WHAT’S BRUIN: Men’s Basketball News & Notes 1/11

Links: Quick Facts / Roster / Schedule & Results / Statistics / Press Releases

Multimedia: Live Stats / Video / KFOX Radio 

Overall Record: 5-8 (Home 0-4, Road 5-3,Neutral 0-1)

NWC Record: 2-2, 3rd T (Home 0-0, Road 2-2) 

HIGHLIGHTS:

* Coming Up: Bruins Play First Conference Games at Home This Weekend

* Recent Games: Bruins Even NWC Slate with Big Road Win at Pacific

* 2nd Annual “Bruin Madness” Family Event Set for UPS Twinbill on Jan. 14

* Taylor Named BAA Athlete of the Week, HM for NWC Honors

* NWC Poll: Bruins Face Uphill Fight after 7th-Place Prediction

* NCAA Stats: Grant Among National Leaders in 3-Pt Field Goal Pct.

* NWC Stats: Seven Bruins Listed Among Conference Stats Leaders

* Statistician “Biggs” Increases Overall Streak to 730 in a Row 

* Coming Up: Bruins Play First Conference Games at Home This Weekend

- Fri., Jan. 13, 8:00 pm - vs. Willamette University (2-11, NWC 0-4), Newberg, Ore.

- Sat., Jan. 14, 8:00 pm – vs. University of Puget Sound (11-3, NWC 3-2), Newberg, Ore.

NEWBERG, Ore. – After playing their first four Northwest Conference games on the road, the George Fox University Bruins will play seven of their next eight league games at home, starting with the Willamette University Bearcats on Friday, Jan. 13, and the University of Puget Sound Loggers on Saturday, Jan. 14.

Both games this weekend will tip off at 8:00 p.m. in the Wheeler Sports Center’s Miller Gym, and will be a part of NWC doubleheaders, the women’s games preceding the men’s contests at 6:00 p.m.  Saturday’s games will also feature the second annual “Bruin Madness” event, sponsored by the George Fox Department of Alumni Relations (see details below).

The Bruins are 5-8 overall and locked in a four-way tie for third place in the conference at 2-2 with Whitman College, Pacific University, and Lewis & Clark College.  The Bruins are 2-1 against those three teams already this season, which could be a significant factor later in determining the four-team field for the end-of-the-season Northwest Conference Tournament.

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.

Multimedia: George Fox will provide live audio internet coverage through campus station KFOX, live video through Stretch Internet, and live stats for all games this week; see the George Fox links above.

* Upcoming Opponents:

Willamette (2-11, NWC 0-4, 9th): The Bearcats from Salem, Ore., were picked to finish 6th in the pre-season NWC coaches’ poll ... The Bearcats have dropped their last four in a row, the latest a 95-71 setback at Linfield on Jan. 7 despite 16 points from Taylor Mounts and 14 from Ruan Meehan ... Series record (since 1965): George Fox trails 35-44 (20-14 home, 15-30 road) ... The Bruins have won the last four meetings, including 91-88 in Salem on Nov. 30 and 117-100 in Newberg on Jan. 25 ... Willamette’s last win in the series was 87-82 in Newberg on Feb. 20, 2009 ... Willamette by the numbers: Scoring (73.5 ppg, 3rd in the NWC), Defense (86.5 ppg, 9th), FG% (.392, 8th), 3-pt FG% (.294, 9th), FT% (.708, 3rd), Reb Avg. (39.6 rpg, 2nd) ... The Bearcats have three double-figure scorers: W Taylor Mounts (16.1 ppg, 5th), W Ryan Meehan (12.5 ppg, 16th), G Terrell Malley (10.8 ppg, 22nd) .... Mounts is the top rebounder (8.4 rpg, 2nd) ... G Trevos Bos is the assists leader (3.2 apg, 4th) ... Mounts is 37th nationally in double-doubles (5) ... Coach Kip Ioane (Willamette ’96) is 4-32 to date in his 2nd season as head coach at Willamette and 5th year on staff ... Next game: Jan. 14 at Lewis & Clark, 8:00 p.m.

