MBSK: WHAT’S BRUIN - Bruins to Face Rock-Solid Pirates with NCAA Bid on the Line

Upcoming Games

- Sat., Feb. 27, 7:00 pm - at Whitworth University, Spokane, Wash. (NWC Tournament)

NEWBERG, Ore. - Only one obstacle stands in the way of an improbable first-ever NCAA Division III National Tournament appearance by the George Fox University men's basketball team - the 5th-ranked Whitworth University Pirates, who loom like the Rock of Gibraltar in the Bruins' path to the post-season playoffs.

The 3rd-seeded Bruins (13-13) and top-seeded Pirates (24-2) will meet in the Northwest Conference Tournament championship game Saturday, Feb. 27, at 7:00 p.m. at the Whitworth Fieldhouse in Spokane, Wash., with an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament hanging in the balance.  Whitworth will provide live stats and live video for the game at the following internet link: http://www.whitworth.edu/Athletics/Teams/Basketball/livefeed.htm.

Ticket prices as set by the conference are $6.00 for adults and $3.00 for students and seniors 65 and up.  Whitworth and George Fox students will be admitted free with a valid college ID; faculty and staff will need to purchases tickets.  NWC passes only are valid for the game, and no other regular season passes will be honored. 

Whitworth reached the finals by defeating 4th-seeded Lewis & Clark College 89-65 at home Thursday, extending its team-record winning streak to 23.  Bo Gregg tossed in 21 to lead the Pirates, 2010 NWC Player of the Year Nate Montgomery posted a double-double of 19 points and 11 rebounds, and Jack Loofburrow added 14 points.  The Pirate broke open a tight game with an 18-3 run to end the first half to go ahead 42-28, and that was as close as the Pioneers would get the rest of the night. 

George Fox stunned 2nd-seeded Linfield College 76-66 on the road Thursday after being swept by the Wildcats during the regular season, their first win ever in NWC Tournament history.  The only other time the Bruins appeared in the tournament was a 91-77 loss at Lewis & Clark on Feb. 25, 1998.  There was no conference tournament from 2000-2005 as the NWC opted to send only its regular-season champion to the NCAA playoffs because of a limited number of at-large bids.  As the NCAA field expanded, the NWC reinstituted its tournament in 2006.   

Whitworth (24-2, NWC 16-0, 1st): The conference champion Pirates from Spokane, Wash., have won the last three NWC Tournament titles to earn NCAA Tournament berths and were picked to win the conference this year in the pre-season NWC coaches' poll ... Whitworth is riding a school-record 23-game winning streak and is ranked 5th in the D3hoops.com national poll ... Series record (since 1974): George Fox trails 11-24 (6-11 home, 5-13 away) ... Whitworth has won the last nine meetings, including a 75-70 win in Spokane on Jan.9 and a 98-88 win in Newberg on Feb. 6 to spoil the Bruins' Homecoming Night ... The Bruins' last win in the series was 77-69 in overtime in Newberg on Dec. 2, 2005 ... Whitworth is 1st in the NWC in scoring (84.5, 9th nationally), defense (68.3), scoring margin (+16.2, 5th nationally), field goal pct. (.486, 23rd nationally), field goal pct. defense (.395, 28th nationally), free throw pct. (.748, 24th nationally), assist/TO ratio (1.31, 13th nationally), 2nd in assists (16.38, 26th nationally), 3-point field goals (9.69, 7th nationally), rebound margin (+4.9), 4th in blocked shots (2.62) ... C Nate Montgomery is 5th in scoring (16.6), 1st in field goal pct. (602, 30th nationally), 4th in rebounding (7.9), 7th in blocked shots (0.69) ... F David Riley is 13th in scoring (13.7), 1st in 3-pt field goal pct. (.424), 2nd in 3-point field goals (2.35), 7th in field goal pct. (.486) ... G Eric Beal is 12th in scoring (14.0), 2nd in assists (5.77, 14th nationally), assist/TO ratio (2.11, 39th nationally), steals (2.15), 3rd in free throw pct. (.817), 5th in 3-point field goals (2.,00, T), 8th in 3-pt field goal pct. (.388) ... F Bo Gregg is 25th in scoring (10.8), 3rd in 3-pt field goal pct. (.412), 4th in 3-pt field goals (2.08), 9th in field goal pct. (.483), 12th in rebounding (4.9) ... G Clay Gebbers is 9th in assists (2.52) ... F Jack Loofburrow is 6th in 3-pt field goal pct. (.402), 9th in blocked shots (0.63), 10th in field goal pct. (.473) ... F Felix Friedt is 9th in free throw pct. (.786) ... Coach Jim Hayford is 187-54 to date in his 9th season at Whitworth, and 224-81 in his 11th season overall ... Hayford was named NWC Coach of the Year, Montgomery NWC Player of the Year, Beal and Riley were First Team All-NWC, and Gregg was honorable mention All-NWC.

BRUIN BITS:

* Stockner on All-NWC 1st Team; Wiseley, Martin Get HM

NEWBERG, Ore. - Forward Alex Stockner of George Fox University has been named to the All-Northwest Conference Men's Basketball First Team while point guard Stephen Wiseley and shooting guard Jack Martin received honorable mention for All-Conference honors as voted on by the NWC's nine coaches.

