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WHAT’S BRUIN: Men’s Basketball News & Notes 2/3
Links: Quick Facts / Roster / Schedule & Results / Statistics / Press Releases
Multimedia: Live Stats / Video / KFOX Radio
Overall Record: 5-14 (Home 2-6, Road 3-8)
NWC Record: 3-7, 7th (Home 2-4, Road 1-3)
HIGHLIGHTS:
* Coming Up: Bruins to Visit Pacific, Host NWC No. 2 Lewis & Clark
* Recent Games: Bruins Lose Heartbreaker to PLU Despite FT Record
* Taylor BAA Athlete of the Week, HM for NWC Player Honors
* Taylor Posts 10th Triple-Double in Bruin History in Willamette Win
* Bruins Set Record for Best FT Pct. in a Game in Loss to Lutes
* NCAA Stats: Wiseley Climbs to 43rd Nationally in Assists
* NWC Stats: Bruins Take Over Conference Lead in Blocked Shots
* Career Lists: Wiseley Remains 3rd on All-Time List in FT Pct.
* Statistician “Biggs” Increases Home Streak to 637 in a Row
* Coming Up: Bruins to Visit Pacific, Host NWC No. 2 Lewis & Clark
- Fri., Feb. 4, 8:00 pm – at Pacific University (3-16, NWC 2-8), Forest Grove, Ore.
- Sat., Feb. 5, 8:00 pm – vs. Lewis & Clark College (15-5, NWC 8-3), Newberg, Ore.
NEWBERG, Ore. – If the George Fox Bruins are to retain any hope of making the four-team Northwest Conference Tournament at the end of the season, their drive for a berth must begin this week with the difficult task of facing a Pacific team that is always tough at home Friday, followed by a home game against second-place Lewis & Clark Saturday.
George Fox enters the weekend with a 5-14 overall record (with six losses by six points or less and one in overtime) and a 3-7 league slate, three games back of fourth-place Whitman with six to play. The Pacific Boxers are a game behind the Bruins and will be seeking a split of the season series. The Lewis & Clark Pioneers were ranked 24th nationally a week ago, but are now listed among “others receiving votes” after losing on the road to Whitman and Whitworth, the unbeaten and second-ranked team in the nation, last weekend.
Both George Fox games this weekend will be a part of conference doubleheaders, with women’s games preceding at 6:00 p.m.
Pacific (3-16, NWC 2-8, 8th): The Boxers from Forest Grove, Ore., were picked to finish 9th in the NWC pre-season poll, the Bruins to tie for 4th with Whitman and Pacific Lutheran ... Last game: The Boxers have lost seven in a row and 13 of their last 14, the latest an 86-57 setback at home to Pacific Lutheran on Jan. 29 despite 13 points by Colin Wester and 10 by Andrew Beatty ... Series record (since 1965): George Fox trails 39-43 (26-14 home, 13-29 road) ... The Bruins won this year’s first meeting 71-64 on Jan. 8 in Newberg behind 25 points from Stephen Wiseley, 15 from Rich Smith, and 12 plus 10 rebounds from Mike Taylor ... The Boxers won the previous meeting 72-69 in Forest Grove on Jan. 26, 2010 ... Pacific by the numbers: Scoring (73.3, 5th in the NWC), Defense (83.2, 8th), Rebounding (35.0, 7th), FG % (.444, 4th), 3-pt % (.307, 7th), FT % (.647,9th) ... The Boxers have four double-figure scorers: F LeMar Anglin (17.3, 4th in the NWC), F Carson Bartlett (13.7, 14th), G Adam McElwee (11.9, 20th), and G Colin Wester (11.4, 22nd) ... Anglin is the top rebounder (7.2, 4th) ... G Andrew Beatty is the assists leader (2.68, 8th) ... Coach Tim Cleary is 3-16 to date in his first season at Pacific ... Next: Feb. 5 at Willamette, 8 pm.
