By: Evan O'Kelly, Associate Commissioner for Communications

LACEY, Wash. – The title of 2025 Great Northwest Athletic Conference champion awaits this week at Marcus Pavilion, as the top six men’s basketball teams square off at the 14th edition of the conference tournament.
 
Complete tournament information can be found on the GNAC Championships central page online here.
 
Quarterfinal 1 – No. 6 seed Alaska Fairbanks vs. No. 3 seed Seattle Pacific
Thursday, March 6 – Noon Pacific – Watch Live – Live Statistics
 
2024-25 Meetings
Game 1 – SPU 56, UAF 54 (Jan. 25 at Seattle) Box Score | SPU Recap | UAF Recap
Game 2 – UAF 71, SPU 60 (Feb. 20 at Fairbanks, Alaska) Box Score | SPU Recap | UAF Recap
 
Each team protected its home court during the regular season, with the Nanooks emerging victorious 71-60 in the most recent meeting between the teams on Feb. 20. Thursday will mark the first-ever GNAC Championships meeting between Alaska and Seattle Pacific, a somewhat surprising fact considering the Falcons have been to all but one tournament and the Nanooks are making their sixth appearance.
 
UAF Wins If: It stays hot. Just when it seemed like their season was over, the Nanooks ended a six-game losing skid with a five-game winning streak to jump into the playoffs. One of their victims along the way was the Falcons, as Alaska kept SPU quiet with just 20 points in the first half and rode a 22-point outing by Chris Lee to the victory the last time the teams met. Seattle Pacific didn’t shoot well from 3-point range in either game (4-for-18, 22.2% in the first; 5-for-24, 20.8% in the second), but survived in the first meeting as most of its shots were higher-percentage looks. If the Nanooks can build a big lead early and force the Falcons to chase the game from the arc, it could play out favorably for the boys from the Last Frontier once again.
 
UAF Head Coach Frank Ostanik: “SPU is an exceptionally well coached team and brings great size and physicality to the court. They know who they are and play to their strengths at a high level. Their size and ability to rebound will be a great challenge for us.”
 
SPU Wins If: It controls the paint. The Falcons out-rebounded the Nanooks 36-31 and shot a solid 44.2% (23-for-52) overall in their narrow victory on Jan. 25, and will look to replicate that performance on Thursday in the tournament opener. A big part of that will be the play of first-team all-GNAC forward Jaxon Nap, who had monster games of 16 points and 13 rebounds in the first meeting and 15 points and 18 rebounds in the rematch. The Falcons shot nearly 8% worse (36.7%) in the loss – if they can shoot closer to 40% and win the rebound battle, they could be flying into the GNAC semifinals.

SPU Head Coach Keffrey Fazio: “They are a very talented team, and have multiple guys who can really score and make plays for them. This is the rubber match, and it’s a big one for both of us. This time of the year with everything being an elimination game, you’re really going to do whatever it takes to win. The team that can adapt to the challenges tomorrow is going to have the best chance of doing that. We are looking forward to the opportunity, and hopefully if we play well we will have a chance to win down the stretch.”
 
What’s At Stake: Seattle Pacific is looking for its GNAC-best fifth conference tournament trophy, as it set the standard with three straight titles from 2013-15 and added its most recent crown in 2019. The Nanooks caught lightning in a bottle on their historic 2022 run to the crown, proving that the lowest seed in the tournament can indeed hoist the trophy. They’ll hope that notion proves true again this week.
 

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Quarterfinal 2 – No. 5 seed Montana State Billings vs. No. 4 seed Western Washington
Thursday, March 6 – 2:15 p.m. Pacific – Watch Live – Live Statistics
 
2024-25 Meetings
Game 1 – WWU 84, MSUB 70 (Jan. 11 at Billings, Mont.) Box Score | MSUB Recap | WWU Recap
Game 2 – WWU 94, MSUB 74 (Feb. 6 at Bellingham, Wash.) Box Score | MSUB Recap | WWU Recap
 
The Vikings raced past the Yellowjackets both times the teams met during the regular season, perhaps most notably with a 62-point second half in the home win on Feb. 6. GNAC Freshman of the Year Grant Kepley had a double-double with 24 points and 12 boards and Garrett Levesque added a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds in the most recent win – a game in which the Vikings made 35 of 61 shots (57.4%) for their second-best shooting game of the year.
 