Puget Sound (11-3, NWC 3-2, 2nd): The Loggers from Tacoma, Wash., were picked to finish 4th in the pre-season NWC coaches’ poll ... Puget Sound is one of two NWC teams in the D3hoops.com national poll; the Loggers are 18th while Whitworth is 10th ... The Loggers, who started the season 10-0, have dropped their last two, the latest an 80-62 setback at Pacific Lutheran on Jan. 10 despite 14 points from Ryan Rogers, 11 from Rex Holmes, and 10 from Kaleb Shelton ... Series record (since 1965): George Fox trails 12-28 (7-10 home, 5-18 road) ... The Loggers swept last year’s two games, 80-76 in Tacoma on Jan. 21 and 66-63 in Newberg on Feb. 19 ... The Bruins’ last win in the series was 87-75 in Tacoma on Jan. 29, 2010 ...  Puget Sound by the numbers: Scoring (75.9 ppg, 2nd in the NWC), Defense (69.0 ppg, 4th), FG% (.452, 3rd), 3-pt FG% (.335, 5th), FT% (.691, 6th), Reb Avg. (42.5, 1st) ... The Loggers have three double-figure scorers: F Anthony Gittens (11.9 ppg, 15th), F Derek Jobe (10.6 ppg, 21st),  F Kaleb Shelton (10.4 ppg, 25th) .... Gittens is the top rebounder (7.1 rpg, 5th) ... Shelton is the assists leader (2.2 apg, 13th) ... Coach Justin Lunt (Pacific Lutheran) is 92-52 to date in his 6th season at Puget Sound ... Next game: Jan. 20 vs. Linfield, 8:00 p.m.

* Recent Games: Bruins Even NWC Slate with Big Road Win at Pacific

Jan. 7 - George Fox 61, at Pacific 53

Scoring 21 points, including the go-ahead basket and four clutch free throws in the last 2:15, A.J. Grant led the Bruins to a stunning 61-53 win over the Pacific Saturday in Forest Grove, Ore.  Grant hit a three-pointer to open the game and a two-point jumper three minutes in to give the Bruins a quick 8-2 lead.  Pacific rallied to take its only lead of the first half 15-14 with 11:44 left, but Cam Rier answered with a trey a minute later and the Bruins kept the lead the rest of half, leading 31-26 at the break.  The second half was close until Grant nailed a three that gave the Bruins the lead for good at 44-43 with 7:52 remaining.  A 7-0 run enabled the Bruins to take the biggest lead of the game at 53-45 with 3:55 to go, and for the rest of the game, George Fox kept the lead between six and eight points.  Grant finished with a 6-for-11 game from the floor, including 4-of-7 from long distance, and 5-of-5 from the line.  Mike Taylor added 14 points, Spencer Bolte grabbed six rebounds, and Taylor and Sean Atkins had three assists apiece.

BRUIN BITS:

* 2nd Annual “Bruin Madness” Family Event Set for UPS Twinbill on Jan. 14

A Northwest Conference basketball doubleheader with the University of Puget Sound on Saturday, Jan. 14, will be the backdrop for George Fox’s second annual “Bruin Madness” family event, sponsored by the Department of Alumni Relations.

The evening begins with a huge Indoor Tailgate Party Dinner and a KidZone with activities for children ages 1-12 at 4:00 p.m. in the Klages Dining Hall and Bruin Den in the Student Union Building.  The tailgate party will offer a variety of food buffets including nachos, barbeque, a salad bar, Bruin Madness cupcakes, and much more.  The basketball doubleheader begins with the women’s game between the Bruins and Loggers at 6:00 p.m., followed by the men’s game at 8:00 p.m.  Following the games, the celebration will continue as Abby’s Pizza hosts the “Young Alumni Night” for graduates from the past 10 years at 10:00 p.m.

Tickets are required for the Tailgate Party Dinner and KidZone.  The cost is $13 for adults and George Fox students who are not on the meal plan, and $6 for children under 10.  GFU students on the meal plan are aditted to the Dinner free.  University employees may get a discount ticket of $9 for the Tailgate Party if picked up at the Pennington House on campus before the end of the day on Wednesday. 

