WHAT’S BRUIN: Weekly News & Notes

Overall Record: 4-7 (Home 2-2, Road 1-4, Neutral 1-1)
Northwest Conference: 0-2, 6th T (Home 0-0, Road 0-2)

HIGHLIGHTS:

* Recent Games: Bruins Drop NWC-Opening Pair in Eastern Washington

* Coming Up: At Lewis & Clark, First Two NWC Home Games

* Atwater BAA Athlete of the Week, HM for NWC Honors

* Martin Narrowly Misses Bruins’ First Triple-Double in 17 Years

* NCAA Stats: Martin 25th Among National Assists Leaders

* NWC Stats: Stockner Climbs to 2nd in Field Goal Pct.
* The Wirta Watch: “Biggs” Adds Two Road Games to List of Streaks

* RECENT GAMES (0-2): Bruins Drop NWC-Opening Pair in Eastern Washington

Jan. 2 - at #19 Whitworth 94, George Fox 60

Jan. 3 - at Whitman 94, George Fox 85

The Bruins opened Northwest Conference play with a long road trip to snow-covered eastern Washington and drew a blank, dropping a 94-60 decision at 19th-ranked Whitworth and a 94-85 game at Whitman.  Alex Stockner le the Bruins with 14 points and Jack Martin handed out 8 assists in the Whitworth game.  At Whitman, the Bruins fell behind by 19 in the second half but battled back within four before the Missionaries pulled away in the end. Evan Atwater tossed in 22 to lead the Bruins, Stockner added 21, and Martin passed out 11 assists

* COMING UP:  At Lewis & Clark, First Two NWC Home Games

Fri., Jan. 9, 8:00 pm - at Lewis & Clark College, in Portland, Ore.

Sat, Jan. 10, 8:00 pm - vs. University of Puget Sound, in Newberg, Ore.

Tue, Jan. 13, 8:00 pm - vs. Pacific University, in Newberg, Ore.

Still seeking their first Northwest Conference win of the season, the Bruins visit Lewis & Clark on Friday before returning to Newberg for their first two home conference games, vs. 17th-ranked Puget Sound on Saturday and Pacific on Tuesday.  The Bruins have had some surprising success against powerful UPS, as they have pulled off three upsets against the nationally-ranked Loggers in the last four seasons.  All three games will be doubleheaders, with NWC women’s games preceding the men’s games at 6:00 p.m.

Campus station KFOX Radio will webcast all three games, and George Fox will provide both LiveStats and live video streaming of the home games vs. UPS and Pacific.  Links to George Fox multimedia coverage when provided:

KFOX radio webcasts - http://www.georgefox.edu/offices/asc/kfoxradio/

LiveStats - http://academic.georgefox.edu/~sports/xlive.htm

Live video streaming - http://media.georgefox.edu/bruinsports.html

Lewis & Clark (7-4, NWC 1-1, 5th): The Lewis & Clark Pioneers from Portland, Ore. were picked to finish 5th in the Northwest Conference pre-season coaches’ poll, the Bruins 9th … The Pios won at Pacific Lutheran 78-69 on Saturday to end a modest two-game losing streak … Series record: George Fox trails 20-36 since 1965 (10-14 home, 10-22 road) … The Pios have won the last four meetings, including last year’s sweep 76-55 in Newberg on Jan. 18 and 90-48in Portland on Feb. 15 … The Bruins’ last win in the series was 71-62 in Newberg on Feb. 10, 2006 … Lewis & Clark averages 76.5 ppg (7th in the NWC) and allows 69.5 ppg (2nd) … The Pios lead the NWC in turnover margin (+8.27), and are 2nd in free throw pct. (.711), 3-pt field goals (8.27), assist/turnover ratio (1.17) … The Pios have four double-figure scorers: F Tyson Papenfuss (14.3, 12th), G Josh Kollasch (12.9, 19th),G  James Hollins (11.7, 22nd), G David Berggren (10.5, 26th) … Kollasch is the top rebounder (5.9, 9th) and assists leader (4.18, 5th) … In the latest NCAA stats (thru Jan. 4), Lewis & Clark was 4th in turnover margin (+8.3), 7th in turnovers (11.4 pg), 27th in assist/turnover ratio (1.17), 47th in 3-pt field goals (8.3 pg) … Papenfuss was 34th in field goal pct. (.586) … Coach Bob Gaillard is 329-196 to date in his 20th season at Lewis & Clark, and 494-254 in his 28th season overall … Next game: Jan. 10 vs. Pacific, 8:00 p.m.

