JONESBORO, Ark. (4/14/21) – Coming off an impressive freshman campaign on the Arkansas State men's basketball team, Norchad Omier will represent Nicaragua in FIBA World Cup Pre-Qualifiers beginning April 15 in El Salvador.
 
Nicaragua opens the qualifier against Guyana on Thursday, April 15 at 8:00 pm (CT). Nicaragua then plays Jamaica on Saturday, April 17 at 5:00 p.m. (CT) and then plays host El Salvador on Sunday, April 18 at 6:00 p.m. (CT). Nicaragua closes out competition against Costa Rica on Monday, April 19 at 5:00 p.m. (CT). The top three teams advance to the second round of the FIBA World Cup 2023 Americas Pre-Qualifiers in July.
 
Omier, the Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year and First Team All-Sun Belt honoree, finished the season averaging 12.6 points and 12.3 rebounds joining Michael Beasley (Kansas State), Paul Millsap (Louisiana Tech) and Adonal Foyle (Colgate) as the only freshmen since the 1992-93 season to average at least 12 points and 12 rebounds. In that span, just 63 players, regardless of classification, have finished a season with those statistics. He is the fourth Sun Belt Conference player to average at least 12 points and 12 rebounds since 1992-93, the first since Shawn Long (Louisiana) back in the 2015-16 season.
 
The first Division I player from Nicaragua, Omier ranked second nationally with 15 double-doubles, the most among any freshman. Eleven of his 15 double-doubles came against league foes, including back-to-back 18-rebound efforts in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. He logged 19 games with 10 or more rebounds, second-most nationally and most among players from the league. Among the nation's best, Omier ranked third in total rebounds per game (12.3), fourth in total rebounds (282), fifth in offensive rebounds per game (4.00) and seventh in defensive rebounds per game (8.26).
 
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FIBA World Cup 2023 Pre-Qualifier
Thursday April 15 – Nicaragua vs Guyana | 8 pm (CT) | WATCH
Saturday April 17 – Nicaragua vs Jamaica | 5 pm (CT) | WATCH
Sunday April 18 – Nicaragua vs El Salvador | 8:00 pm (CT) | WATCH
Monday April 19 – Nicaragua vs Costa Rica | 5:00 pm (CT) | WATCH