For more information on “Bruin Madness”, visit bruinmadness.georgefox.edu.  Anyone with further questions should contact Anna Phillipsen at 503-554-2131 or via e-mail at aphillipsen@georgefox.edu.

* Taylor Named BAA Athlete of the Week, HM for NWC Honors

Continuing his fine all-around play with two solid games during the Bruins’ 1-1 week against Northwest Conference competition, George Fox wing Mike Taylor has been named the Bruin Athletic Association Men’s Athlete of the Week for the two-week period of Dec. 26-Jan. 8 and also received honorable mention for the NWC Men’s Basketball Student-Athlete of the Week.

Taylor, a senior from Los Angeles, Calif., led the Bruins with 18 points on 7-18 field goals (2-5 on three-pointers) and 2-3 free throws, with 7 rebounds, 5 assists and a blocked shot in a 75-56 loss at Lewis & Clark on Jan. 3.  He then contributed 14 points on 4-11 field goals (2-3 on threes) and 4-6 free throws, alogn with 4 rebounds, 3 assists and another block in a 61-53 win at Pacific on Jan. 7.  In two games, he tallied 32 points (16.0 ppg) on 11-29 field goals (.379), including 4-9 (.444) from three-point range, and 6-9 (.667) from the line, with 11 rebounds (5.5 rpg), 8 assist (4.0 apg), and 2 blocked shots. 

In the latest NWC statistics, Taylor ranks 1st in assists (4.2 apg, T), 2nd in blocked shots (1.1 bspg), 8th in scoring (14.5 ppg), 10th in 3-pt field goals (24, T), and 13th in rebounding (5.2 rpg).  He is one of five different men’s basketball players to earn the BAA award and honorable mention NWC honors this season, and the first to do it twice.

The George Fox 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. 

2011-12 Bruin Athletic Association Men’s Athletes of the Week

Aug. 29-Sept. 4 - Jacob Baker (Soccer)

Sept. 5-11 - Luke Hammer (Soccer)

Sept. 12-18 - Mike Ulstad (Golf)

Sept. 19-25 - Shawn Aldrich (Tennis)

Sept. 26-Oct. 2 - Joseph Pia (Cross Country)

Oct. 3-9 - Chris Lumsden (Golf)

Oct. 10-16 - Luke Hammer (Soccer)

Oct. 17-23 - Aleks Gabrio (Golf)

Oct. 24-30 - Kyle Dreibelbis (Cross Country)

Oct. 31-Nov. 6 - Elliott Davis (Soccer)

Nov. 7-13 - Kyle Dreibelbis (Cross Country)

Nov. 14-20 - Corey Clark (Basketball)

Nov. 21-27 - A.J. Grant (Basketball)

Nov. 28-Dec. 4 - Mike Taylor (Basketball)

Dec. 5-11 - Sean Atkins (Basketball)

Dec. 12-25 - Anthony Sanchez (Basketball)

Dec. 26-Jan. 8 - Mike Taylor (Basketball)

* 2011-12 Honors

Corey Clark

- Bruin Athletic Association Athlete of the Week - Nov. 14-20

- Northwest Conference Student-Athlete of the Week - (HM) Nov. 14-20

A.J. Grant

- Bruin Athletic Association Athlete of the Week - Nov. 21-27

- Northwest Conference Student-Athlete of the Week - (HM) Nov. 21-27

Mike Taylor 

- Bruin Athletic Association Athlete of the Week - Nov. 28-Dec. 4; Dec. 26-Jan. 8

- Northwest Conference Student-Athlete of the Week - (HM) Nov. 28-Dec. 4; (HM) Dec. 26-Jan. 8

Sean Atkins

- Bruin Athletic Association Athlete of the Week - Dec. 5-11

- Northwest Conference Student-Athlete of the Week - (HM) Dec. 5-11

Anthony Sanchez

- Bruin Athletic Association Athlete of the Week - Dec. 12-25

- Northwest Conference Student-Athlete of the Week - Dec. 12-25 (HM)

* NWC POLL: New-Look Bruins Face Uphill Fight after 7th-Place Prediction

With only one starter returning from last year’s 8-17 team, that was no doubt a major factor in the George Fox Bruins being picked to finish seventh in the Northwest Conference pre-season coaches’ poll.  The Bruins received 24 points in the voting, between Willamette’s 27 and Linfield’s 21.  Two-time defending champion Whitworth received six first-place votes and 67 points, while Whitman was the runner-up with 61 points.