Puget Sound (10-2, NWC 3-0, 1st): The Puget Sound Loggers from Tacoma, Wash., were picked to finish 1st in the Northwest Conference pre-season coaches’ poll, the Bruins 9th … Puget Sound is ranked 17th in the latest D3hoops.com poll … The Loggers have won five in a row, including a 77-60 win at Pacific Lutheran Tuesday after trailing at the half … Series record: George Fox trails 11-24 since 1974 (6-8 home, 5-16 road) … The teams split last year, the Loggers winning 90-78 in Newberg on Jan. 5 before the Bruins stunned the 7th-ranked Loggers 78-77 in Tacoma on Feb. 2 … Puget Sound averages 87.8 ppg (1st in the NWC) and allows 71.5 ppg (3rd) … The Loggers lead the NWC in blocked shots (3.42), steals (11.58), 3-pt field goals (8.83), and are 2nd in scoring margin (+16.3), field goal pct. (.481), field goal pct. defense (.435), rebounding (38.5) … The Loggers have two double-figure scorers: F Jason Foster (16.2, 7th), F Robert Krauel (14.0, 14th), G Antwan Williams (11.8, 21st), F Austin Boyce (11.5, 24th) … Krauel is the top rebounder (6.9, 5th) … Williams is the assists leader (6.00, 1st) … In the latest NCAA stats (thru Jan. 4), Puget Sound was 6th in offense (88.8 ppg), 10th in scoring margin (+16.3), 11th in turnover margin (+6.1), 21st in 3-pt field goals (9.0 pg), 22nd in steals (11.4 pg), 49th in field goal pct. (.481) … Williams was 22nd in assists (6.0 pg), 47th in steals (2.5 pg) … Foster was 31st in blocked shots (2.0 pg) … Krauel was 41st in field goal pct. (.577) … Coach Justin Lunt is 47-16 to date in his 3rd season at Puget Sound … Next game: Jan. 16 at Whitworth, 8:00 p.m.

Pacific (5-5, NWC 0-2, 6th T): The Pacific Boxers from Forest Grove, Ore., were picked to finish 4th in the Northwest Conference pre-season coaches’ poll, the Bruins 9th … The Boxers have dropped their last two games, including an 82-51 setback at 19th-ranked Whitworth Saturday … Series record: George Fox trails 36-41 since 1966 (24-13 home, 12-28 road) … The Boxers swept last year’s series 74-70 in Forest Grove on Jan. 19 and 73-71 in Newberg on Feb. 16 … The Bruins’ last win in the series was 68-59 in Newberg on Feb. 8, 2007 … Pacific averages 76.6 ppg (6th in the NWC) and allows 77.5 ppg (7th) … The Boxers have two double-figure scorers: F Garold Howe (18.5, 4th), P Ross Bartlett (13.4, 16th), G Micah Mooney (10.7, 25th) … Bartlett is the top rebounder (7.5, 3rd) … G A.J. Gaulton is the assists leader (3.00, 9th) … Coach Jason Lowery is 38-47 to date in his 4th season at Pacific, and 58-91 in his 6th season overall … The Boxers host Pacific Lutheran Friday and go to Lewis & Clark Saturday before meeting the Bruins .. Next game: Jan. 16 vs. Willamette, 8:00 p.m.

COACH MARK SUNDQUIST:

Mark Sundquist (Seattle Pacific '89) is 86-124 (.410) to date in his ninth season as a college head coach, all at George Fox. He was the NWC Coach of the Year in 2004-05 for leading the Bruins to an 18-7 record and 2nd place in the conference. Click here for the complete bio on Coach Sundquist.

Sundquist vs. upcoming opponents
Lewis & Clark - 4-12 (3-5 home, 1-7 road)

Puget Sound - 3-13 (2-6 home, 1-7 road)

Pacific - 5-11 (3-5 home, 2-6 road)

BRUIN BITS:

* Atwater BAA Athlete of the Week, HM for NWC Honors

Junior wing Evan Atwater has been named the Bruin Athletic Association Men’s Athlete of the Week for Dec. 29-Jan. 4 and received honorable mention for the Northwest Conference Men’s Basketball Student-Athlete of the Week for the three-week holiday period of Dec. 15-Jan. 4.  In an 80-74 win over Corban on Dec. 29, he scored 23 points on 8-15 field goals (4-8 on threes) and 3-4 free throws, with 4 rebounds and an assist.  In a 94-60 loss at #19 Whitworth, he scored 11 points on 4-11 field goals (1-4 on threes) and 2-3 free throws, with 2 rebounds and 3 assists.  In a 94-85 loss at Whitman, he scored 22 points on 7-13 field goals (4-9 on threes) and 4-5 free throws, with 5 rebounds, 2 assists and a blocked shot.  In three games, he totaled 56 points (18.7 ppg) on 19-39 field goals (.487), including 9-21 three-pointers (.429), and 9-12 free throws (.750), with 11 rebounds (3.7 rpg), 6 assists (2.0 apg), and a blocked shot.  Atwater is 6th in the NWC in 3-pt field goals (2.18, T), 9th in free throw pct. (.750, T), 11th in scoring (14.9).

* 2008-09 Honors:

Evan Atwater ---
- Bruin Athletic Association Men's Athlete of the Week (Nov. 17-23; Dec. 29-Jan. 4)
- Northwest Conference Student-Athlete of the Week (HM, Nov. 17-23; HM, Dec. 15-Jan. 4)

Jack Martin ---
- Bruin Athletic Association Men's Athlete of the Week (Nov. 24-30)
- Northwest Conference Student-Athlete of the Week (HM, Nov. 24-30)

Alex Stockner ---
- Bruin Athletic Association Men's Athlete of the Week (Dec. 1-7; Dec. 8-14)
- Northwest Conference Student-Athlete of the Week (HM, Dec. 1-7; HM, Dec. 8-14)

* Martin Narrowly Misses Bruins’ First Triple-Double in 17 Years

Junior guard Jack Martin narrowly missed posting the first George Fox triple-double in 17 years when he scored 17 points, passed out 10 assists, and grabbed 8 rebounds in the Bruins’ 80-74 win over Corban on Dec. 29.  There have been nine triple-doubles in Bruin history, the last one on Nov. 19, 1991, when NAIA All-American center Dave Wilson posted 21 points, 12 rebounds, and 13 blocked shots against Northwest Christian.  The last one to include assists was by Brian Martin on March 2, 1991, with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists vs. Willamette.

* NCAA Stats: Martin 25th Among National Assists Leaders

In the latest NCAA national statistics (thru Jan. 4), Jack Martin was 25th in assists (5.8) …

* NWC Stats: Stockner Climbs to 2nd in Field Goal Pct.

Where the Bruins rank in the latest Northwest Conference stats (thru Jan. 6):
Scoring Offense – 8th (71.2)
Scoring Defense – 5th (76.8)
Scoring Margin – 9th (-5.6)
Field Goal Pct. - 7th (.439)
Field Goal Pct. Defense – 4th (.453)
3-Pt Field Goals – 6th (7.18)
3-Pt Field Goal Pct. – 8th (.305)
3-Pt Field Goal Pct. Defense – 8th (.385)
Free Throw Pct. – 8th (.678)
Rebounding Offense – 5th (37.3)
Rebounding Defense - 6th (36.5)
Rebounding Margin – 6th (+0.8)
Assists – 4th (15.36)
Blocked Shots - 8th (1.27)
Steals – 8th (5.18)
Turnover Margin – 9th (-3.55)
Assist/Turnover Ratio – 5th (0.95)

- Jack Martin is 2nd in assists (5.82), 3rd in 3-pt field goals (2.82), 7th in steals (1.55), assist/turnover ratio (1.64), 12th in scoring (14.3, T), 15th in 3-pt pct. (.365) …
- Evan Atwater is 6th in 3-pt field goals (2.18, T), 9th in free throw pct. (.750, T), 11th in scoring (14.9) ...

- Alex Stockner is 2nd in field goal pct. (.587), 14th in free throw pct. (.700, T), 15th in scoring (13.6), rebounding (5.0) …
- Travis Toedtemeier is 12th in rebounding (5.4), 15th in blocked shots (0.40, T) ...
- Bryan O’Connell is 18th in rebounding (4.5) …

* The Wirta Watch: “Biggs” Adds Two Road Games to List of Streaks

Mike "Biggs" Wirta, who has been charting basketball statistics for the George Fox men's team since the 1970-71 season while he was an undergraduate student, continues to add to his incredible streaks of attendance at GFU men’s games.  With the Bruins’ two games in eastern Washington Jan. 2-3, he has now seen 650 straight games, home and away.  He has worked 453 straight men’s home games, not missing a one at home since 1972 when he was in military service. In all, he has seen over half of all games ever played by the George Fox men’s team  (1,062 of 2,089 for 50.8%) in the 105 years of Bruin basketball.