BURNABY, B.C. – The Simon Fraser University men's basketball team will open 2015 with a pair of Great Northwest Athletic Conference games in Alaska this week, hoping to continue the early season momentum the team has built through its new dribble drive attack offence that has the Clan leading NCAA Division II in scoring.
Simon Fraser's high-powered offense leads the nation in five categories including scoring (130.0), three-pointers made (16.3), assists (23.9), steals (19.0) and turnover margin (13.7).The Clan is averaging 23 points per game more than the next closest team in NCAA Division II. SFU averages 96 shots per game – including 45 three-pointers.
Simon Fraser, 6-3 overall, is enjoying early season success. It recorded its first victory, 122-118, over rival Western Washington in 15 years in its only conference game this season.
On two occasions, the Clan has scored 160 points and it has not scored less than 90 points in any game this season.
The offence is led by
Sango Niang, a senior point guard from France, who is 19
th in NCAA scoring. The Clan has three individuals in the top-ten in GNAC scoring. Niang leads the way with 21.8 ppg while forward
Roderick Evans-Taylor is third (17.1) and guard
Justin Cole is ninth (15.1).
Niang is also second in the NCAA in assists, averaging 7.9 per game. He has started to draw national U.S. media attention for his play on the court, getting profiled recently in Slam Magazine here:
http://www.slamonline.com/college-hs/college/sango-niang-full-potential/
Thursday, SFU plays the University of Alaska Anchorage (5-7 overall, 1-1 GNAC). UAA has won all eight meetings since SFU joined the GNAC in 2010-11, posting five double-digit victories. Alaska Anchorage is led by a pair of guards. Senior guard Travis Thompson, who has averaged 18.8 points on .521 FG shooting (25 of 48), is the No. 6 scorer in Seawolf history and junior PG Brian McGill currently holds down GNAC top-15 ranks in five different categories, including 2nd in assists (6.8 apg), 6th in scoring (15.7 ppg) and 8th in 3FG% (.429).
Saturday, the Clan faces the University of Alaska Fairbanks (3-7 overall, 0-2 GNAC). The Nanooks are led offensively by Ashton Edwards and Ruben Silvas, who have scored 12.5 and 11.2 points, respectively.
The Clan returns to action in the West Gym for conference games against Seattle Pacific University (January 8) and Montana State Billings (January 10). Tip-off is 7:00 PM both games.