(First-place votes in parenthesis. Points awarded on 9-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis).

* NCAA Stats: Grant Among National Leaders in 3-Pt Field Goal Pct.

- In the latest NCAA Division III national statistics release (thru games of Jan. 8), George Fox ranked 24th in fewest turnovers per game (12.0 topg), 25th in fewest fouls per game (14.9 pfpg), and 39th in assist/turnover ratio (1.15) ... A.J. Grant ranked 44th in 3-pt field goal pct. (.433) ...

* NWC Stats: Seven Bruins Listed Among Conference Stats Leaders

- In Northwest Conference stats thru games of Jan. 10, George Fox is 2nd in assists  (13.8 apg), fewest turnovers (12.0 topg), blocked shots (3.2 bspg), 4th in 3-pt field goals (102), 3-pt pct. defense (.344), 7th in defense (70.6 ppg), field goal pct. (.408), field goal pct. defense (.462), 8th in free throw pct. (.656), 3-pt pct. (.303), steals (5.8 spg), 9th in scoring (63.1 ppg), rebounding (32.0 rpg), rebounding margin (-6.4) ...

- Mike Taylor is 1st in assists (4.2 apg, T), 2nd in blocked shots (1.1 bspg), 8th in scoring (14.5 ppg), 10th in 3-pt field goals (24, T), 13th in rebounding (5.2 rpg) ...

- A.J. Grant is 3rd in steals (1.6 spg), 5th in 3-pt pct. (.433), 6th in 3-pt field goals (29), 10th in assists (2.5 apg), 14th in scoring (12.5 ppg) ...

- Anthony Sanchez is 18th in rebounding (4.8 rpg), 24th in scoring (10.5 ppg, T) ...

- Sean Atkins is 4th in blocked shots (0.9 bspg, T), 7th in steals (1.3 spg), 29th in scoring (8.9 ppg) …

- Corey Clark is 5th in assists (2.9 apg) ...

- Jon Adrian is 6th in assist/turnover ratio (2.0, T) ...

- Cam Rier is 6th in assist/turnover ratio (2.0, T) ...

* Double-Doubles

- Mike Taylor: season 1, career 4 - 18 pts, 10 reb at Whitworth, 12/3  

* Triple-Doubles

- Mike Taylor: season 0, career 1 - 18 pts, 15 reb, 11 ast vs. Willamette, 1/25/11 (first GFU triple-double in 18 seasons)

 Statistician “Biggs” Increases Overall Streak to 730 in a Row

With the Bruins’ game at Pacific on Jan. 7, long-time statistician Mike “Biggs” Wirta extended is streak of George Fox men’s basketball games attended, home and way, to 730 in a row.  His streak of home games worked reached 643 straight with Dec. 9-10 games vs. Corban and Concordia-Portland.  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 (1,141 of 2,168 for 52.63%) in the 107-plus seasons of Bruin basketball. 

* Head Coach Mark Sundquist

Head coach Mark Sundquist (Seattle Pacific ’87) is 116-173 (.401, 59-66 home, 45-92 road, 12-15 neutral) to date in his 12th season at George Fox … He is the second-winningest coach in Bruin history behind Mark Vernon (318-218, 1982-2000) … He was the Northwest Conference Coach of the Year in 2004-05 …

Sundquist vs. upcoming opponents: 8-14 vs. Willamette (5-6 home, 3-8 away); 5-17 vs. Puget Sound (3-8 home, 2-9 away)