MSUB Wins If: It can find a way to slow down WWU. So far, the Vikings started fast and gained steam both times the teams met, leaving the Yellowjackets chasing from far behind. One positive for MSUB – it had just 13 total turnovers in the two meetings against WWU. The ‘Jackets will not only need to protect the ball but slow the game down and possess it more if they are to limit the high-octane Viking offense. MSUB received 27 points from 2024 GNAC Player of the Year Jalen Tot in the Jan. 11 loss – it may take another heroic effort from its star guard and then some to knock off WWU in the tournament.
 
MSUB Head Coach Luke Fennelly: “WWU is extremely talented and arguably the best offensive team in the tournament. Tijan (Saine) has been playing at an elite level and really sets the pace for his team. We have to be at our best defensively and play smart offensively to help limit our mistakes, as turnovers can really ignite their offense. We're excited to be back in the GNAC tournament and look forward to the challenge."
 
WWU Wins If: The song remains the same. It’s hard to fathom that the Vikings would want to see anything different than what they put together each of the last two times these squads met up. The Vikings knocked down 11 threes in each victory over the Yellowjackets – a good recipe for success regardless of the opponent. WWU also dominated the glass in both contests, a theme it will look to replicate on Thursday afternoon.
 
WWU Head Coach Tony Dominguez: “Montana State Billings is a very talented team and is well coached. They have had a great run the last few years. They have weapons at every position. They have very talented guards that are tremendous play makers and their inside game is very tough with inside out threats. When you get to the playoffs you have played your opponents several times and really it will come down to who can make plays and work at gaining the advantage with the 50/50 plays.”
 
What’s At Stake: A ticket to Friday’s semifinals against No. 1 seed Central Washington hangs in the balance. For the Yellowjackets that would mean a chance to avenge last year’s 81-80 loss to the Wildcats at the buzzer in the semifinals. For the Vikings it would mean a first-ever GNAC Championships date against their arch-rival. Both teams will be hungry, points will be scored, and this projects to bring an exciting finish to Session 1 on Thursday.
 
No. 1 Seed – Central Washington University Wildcats                                                                                                                                                                                                   
Roster | Statistics | Schedule
2024-25 Record: 20-8, 14-4 GNAC (1st place)
Home: 12-3 Away: 6-4 Neutral Site: 2-1
Head Coach: Brandon Rinta, 8th season | 100-73 (.578)
Regular-season Titles: 2 (2011, 2025)
 
CWU At The GNAC Championships
Semifinals: Friday, March 7 – 2:15 p.m. (PT) vs. Winner UAF/SPU
Appearances: 10 (2011-13, 2015-16, 2018, 2022-25)
Overall Record: 11-7
Tournament Wins: 2 (2011, 2024)
GNAC Championships MVPs: 2 (Jamar Berry, 2011, Samaad Hector, 2024)
 
Most Recent Starting 5
G – Jordan Clark, 6-2, So.
G – Cavin Holden, 6-2, So.
G – Garrett Anderson, 6-6, Jr.
F – Maverick Sanders, 6-6, So.
F – Mitch Brizee, 6-9, Sr.
 

