WHAT’S BRUIN: Men’s Basketball News & Notes 12/15

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Overall Record: 3-6 (Home 0-4, Road 3-2)

NWC Record: 1-1, 4th T (Home 0-0, Road 1-1)

HIGHLIGHTS:

* Coming Up: Pair of Games in D-III National Invitational in Texas

* Recent Games: Bruins Go 1-2 While Playing 3 Games in 4 Days

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

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

* NCAA Stats: Bruins 24th-Best in Nation in Avoiding Turnovers

* NWC Stats: Bruins Lead Conference in 3-Point Field Goals, Assists

* Statistician “Biggs” Increases Overall Streak to 726 in a Row

* Coming Up: Pair of Games in D-III National Invitational in Texas

- Tue., Dec. 20, 4:00 pm PST - at Trinity University (4-4), San Antonio, Texas

- Wed., Dec. 21, 6:00 pm PST - vs. Buena Vista University (4-5), San Antonio, Texas

NEWBERG, Ore. – After seven non-conference games against scholarship-granting schools (and a 2-5 record in those games), the George Fox Bruins finally get to play some out-of-conference games against teams in their own division with two games Tuesday-Wednesday, Dec. 20-21, in the NCAA Division III National Invitational Tournament in San Antonio, Texas.

On Tuesday, the Bruins will meet tournament host Trinity University in the Sams Gym at 4:00 p.m. Pacific time (6:00 p.m. in Texas).  On Wednesday, they will play a neutral-site game in the Webster Gym at Trinity against Buena Vista University of Iowa at 6:00 p.m. Pacific time (8:00 p.m. in Texas).  The Bruins have never played either team.

The D-III NIT is a three-day tournament (Dc. 20-22).  Other teams participating include George Fox’s fellow Northwest Conference members Whitman, Whitworth, Puget Sound, Willamette, Pacific Lutheran, and Pacific (Ore.); Southwestern (Texas), Wisconsin-Whitewater, Wheaton (Ill.), and Redlands.

Multimedia: There will be no live audio by KFOX radio from the D-III National Invitational Tournament in San Antonio.  Trinity, the host school, is hoping to provide live stats and live video for all tournament games, not just for their own team’s games.  Details will be forthcoming.  Fans are encouraged to visit the Trinity men’s basketball website for tournament information and any links which will be available at http://www.trinitytigers.com/sports/mbkb/index.

Trinity (6-6): The Tigers from San Antonio, Texas, are NCAA Division III members of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference ... Trinity dropped its last game 56-51 at Colorado College on Dec. 3, despite 13 points from Robert Kitzinger and 12 each from Ryan Beall and Zach Lambert ... Trinity hosts Dallas on Dec. 16 and Austin on Dec. 17 before meeting the Bruins ... Series record (since 1981): First meeting ... Trinity by the numbers: Scoring (59.2 ppg), Defense (65.0 ppg), FG% (.429), 3-pt FG% (.304), FT% (.639), Reb Avg. (31.6) ... The Tigers have two double-figure scorers: F Robert Kitzinger (12.8 ppg), F Zach Lambert (11.5 ppg) ... G Ryan Beall is the top rebounder (4.6 rpg) ... Beall is the assists leaders (3.6 apg) ... Coach Pat Cunningham is in his 13th season at Trinity, and his 25th season overall as a college coach ... Next game: Dec. 21 vs. Willamette in D-III NIT, 6:00 p.m. CST.

Buena Vista (4-5): The Beavers from Storm Lake, Iowa, are NCAA Division III members of the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference ... The Beavers have won their last three in a row, including an 82-69 win over Northwestern (Iowa) on Dec. 10 as Doug Bissen had a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds, Michael Kaufmann scored 15 points, and Andy Puhrmann and Wes Nordquist had 10 each ... Buena Vita plays Whitman on Dec. 20 in the D-III NIT before meeting the Bruins ... Series record (since 1981): First meeting ... Buena Vista by the numbers: Scoring (76.2 ppg), Defense (72.2 ppg), FG% (.467), 3-pt FG% (.357), FT% (.668), Reb Avg. (35.0) ... The Beavers have three double-figure scorers: C Doug Bissen (13.1 ppg), F Wes Nordquist (11.7 ppg), F Jeff Janssen (10.1 ppg) ... Bissen is the top rebounder (7.1 rpg) ... G Michael Kaufmann is the assists leaders (3.1 apg) ... Coach Brian Van Haaften is 308-117 to date in his 16th season at Buena Vista ... Next game: Jan. 4 vs. Cornell (Iowa), 8:00 p.m. CST.

