GUNNISON, Colo.  Coming off of two loses to start the season, Western Colorado will look to pick up their first win of the season on Friday when they host, Simon Fraser (Nov. 25) and Northern New Mexico (Nov. 26), in The Inn at Tomichi INN Thanksgiving Classic. Both games will be played at 3 p.m.
 
MOUNTAINEERS HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND | SEASON STATS

• The Mountaineers didn't start their season off as they would have liked – losing their first two games against Texas A&M International (Nov. 18, 60-74) and Texas A&M – Kingsville (Nov. 19, 42-78).
• So far this season, Jonathan McCloud has been the best scorer for the Mountaineers averaging 15-points per game (PG) and is the best three-point shooter making 50 percent. Avery Rembao is right behind him averaging nine-points PG. The best field goal percentage on the team is Gino Corridori who makes 57.1 percent of his shots.
• On the glass, Robel Desta has been the best rebounder grabbing 13 rebounds (6.5 PG). Moving on to defense, Syris Williams has been picking ball handlers pockets, recording four steals. While Jaelen McCloud has been sending shots back racking up four blocks.
• As a whole, Western averages 51-points PG, shooting; 35.4 percent from the field, 25.6 percent from three and 71 percent from the free throw line. When it comes to ball handling, they turn the ball over 21.5 times PG. On defense, they take the ball away 4.5 times PG and block three shots PG.

RED LEAFS HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND | SEASON STATS

• Things have been going good for Simon Fraser as of late, resulting in them being on a three-game winning streak – recently defeating Okanagan College (101-55) and Douglas (83-46). At the moment the Red Leaf's are 3-1 overall.
• Four players – Immanuel Oludele (14.5 PG), Georges Lefebvre (14 PG), Jahmal Wright (12.8 PG), Nigel Hylton (10.5 PG), Zach Stone (10.5) - have been the go to scorers for Simon Fraser each scoring in double digits. Out of the five, Wright has the best field goal percentage shooting 60.6 percent. From three, Oludele is the best shooter making 42.3 percent.
• Zach Stone is the best rim protector for Simon Fraser blocking eight shots. Wright is right behind him blocking six shots of his own. In the steal's category, David Penney and Jimmy Zaborniak are the best at taking the ball away each having seven steals apiece.
• As a whole, the Red Leaf's average 86-points PG, shooting; 47.8 percent from the field, 33 percent from three and71.4 percent from the free throw line. Simon Fraser does a good job taking care of the ball only turning the ball over 11.8 times PG. On the defensive side, they average 10.3 steals per game and 7.3 blocks per game.

EAGLES HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND | SEASON STATS

• Northern New Mexico snapped their two-game losing streak on Saturday (Nov. 19) when they defeated Adams State 82-77 on the road. That win was the Eagles third win of the season, putting their overall record at 3-5.
• Eight games into the season, Conner Kelley, "Jamal" Keane Harris and Damione Thomas are the leading scorers for the Eagles, scoring 15.3, 12.7 and 10.4 PG. Harris is the more consistent scorer making 59.3 percent from the field. Closely behind is Connor who makes 47.9 percent from the field. Connor also is the best three-point shooter sinking 41.3 percent of his shots.
• The leading rebounder on Northern New Mexico is Thomas who has 43 rebounds (6.1 per game) this season. He also is the teams best rim protector having 11 blocks this season. Staying on the defensive side, Jared Perez and Harris had made life difficult for ball handlers each having 10 steals apiece.
• As a whole, the Eagle's average 71.7-points per game, shooting; 45.1 percent from the field, 26.4 percent from three and 66.4 percent from the free throw line. They also turn the ball over 16.4 times a game. On defense, they average 9.9 steals per game and 3.3 blocks per game.