2025-26 WAC Men's Basketball Release - Week 13

UTA ASSUMES THE SOLO LEAD ATOP THE WAC STANDINGS FOR THE FIRST TIME
UT Arlington staked claim to the outright lead in the WAC men’s basketball standings for the first time following a 71-64 win over Tarleton State at home on Jan. 21. The Mavericks rose to the top of the conference on the strength of a 7-3 run over their last 10 games overall, posting a league-best mark of 5-2 (.714) in conference play. Utah Valley and California Baptist were each one game behind at 5-3 (.625), respectfully, followed by Utah Tech at an even 4-4.

A CAREER GAME FOR DYNAMIC CBU GUARD DANIELS
Preseason WAC Player of the Year Dominique Daniels Jr. has been a key to California Baptist’s recent five-game winning streak to race within one game of the conference lead, but the heroics of Daniels last week may have been the most noteworthy of his storied career. Daniels was named WAC Player of the Week and was also selected as one of the USBWA Oscar Robertson National Players of the Week after averaging an astounding 36.5 points per game for the Lancers in a pair of home wins. Daniels scored 26 points and added five rebounds and five assists in a 73-64 CBU win over Utah Tech on Jan. 21. Against first-place Utah Valley on Jan. 24, Daniels erupted for a career-high 47 points on 13-of-21 shooting from the floor, and an 18-of-21 showing from the free-throw line, to lead CBU back from a halftime deficit to a 78-71 overtime victory. Daniels’ 47 points marked the third 40-point game in the WAC thus far this season and were just three points from equaling the conference scoring record of 50 points in a single league matchup. 

SOUTHERN UTAH’S FEROAH ENJOYS A BIG WEEK OF HIS OWN
Southern Utah transfer forward Jaiden Feroah put up a massive stat line of his own during a 1-1 week for the Thunderbirds, averaging 26.5 points and 11.5 rebounds per game while shooting a lights out 74.1 percent (20-of-27) from the floor. Feroah poured in a team-high 18 points and finished with 11 rebounds for Southern Utah in an 84-70 win versus Utah Valley on Jan. 21. In a shootout setback with rival Utah Tech on Jan. 24, Feroah filled the stat sheet with a third straight double-double after logging 35 points and 12 boards for the Thunderbirds, hitting 13-of-16 field goal attempts and eight of his nine free throw attempts in defeat.

UTAH TECH’S UPWARD MARCH CONTINUES IN WAC PLAY
Utah Tech kept its .500 winning percentage intact in conference play following a 1-1 split last week, losing to a red-hot California Baptist team 73-64 in Riverside before besting rival Southern Utah 102-91 at home. Keying the week again was transfer forward Ethan Potter, who averaged 18.5 points and 10.5 rebounds while shooting 62.5 percent over two games. After being held to just eight points in the CBU game on Jan. 21, Potter bounced back with 29 points, 11 rebounds and four assists while connecting on 11-of-15 field goals against Southern Utah on Jan. 24.

UTAH VALLEY REMAINED THE TOP WAC TEAM IN THE LATEST NCAA NET
As of the latest NCAA NET rankings that were posted on Jan. 27, Utah Valley remained in the top spot in the WAC by checking in ranked 97th in the metric. The Wolverines owned a combined seven wins in the top three quadrants, including a win on the road at Quad 2 Bowling Green on Dec. 6.

THE WAC IN THE NCAA STATISTICAL RANKINGS
As of the latest NCAA Division I statistical rankings that were released on Jan. 27, Tarleton State remained first in turnovers forced per game with an 18.85 clip. The Texans also moved up to first nationally in steals per contest with 11.2 thefts per game as a team. UT Arlington remained in first place in 3-point percentage defense against at 25.2 percent. Utah Valley checked in sixth in assists per game at 19.3. Individually, Tarleton State’s Dior Johnson was second in NCAA Division I with 23.6 points per game. California Baptist’s Dominique Daniels Jr. moved up to eighth in total points scored with 439 following his 47-point outing last week against Utah Valley.