Lewis & Clark (15-5, NWC 8-3, 2nd): The Pioneers from Portland, Ore., were picked to finish 3rd in the NWC pre-season poll, the Bruins to tie for 4th with Whitman and Pacific Lutheran ... Last game: After losing at Whitman and Whitworth over the weekend to fall out of the D3hoops.com top 25, the Pios bounced back with an 86-71 win at Linfield on Tuesday as P.J. Taylor scored 24 points, Marcus Wells 20, Donato Perconti 16, and Kyle Meeuwsen 15 ... Series record (since 1965): George Fox trails 21-40 (11-15 home, 10-25 road) ... The Bruins dropped an 80-70 decision to the Pios, who got 36 points from Kelly Edwards, in Portland on Jan. 7 in their first meeting this season, despite 19 points from Mike Taylor, 18 from Rich Smith, 12 from Cole Whitehurst, and 11 from Stephen Wiseley ... The Bruins’ last win in the series was 91-90 in overtime in Newberg on Feb. 19, 2010 ... Lewis & Clark by the numbers: Scoring (76.2, 4th in the NWC), Defense (69.2, 3rd), Rebounding (32.8, 9th), FG % (.437, 5th), 3-pt % (.379, 2nd), FT % (.781, 1st, 9th nationally) ... The Pios lead the NWC in 3-pt field goals (11.10, 3rd nationally) ... The Pios have four double-figure scorers: PG P.J. Taylor (16.7, 6th in the NWC), G Kelly Edwards (16.4, 7th), G Marcus Wells (10.8, 27th), and F Donato Perconti (10.6, 28th) ... Taylor leads the NWC in 3-pt field goals (3.55, 8th nationally) and is 2nd in 3-pt pct. (.500, 5th nationally) ... Edwards is the top rebounder (5.6, 13th) and assists leader (2.75, 7th) ... Coach Bob Gaillard is in his 22nd season at Lewis & Clark, and in his 30th season overall ... Next: Feb. 11 vs. Pacific, 8 pm.
Multimedia: Pacific will provide live stats at http://www.goboxers.com/live/ and live audio streaming via Stretch Internet at http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/pacific.portal# for both games on Friday. George Fox will provide live audio streaming of all four games this weekend via campus radio station KFOX, and live stats and live video streaming via Stretch Internet for both of Saturday’s games; see the GFU links above.
Tickets: Ticket prices for basketball games at the Wheeler Sports Center / Miller Gym are $6 for adults and $3 for non-GFU students and seniors 55 and over. Children 6 and under who are not in school are free. George Fox faculty, staff, and students are admitted free with valid GFU ID; the ID covers immediate family members for George Fox employees.
* Recent Games: Bruins Lose Heartbreaker to PLU Despite FT Record
Jan. 28 - Pacific Lutheran 60, at George Fox 58
Despite setting a new team record for best free throw percentage in a game, the Bruins were burned by two last-minute that gave the Lutes a 60-58 win. The Bruins hit 13-13 (1.000) from the line against PLU, breaking the old record of 12-12 at Willamette on Jan. 24, 2003. The game was closely contested, with 11 ties, seven lead changes, and never a double-digit lead by either team, and a layup by Kyle MacTaggart with eight ticks left proved to be the game-winner when the Bruins missed two close-in shots as time expired. Mike Taylor led the Bruins with 19 points and just missed a double-double with nine rebounds, while Stephen Wiseley scored 12 points with six assists and Rich Smith added 11 points. Cole Whitehurst had a game-high 10 rebounds.
BRUIN BITS:
* Taylor BAA Athlete of the Week, HM for NWC Player Honors
With a triple-double in one game and a near double-double in another, junior wing Mike Taylor of Los Angeles, Calif., has been named the Bruin Athletic Association Men’s Athlete of the Week for Jan. 24-30, and also received honorable mention for the Northwest Conference Men’s Basketball Student-Athlete of the Week.