Opponent	2024-25 Season	All-Time at GNAC Championships
Vs. No. 2 Northwest Nazarene	1-1	1-1
Vs. No. 3 Seattle Pacific	2-0	2-2
Vs. No. 4 Western Washington	1-1	0-0
Vs. No. 5 Montana State Billings	1-1	3-0
Vs. No. 6 Alaska Fairbanks	2-0	0-1

 
WILDCATS IN A NUTSHELL: Central Washington lived up to the hype of being the preseason favorite in the coaches poll, cruising to a 14-4 record in league play to wrap up its second conference title. Brandon Rinta was voted by his peers as the GNAC Coach of the Year, with sophomore Cavin Holden taking home GNAC Player of the Year honors. The Wildcats beat every GNAC team at least once during the regular season, as they put themselves into the driver’s seat to defend last year’s GNAC Championships title – the second in program history. The Wildcats will face the winner of No. 5 MSU Billings/No. 4 Western Washington – a pair of teams it split its regular-season series with.
   

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No. 2 Seed – Northwest Nazarene University Nighthawks                                                                                                                                                                                           
Roster | Statistics | Schedule
2024-25 Record: 20-6, 13-5 GNAC (2nd place)
Home: 14-1 Away: 6-5 Neutral Site: 0-0
Head Coach: Jon Hawkins, 2nd season | 37-15 (.712)
Regular-season Titles: 0
 
NNU At The GNAC Championships
Semifinals: Friday, March 7 – noon (PT) vs. Winner of UAF/SPU
Appearances: 8 (2011, 2015, 2019-25)
Overall Record: 6-6
Tournament Wins: 1 (2023)
GNAC Championships MVPs: 1 (Ryzin Bergersen, 2023)
 
Most Recent Starting 5
G – Yaru Harvey, 6-3, Sr.
G – Sullivan Menard, 6-3, Sr.
G – Ryzin Bergersen, 6-4, Sr.
F – Kye Dickson, 6-7, Jr.
F – Briggs Ranstrom, 6-6, So.
 

Opponent	2024-25 Season	All-Time at GNAC Championships
Vs. No. 1 Central Washington	1-1	1-1
Vs. No. 3 Seattle Pacific	1-1	1-2
Vs. No. 4 Western Washington	2-0	1-0
Vs. No. 5 Montana State Billings	1-1	1-0
Vs. No. 6 Alaska Fairbanks	1-1	0-1

NIGHTHAWKS IN A NUTSHELL: So far so good for second-year head man Jon Hawkins, who is now 37-15 (.712) and led the Nighthawks to their second-straight runner-up finish in the GNAC standings. NNU will look to take advantage of this year’s first-round bye, after falling to Alaska Anchorage in the semifinals of last year’s conference tournament. GNAC Newcomer of the Year Kye Dickson leads the GNAC with 19.3 points per game, and 2023 GNAC Championships MVP Ryzin Bergersen is back on the roster for his final campaign. He was a sophomore when NNU picked up its first and only GNAC Championships trophy two seasons ago. NNU will face the winner of No. 6 Alaska Fairbanks and No. 3 Seattle Pacific, after splitting against both teams this season.
   

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No. 3 Seed – Seattle Pacific University Falcons                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
Roster | Statistics | Schedule
2024-25 Record: 15-14, 11-7 GNAC (T3rd place)
Home: 10-6 Away: 4-7 Neutral Site: 1-1
Head Coach: Keffrey Fazio, 2nd season | 32-28 (.640)
Regular-season Titles: 4 (2006, 2010, 2014, 2020)
 
SPU At The GNAC Championships
Quarterfinals: Thursday, March 6 – noon (PT) vs. No. 6 Seed Alaska Fairbanks
Appearances: 13 (2011-16, 2018-25)
Overall Record: 11-8
Tournament Wins: 4 (2013, 2014, 2015, 2019)
GNAC Championships MVPs: 4 (David Downs, 2013-14; Cory Hutsen, 2015; Coleman Wooten, 2019)
 
Read More: Seattle Pacific MBB Preview
 
Most Recent Starting 5
G – Owen Moriarty, 6-2, Jr.
G – Mason Landdeck, 6-3, Jr.
G – Jaxon Nap, 6-7, Jr.
F – Jonas La Tour, 6-6, So.
F – Trace Evans, 6-9, Jr.
 