Stockner, a 6-6 senior from Monmouth, Ore., by way of Central High School and Western Oregon University, leads the Bruins in scoring (15.0 ppg) and field goal percentage (.538) while averaging 5.4 rebounds a game.  He is shooting .512 (22-43) on three-pointers and .810 (10-2126) from the line, with 29 assists, 29 steals, and eight blocked shots.  In the conference, he ranks 4th in field goal and free throw percentages,8th in scoring, 10th in rebounding (5.4), and 15th in steals (1.16).  His career field goal mark of .550 (262-476) currently ranks 8th on the all-time field goal percentage list at George Fox.

An honorable mention All-Conference performer last year, Stockner has been named the Bruin Athletic Association Men's Athlete of the Week and received honorable mention for NWC Men's Basketball Student-Athlete of the Week six times.  He has scored in double figures 20 times, with highs of 26 points vs. Puget Sound and Lewis & Clark, and posted a double-double of 26 points and 14 rebounds vs. Puget Sound.  He made his biggest play of the season with a layup and free throw with nine seconds left for the winning points in the Bruins' 91-90 overtime win over Lewis & Clark on Feb. 19 which secured the first appearance in the conference tournament for George Fox since 1998.   

Wiseley, a 5-9 junior from Kirkland, Wash., Lake Washington High School and Bellevue Community College, is second on the team in scoring (13.0 ppg) while leading the Bruins in assists (5.00 apg), steals (1.79 spg), and free throw percentage (.897).  He shoots .429 (90-210) from the field and .390 (46-118) on three-pointers, and averages 1.8 rebounds a game.  He leads the NWC in free throw pct. (.897), and is 3rd in assists (5.00), 5th in steals (1.79), 6th in assist/TO ratio (1.28), 8th in 3-pt field goal pct. (.390), 9th in 3-pt field goals (1.92), and 15th in scoring (13.0).  He is 10th nationally in free throw pct (.897), and 38th in assists (5.0).

Three times this season Wiseley has been both the Bruin Athletic Association Men's Athlete of the Week and received honorable mention for NWC Men's Basketball Student-Athlete of the Week three times.  He has reached double figures in points 19 times, scoring a high of 26 vs. Whitman, and handed out nine assists vs. Willamette and at Lewis & Clark. 

Martin, a 5-11 wing from Chico, Calif., via Chico High School and Butte College, missed the Bruins' pre-Christmas games but made a big impression on NWC coaches once he rejoined the team for the conference season.  While averaging 9.4 ppg overall, he scored at a 10.1 points per game clip in NWC play, reaching double figures in points seven times, including a high of 28 in a loss at Whitworth.  He also averaged 2.7 rebounds and 4.06 assists a game, while shooting .436 (58-133) from the field, .408 on threes (31-76), and .786 (22-28) from the line.  With 18 game played, he is a couple of games short of qualifying for NWC statistical titles.

During the season, Martin was named the Bruin Athletic Association Men's Athlete of the Week and received honorable mention for NWC Men's Basketball Student-Athlete of the Week once.  He had five or more assists eight times, including a career-high 11 vs. Linfield.

* Stockner's Clutch Play Earns BAA Award, HM for NWC Honors

Highlighted by a game-winning three-point play that put the Bruins into the NWC Tournament, Alex Stockner had two games that earned him Bruin Athletic Association Men's Athlete of the Week for Feb. 15-21 and honorable mention for Northwest Conference Men's Basketball Student-Athlete of the Week.

In a 91-90 overtime win over Lewis & Clark on Feb. 19, Stockner scored a game-high 26 points on 9-13 field goals (1-1 on threes) and 7-7 free throws, with 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals.  With the Bruins down by two late in the overtime, he scored a layup off a pass from Jack Martin, was fouled, and hit the free throw to give the Bruins the win and secure only the second appearance in the NWC Tournament for the team since joining the league in 1995.  In a 70-67 loss at Pacific Lutheran on Feb. 20, he scored 10 points on 2-4 field goals (1-1 on threes) and 5-7 free throws, with 3 rebounds and 2 steals.  For the week, he totaled 36 points (18.0 ppg) on 11-17 field goals (.647), including 2-2 (1.000) on threes, and 12-14 free throws (.857), with 10 rebounds (5.0 rpg), 4 steals, and 2 assists.

Stockner, a senior forward from Monmouth, Ore., has been named BAA Athlete of the Week and received honorable mention for NWC honors six times this season.  He ranks 1st in the NWC in free throw pct. (.902), 8th in rebounding (5.7), and 10th in scoring (14.9).