In a 117-100 win over Willamette on Jan. 25, Taylor scored 18 points on 6-9 field goals, including 1-1 on three-pointers, and 5-10 free throws, with 15 rebounds and 11 assists. It was the 10th triple-double in Bruin history and the first since 1992. In a 60-58 loss to Pacific Lutheran on Jan. 28, he scored a game-high 19 points on 8-22 shooting, including 1-5 on threes, and 2-2 free throws, with 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and a blocked shot. For the week, he totaled 37 points (18.5 ppg) on 14-31 field goals (.452), including 2-6 three-pointers (.333), and 7-12 free throws (.583), with 24 rebounds (12.0 rpg), 14 assists (7.0 apg), and a blocked shot.
Taylor, a transfer from NCAA Division I Marist, currently ranks 3rd in the NWC in steals (1.74, T), 5th in blocked shots (0.58), 6th in rebounding (6.9), 9th in 3-pt field goals (1.79, T), 10th in scoring (15.9), and 14th in assists (2.11). He was also honorable mention for NWC Student-Athlete of the Week for Jan. 10-16.
The Athlete of the Week Award for both men and women is presented throughout the Bruin sports seasons by the Bruin Athletic Association, whose mission is to provide George Fox student-athletes with an outstanding athletic and academic experience and to strengthen the overall competitiveness of the Bruin athletics program. For more information about the organization or to become a member, visit the Bruin Athletic Association website.
* 2010-11 Honors
Cole Whitehurst
- Bruin Athletic Association Athlete of the Week - Nov. 15-21; Dec. 23-Jan. 2
- Northwest Conference Student-Athlete of the Week - HM, Nov. 15-21; HM, Dec. 23-Jan. 2
Stephen Wiseley
- Bruin Athletic Association Athlete of the Week - Nov. 22-28; Dec. 13-22; Jan. 3-9; Jan. 17-23
- Northwest Conference Student-Athlete of the Week - HM, Nov. 22-28; HM, Dec. 13-22; HM, Jan. 3-9; HM, Jan. 17-23
Rich Smith
- Bruin Athletic Association Athlete of the Week - Nov. 29-Dec. 5; Dec. 6-12
- Northwest Conference Student-Athlete of the Week - HM, Nov. 29-Dec. 5; HM, Dec. 6-12
Mike Taylor
- Bruin Athletic Association Athlete of the Week - Jan. 24-30
- Northwest Conference Student-Athlete of the Week - HM, Jan. 10-16; HM, Jan. 24-30
* Bruins Set Record for Best FT Pct. in a Game in Loss to Lutes
In a heartbreaking 60-58 loss at home to Pacific Lutheran on Jan. 28, the Bruins set a new single-game record for best free throw percentage in a game without a miss, connecting on 13-13 (1.000) from the line to break the old record of 12-12 at Willamette on Jan. 24, 2003. Contributing to the record-setting game were Cole Whitehurst (4-4), Stephen Wiseley (4-4), Rich Smith (3-3), and Mike Taylor (2-2). In a bizarre twist to the stats, the Bruins had entered the game with the lowest free throw percentage in the conference (.649), which had proven costly to them in several close games earlier in the season. The Bruins’ best mark for free throw percentage with a miss is .952 (20-21) at Puget Sound on Feb. 18, 2005.
* Taylor Posts 10th Triple-Double in Bruin History in Willamette Win
Junior wing Mike Taylor from Los Angeles, Calif., collected 18 points, 15 rebounds, and 11 assists in the Bruins’ 117-100 win over Willamette on Jan. 25 in Newberg, the 10th triple-double in the 107 years of George Fox basketball and the first since Dave Wilson had 21 points, 12 rebounds, and 13 blocked shots at Northwest Christian on Nov. 19, 1992. He became the seventh player in Bruins’ history to achieve the feat, joining Dave Adrian, Kenny Stone, Curtis Kimbrough, Jeff Richards, Brian Martin, and Wilson, who did it four times, all with points, rebounds, and blocked shots. The six who did it once had points, rebounds, and assists. Taylor’s 15 rebounds were the most in any of the triple-doubles. His triple-double is also the 11th in the NCAA Division III this season.