Opponent	2024-25 Season	All-Time at GNAC Championships
Vs. No. 1 Central Washington	0-2	2-1
Vs. No. 2 Northwest Nazarene	1-1	2-1
Vs. No. 4 Western Washington	2-0	3-0
Vs. No. 5 Montana State Billings	0-2	0-0
Vs. No. 6 Alaska Fairbanks	1-1	0-0

 
FALCONS IN A NUTSHELL: Seattle Pacific earned the No. 3 seed by virtue of tiebreakers, after finishing knotted for third place in the conference standings. Keffrey Fazio piloted his squad to its second straight winning regular-season record, as the Falcons get set for their first-ever playoff meeting against the Nanooks. University of Montana transfer Jaxon Nap led the GNAC in rebounding with 9.7 boards per game on his way to first-team all-league recognition. Junior forward Trace Evans, who ranked second in the conference in shooting at 63.1%, was a second-team all-league selection. SPU’s four GNAC tournament titles are the most of any school, as they hunt for their first title since 2019. Of note: The only way SPU could face Western Washington is if both teams advance to Saturday’s title game. If that happens it would be the fourth time those two play for the title – with SPU winning each of the previous three in consecutive years from 2013-15.
   

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No. 4 Seed – Western Washington University Vikings                                                                                                                                                                                                   
Roster | Statistics | Schedule
2024-25 Record: 19-9, 11-7 GNAC (T3rd place)
Home: 10-5 Away: 7-3 Neutral Site: 2-1
Head Coach: Tony Dominguez, 13th season | 233-124 (.653)
Regular-season Titles: 5 (2005, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2017)
 
WWU At The GNAC Championships
Quarterfinals: Thursday, March 6 – 2:15 p.m. (PT) vs. No. 5 Seed Montana State Billings
Appearances: 11 (2011-18, 2020, 2022, 2025)
Overall Record: 9-8
Tournament Wins: 2 (2017, 2020)
GNAC Championships MVPs: 2 (Taylor Stafford, 2017; Trevor Jasinsky, 2020)
 
Most Recent Starting 5
G – Tijan Saine, 5-11, So.
G – Aidan Rice, 6-2, Fr.
G – Will Wilson, 6-4, Sr.
G – Garrett Levesque, 6-6, Jr.
F – Trevor White, 6-7, Fr.

Read More: Western Washington Tournament Preview
 

Opponent	2024-25 Season	All-Time at GNAC Championships
Vs. No. 1 Central Washington	1-1	0-0
Vs. No. 2 Northwest Nazarene	0-2	0-1
Vs. No. 3 Seattle Pacific	0-2	0-3
Vs. No. 5 Montana State Billings	2-0	0-1
Vs. No. 6 Alaska Fairbanks	1-1	3-1

 
VIKINGS IN A NUTSHELL: Returning to the playoff field after a two-year hiatus, the Vikings will be on the hunt for their first crown since the 2020 season and third in school history. WWU overcame an 0-5 start to league play to finish 11-2 the rest of the way and lock up the No. 4 seed. First-team all-GNAC pick Tijan Saine and second-teamer Will Wilson lead the squad, ranking second and seventh in the league at 17.1 ppg and 15.8 ppg, respectively. Tony Dominguez is in his 13th season in charge of the group and is responsible for each of the Vikings’ tournament trophies as well as their most recent regular-season title in 2017.
   

