Second-team GNAC pick Ursery leads Seawolves into postseason

The Great Northwest Athletic Conference doled out two honors in two days to UAA senior D.J. Ursery, who on Thursday will lead the Seawolves into postseason play.

Ursery, a 6-foot-4 guard, was named the conference's player of the week Monday and was named to the GNAC all-conference team Tuesday.

Ursery earned second-team GNAC honors in his first and only season with the Seawolves. He joined the team as a transfer from Division I University of the Pacific.

It's the second time Ursery has been named the GNAC player of the week, and the latest honor came after two road wins last week that secured the Seawolves a spot in this week's conference tournament.

In a 44-43 victory over the Nanooks in Fairbanks, Ursery supplied 14 points, 10 rebound and the game-winning basket with one second remaining. In a win over Montana State-Billings, he totaled 16 points, five rebounds and two steals.

The wins lifted UAA over the .500 mark in the GNAC (11-9) and overall (15-13). The Seawolves are the No. 5 seed in the six-team GNAC men's tournament at the Alaska Airlines Center and open play Thursday afternoon with a game against fourth-seeded Seattle Pacific.

The UAA women are the No. 2 seed in the women's tournament and will get a first-round bye. They play their first game Friday at 7:30 p.m. against the winner of a Thursday quarterfinal game between Seattle Pacific and Simon Fraser.

Championship games are scheduled for Saturday, with the men tipping off at 5:30 and the women at 7:30 p.m.

The tournament champions will earn automatic berths in next week's eight-team West Region tournament. A number of other GNAC teams will also advance by virtue of their position in the final West Region rankings of the season.

GNAC tournament at Alaska Airlines Center

Women

Thursday's quarterfinals

5:15 p.m. — Central Washington (15-13, 11-9) vs, Montana State-Billings (19-11, 12-8)
7:30 p.m. — Simon Fraser (14-14, 9-11) vs. Seattle Pacific (21-6, 15-5)

Friday's semifinals

5:15 p.m. — CWU/MSUB winner vs. Northwest Nazarene (22-3, 18-2)
7:30 p.m. — SFU/SPU winner vs UAA

Saturday

7:30 p.m. — Championship game

Men

Thursday's quarterfinals

Noon — Central Washington (15-12, 10-10) vs. Saint Martin's (22-6, 15-5)
2:15 p.m. — UAA (15-13, 11-9) vs. Seattle Pacific (16-11, 11-9)

Friday's semifinals

Noon — CWU/SMU winner vs. Western Washington (21-7, 16-4)
2:15 p.m. — UAA/SPU winner vs. Western Oregon (27-1, 19-1)

Saturday

5:15 p.m. — Championship game

GNAC men's all-conference team

Player of the Year — Tanner Omlid, Western Oregon
Coach of the Year — Jim Shaw, Western Oregon
Defensive Player of the Year — Malik Morgan, Western Oregon
Freshman of the Year — Khalil Shabazz, Central Washington
Newcomer of the Year — Luke Chavez, Saint Martin's

First team
Tanner Omlid, Western Oregon
Luke Chavez, Saint Martin's
Daulton Hommes, Western Washington
Maurice Jones, Northwest Nazarene
Kedar Salam, Simon Fraser
Trey Drechsel, Western Washington

Second team
Malik Morgan, Western Oregon
Deandre Dickson, Western Washington
Coleman Wooten, Seattle Pacific
Jawan Stepney, Central Washington
DJ Ursery, UAA
Obi Megwa, Northwest Nazarene

Honorable mention
Alex Baham, UAF
Michael Kluting, UAF
Fuquan Niles, Central Washington