* NCAA Stats: Wiseley Climbs to 43rd Nationally in Assists
In the latest NCAA statistics (thru Jan. 30), Stephen Wiseley ranked 43rd in assists per game (5.1) ... Mike Taylor is one of 11 players in Division III to have posted a triple-double this season ...
* NWC Stats: Bruins Take Over Conference Lead in Blocked Shots
- Thru games of Feb. 1, George Fox is 1st in blocked shots (2.26), 4th in 3-pt field goal pct. defense (.346), assists (12.21), 5th in assist/TO ratio (0.82), 6th in field goal pct. defense (.461), rebounding (35.5), steals (6.37), turnover margin (-0.11), 7th in scoring (71.4), defense (79.2), scoring margin (-7.7), field goal pct. (.423), 3-pt field goals (5.47), rebounding defense (39.8), rebound margin (-4.3), 8th in free throw pct. (.661), 9th in 3-pt field goal pct. (.289) …
- Stephen Wiseley is 2nd in assists (5.06), 3rd in assist/TO ratio (1.25), 5th in free throw pct. (.814), steals (1.61), 6th in 3-pt field goals (2.11), 8th in scoring (16.3), 11th in 3-pt pct. (.388) ...
- Rich Smith is 5th in rebounding (7.2), 6th in blocked shots (0.53), 11th in scoring (15.2), 14th in field goal pct. (.490) …
- Mike Taylor is 3rd in steals (1.74, T), 5th in blocked shots (0.58), 6th in rebounding (6.9), 9th in 3-pt field goals (1.79, T), 10th in scoring (15.9), 14th in assists (2.11) ...
- Cole Whitehurst is 9th in rebounding (6.3), blocked shots (0.47, T), 20th in scoring (11.9) …
- Davis Martin is 9th in blocked shots (0.47, T) ...
* Triple-Doubles
- Mike Taylor: season 1, career 1 - 18 pts, 15 reb, 11 ast vs. Willamette, 1/25
* Double-Doubles
- Rich Smith: season 2, career 8 - 24 pts, 14 reb at Willamette, 11/30; 17 pts, 12 reb at Chapman, 12/31
- Cole Whitehurst: season 3, career 3 - 12 pts, 14 reb at Corban, 12/20; 15 pts, 13 reb at La Sierra, 12/28; 20 pts, 12 reb vs. Whitman, 1/15
- Mike Taylor: season 1, career 1 - 12 pts, 10 reb vs. Pacific, 1/8
* Career Lists: Wiseley Remains 3rd on All-Time List in FT Pct.
- Stephen Wiseley: Wiseley went 4-4 from the free throw line in the Bruins’ loss to Pacific Lutheran, making his career free throw percentage .856 (160-187). The Northwest Conference leader and ninth nationally in free throw shooting last year (.891), he is 3rd on the all-time Bruin free throw percentage list behind Gary Chenault (.870, 195-224, 1976-79) and Dave Morgan (.857, 84-98, 1970-72) ...
* Statistician “Biggs” Increases Home Streak to 637 in a Row
With the Bruins’ home games vs. Willamette on Jan. 28, long-time statistician Mike “Biggs” Wirta extended his streak of George Fox men’s basketball games attended, home and way, to 711 in a row, and his streak of home games worked to 637 straight. He has not missed a Bruin home game 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 (1,122 of 2,149 for 52.21%) in the 106-plus seasons of Bruin basketball.
* Head Coach Mark Sundquist
Head coach Mark Sundquist (Seattle Pacific ’87) is 108-162 (.400 57-60 home, 39-88 road, 12-14 neutral) to date in his 11th 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, 2010. The all-time leader is Mark Vernon (318-218, 1982-2000) … He was the Northwest Conference Coach of the Year in 2004-05 … … He is 8-13 (5-6 home, 3-7 road) vs. Pacific, and 6-15 (4-6 home, 2-9 road) vs. Lewis & Clark.