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No. 5 Seed – Montana State University Billings Yellowjackets                                                                                                                   
Roster | Statistics | Schedule
2024-25 Record: 20-11, 11-7 GNAC (T3rd place)
Home: 12-4 Away: 7-6 Neutral Site: 1-1
Head Coach: Luke Fennelly, 2nd season | 40-19 (.678)
Regular-Season Titles: 1 (2024)
 
MSUB At The GNAC Championships
Quarterfinals: Thursday, March 6 – 2:15 p.m. (PT) vs. No. 4 Seed Western Washington
Appearances: 10 (2011-14, 2017, 2019, 2022-25)
Overall Record: 3-8
Tournament Wins: 1 (2012)
GNAC Championships MVPs: 1 (Robert Mayes, 2012)
 
Most Recent Starting 5
G – Jalen Tot, 6-0, Sr.
G – Jajuan Tot, 6-0, Sr.
G – Brendon Johnson, 6-5, Sr.
F – Cooper Dewitt, 6-6, Sr.
F – Kael Robinson, 6-7, Sr.
 
Read More: Montana State Billings Tournament Preview
 

Opponent	2024-25 Season	All-Time at GNAC Championships
Vs. No. 1 Central Washington	1-1	0-2
Vs. No. 2 Northwest Nazarene	1-1	0-1
Vs. No. 3 Seattle Pacific	2-0	0-0
Vs. No. 4 Western Washington	0-2	1-0
Vs. No. 6 Alaska Fairbanks	1-1	0-2

 
YELLOWJACKETS IN A NUTSHELL: Luke Fennelly led the Yellowjackets to their first-ever regular-season title last winter, and thus far in 2024-25 he has piloted the team to its second straight 20-win campaign. The Yellowjackets lost a heartbreaker on a buzzer-beater to eventual tournament champion Central Washington in the semifinals of last year’s tournament, and they’re back in the event for the fourth consecutive season. Newcomer Kael Robinson was a unanimous first-team all-conference selection after ranking fourth in the league with 16.9 points per game and fourth with 7.0 rebounds per game. Jalen Tot, last year’s GNAC Player of the Year, chips in 15.8 points and ranked third in the league with 1.9 steals per game. The ‘Jackets upset their way to the second-ever GNAC Championships trophy in 2012, as they begin pursuit of what would be their second tournament title.
   

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No. 6 Seed – University of Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks                                                                                                                                                                                                    
Roster | Statistics | Schedule
2024-25 Record: 14-13, 10-8 GNAC (6th place)
Home: 9-4 Away: 5-8 Neutral Site: 0-1
Head Coach: Frank Ostanik, 4th season | 69-45 (.663)
Regular-season Titles: 1 (2005)
 
UAF At The GNAC Championships
Quarterfinals: Thursday, March 6 – noon (PT) vs. No. 3 Seed Seattle Pacific
Appearances: 6 (2013-14, 2016, 2020-22)
Overall Record: 7-5
Tournament Wins: 1 (2022)
GNAC Championships MVPs: 1 (Shadeed Shabazz, 2022)
 
Most Recent Starting 5
G – Paul Johnson, 6-0, Sr.
G – Chris Lee, 6-1, Jr.
G – Isaiah Saams-Hoy, 6-4, Jr.
G – Jalai O’Keith, 6-6, Sr.
F – Ketan Sidhu, 6-7, Jr.

Read More: Alaska Fairbanks Tournament Preview
 

Opponent	2024-25 Season	All-Time at GNAC Championships
Vs. No. 1 Central Washington	0-2	1-0
Vs. No. 2 Northwest Nazarene	1-1	1-0
Vs. No. 3 Seattle Pacific	1-1	0-0
Vs. No. 4 Western Washington	1-1	1-3
Vs. No. 5 Montana State Billings	1-1	2-0

 
NANOOKS IN A NUTSHELL: Frank Ostanik, who led the Nanooks to their only GNAC regular-season title in 2004-05, brought the magic back in his return to Fairbanks as his squad rattled off five straight wins to close the regular season and elbow their way into the conference tournament. The Nanooks are three years removed from a memorable run to the Sweet 16, that began with four consecutive wins at the GNAC Championships to capture the school’s only tournament title – as the No. 10 seed. Isaiah Saams-Hoy earned second-team all-GNAC recognition after leading the team and ranking sixth in the GNAC with 16.2 points per game.