kiwis have been the top two scorers in a game for an NCAA Division I team.
Callum McRae, sophomore at University California Riverside
McRae followed the above performance with 7 points, 7 rebounds (4 at the offensive end), and 2 assists in a 69-53 loss to UC Irvine.
Sam Waardenburg, junior at Miami University
Despite tying a career best 11 rebounds Miami lost a heartbreaker against #9 Florida State going down 83-79 in overtime. He also added 7 points, an assist, a block and a steal in 41 minutes – commendably he had zero turnovers in that time.
Izayah Mauriohooho-Le’afa, freshman at Sacramento State University
Sacramento State’s 71-62 loss at Northern Colorado marked the first game this season Izayah Mauriohooho-Le’afa hasn’t scored from the three-point line this season for the Hornets.
The Wellingtonian made a single triple in the next game, a 74-49 loss at Southern Utah. He finished with 5 points, 6 rebounds and a couple of steals.
Bubbling under
Dan Fotu had 5 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists as St Marys Gaels bet Pepperdine 78-69 to climb to 3-2 in West Coast Conference play.
LACEY LOWDOWN 