* 2009-10 Honors

Stephen Wiseley

- All-Northwest Conference Honorable Mention

- Bruin Athletic Association Athlete of the Week - Nov. 16-22; Jan. 11-17; Feb. 8-14

- Northwest Conference Student-Athlete of the Week - HM, Nov. 16-22; HM, Jan. 11-17; HM, Feb. 8-14

Alex Stockner

- All-Northwest Conference First Team

- Bruin Athletic Association Athlete of the Week - Nov. 23-29; Dec. 7-13; Dec. 28-Jan. 3; Jan. 25-31; Feb. 1-7; Feb. 15-21

- Northwest Conference Student-Athlete of the Week - HM, Nov. 23-29; HM, Dec. 7-13; HM, Dec. 28-Jan. 3; HM, Jan. 25-31; HM, Feb. 1-7; HM, Feb. 15-21

Evan Atwater

- Bruin Athletic Association Athlete of the Week - Nov. 30-Dec. 6; Jan. 18-24

- Northwest Conference Student-Athlete of the Week - HM, Nov. 30-Dec. 6; HM, Jan. 18-24

Jack Martin

- All-Northwest Conference Honorable Mention

- Bruin Athletic Association Athlete of the Week - Jan. 4-10

- Northwest Conference Student-Athlete of the Week - HM, Jan. 4-10

* NCAA Stats (thru Feb. 21): Bruins in Top 20 in Three National Stats

- George Fox is 6th in 3-pt field goal pct. (.406), 14th in 3-pt field goals (8.8), 17th in assists (16.6), 32nd in free throw pct. (.743) ...

- Stephen Wiseley is 10th in free throw pct. (.897), 38th in assists (5.0) ...

* NWC Stats (thru Feb. 25): Wiseley Remains Best FT Shooter in NWC

- George Fox is 1st in 3-pt field goal pct. (.406), 3-pt field goal pct. defense (.315), assists (16.46), 2nd in field goal pct. (.460), free throw pct. (.743), 3rd in 3-pt field goals (8.81), assist/TO ratio (1.05), rebounding defense (36.3), 4th in scoring margin (-1.4), field goal pct. defense (.457), 5th in scoring (77.2), blocked shots (2.31), rebounding margin (-1.7), 6th in defense (78.6), 7th in rebounding (34.5), 8th in steals (6.23), turnover margin (-2.42) ...

- Alex Stockner is 4th in field goal pct. (.544), free throw pct. (.809), 8th in scoring (15.0), 10th in rebounding (5.4), 15th in steals (1.15) ...

- Stephen Wiseley is 1st in free throw pct. (.891), 3rd in assists (5.04), 5th in steals (1.72, T), 6th in assist/TO ratio (1.30), 8th in 3-pt field goals (1.92), 9th in 3-pt field goal pct. (.384), 15th in scoring (13.0) ...

- Rich Smith is 5th in rebounding (7.5), 11th in field goal pct. (.472), 10th in blocked shots (0.54), 18th in scoring (12.5) ...

- Evan Atwater is 5th in 3-pt field goal pct. (.408), 12th in 3-pt field goals (1.62), 13th in assists (2.23), 27th in scoring (10.7) ...

- Dan Lingenfelder is 10th in 3-pt field goal pct. (.380), 12th in blocked shots (0.52) ...

- Travis Toedtemeier is 4th in 3-pt field goal pct. (.410) ...

* Double-Doubles

- Rich Smith: season 6, career 6 - 13 pts, 15 reb vs. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, 11/20; 13 pts, 11 reb vs. Menlo at Redlands, Calif., 12/3; 23 pts, 12 reb at Whitman, 1/8; 12 pts, 11 reb vs. Whitman, 2/5; 12 pts. 12 reb at Willamette, 2/12; 25 pts/12 reb vs. Lewis & Clark

- Alex Stockner: season 1, career 1 - 26 pts, 14 reb vs. Puget Sound, 1/2

* Career Lists: Stockner Boosts FG Pct. to 6th-Best All-Time

- Evan Atwater:  With 8 points at Linfield, Atwater raised his career points total to 1,071, 28th on the GFU all-time scoring list.  Ahead are Howard Crow (1,090, 1957-61) and Dan Newman (1,092, 1986-88).  He became the 34th player in the Bruins' 106-year history to reach 1,000 points with his first goal of the game at Puget Sound on Jan. 29.

- Alex Stockner: With a 5-7 shooting night at Linfield, Stockner raised his career field goal percentage to .553 (267-483), which currently ranks 6th on the all-time GFU chart ...

* Statistician "Biggs" Goes Over 1,100 Total Bruin Games

With the Linfield road game on Feb. 25, long-time statistician Mike "Biggs" Wirta stretched his streak of Bruin men's basketball games attended, home and away, to 691 in a row.  He has worked 629 straight men's home games, not missing one 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 (1,102 of 2,129 for 51.76%) in the 106 seasons of Bruin basketball.

* Head Coach Mark Sundquist

Head coach Mark Sundquist (Seattle Pacific '87) is 103-147 (.412, 55-54 home, 36-79 road, 12-14 neutral) to date in his 10th season at George Fox ... He became the second-winningest coach in Bruin history, breaking a tie with Lorin Miller (99-72, 1970-76), when he picked up his 100th coaching win in a 103-90 victory over Whitman at home on Feb. 5.  The all-time leader is Mark Vernon (318-218, 1982-2000) ... He was the Northwest Conference Coach of the Year in 2004-05 ... ... Against Whitworth, he is 5-15 (3-7 home, 2-8 away) ...