* Recent Games: Bruins Go 1-2 While Playing 3 Games in 4 Days

Dec. 9 - Corban 67, George Fox 56

A 28-point performance by Corban’s Jordan Carter, 18 in the first half, and a 22-24 game from the free throw line enabled the Warriors keep the host Bruins at arm’s length for a 67-56 win and a split of their season series Friday.  Corban got off to a 5-0 lead two-and-a-half minutes into the game and never trailed.  An 8-2 run, all by Mike Taylor, enabled the Bruins to tie the game 17-17, but a 12-2 run by Corban gave the visitors a 29-19 halftime lead.  They led by as many as 13 in the second half before the Bruins closed within six points late in the game, but the Warriors hit their free throws down the stretch.  Taylor tallied 23 points to lead the Bruins and Sean Atkins chipped in with 10 before fouling out.  Anthony Sanchez grabbed a team-high eight rebounds, Corey Clark handed out five assists, and Atkins picked up four steals.

Dec. 10 - Concordia-Portland 83, at George Fox 68

Led by Adam Herman’s double-double of 29 points and 10 rebounds, the visiting Cavaliers shot over 60 per cent from the field on the way to an 83-68 win over the Bruins on Saturday.  The Cavs built an early 20-5 lead by hitting 10 of 13 shots in the first seven-and-a-half minutes.  A three-pointer by A.J. Grant brought the Bruins within six at 30-24, but that was as close as the Bruins got in the half as the Cavs stretched the lead to 39-29 at the break.  Threes by Anthony Sanchez and Grant to open the final 20 minutes brought the home team within four at 39-35 before the Cavs again pulled away.  Grant led a quartet of Bruins in double figures with 20 points, hitting six threes.  He was joined by Sanchez with 11 points, and Cam Rier and Sean Atkins, who was 5-7 from the floor, with 10 each.  Sanchez and Mike Taylor had five rebounds each, and Taylor passed out four assists. 

Dec. 12 - George Fox 79, at Portland Bible 71

With runs of 12 and 14 points in a row, the Bruins built up a 24-point first-half lead, then fought off a valiant comeback attempt in the second half to defeat Portland Bible 79-71 in the first-ever meeting between the two schools Monday night.  A 12-0 run by the Bruins gave them a 20-9 lead with 11:36 to go in the half, and they took off on another big run, scoring 14 in a row, to extend the lead to 37-14 with five minutes left.  Spencer Bolte’s layup at 3:30 left gave the Bruins their largest lead of 39-15 before the Wildcats closed with an 8-4 run, cutting the halftime margin to 43-23.  The Wildcats’ Tim Mahan scored 23 of his 26 points in the second half as the home team got within six before the Bruins slowed him down and hung on.  Mike Taylor finished with 23 points for the Bruins, A.J. Grant scored 18 with four three-pointers, and Sanchez added 17 with five threes.  Taylor and Sanchez had nine rebounds apiece.

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

The most consistent player during George Fox’s 0-2 weekend last week, wing Sean Atkins has been named the Bruin Athletic Association Men’s Athlete of the Week for Dec. 5-11, and also received honorable mention for the Northwest Conference Men’s Basketball Student-Athlete of the Week award.

Atkins, a sophomore from Longview, Wash., scored 10 points on 4-8 field goals and 2-2 free throws, along with 4 steals and 3 rebounds, in the Bruins’ 67-56 loss to Corban on Dec. 9.  In an 83-68 setback to Concordia-Portland the following night, he again had 10 points on 5-7 field goals, with 3 rebounds, an assist, a steal, and a blocked shot.  For the week, he totaled 20 points (10.0 ppg) by hitting 9-15 from the field (.600) and 2-3 from the line (.667), pulled down 6 rebounds (3.0 rpg), and had 5 steals (2.5 spg), an assist, and a blocked shot.  In the latest NWC statistics, Atkins ranks 6th in blocked shots (0.8 bspg, T), and 28th in scoring (9.4 ppg).

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)

BRUIN BITS:

* 2011-12 Honors

Corey Clark

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

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

A.J. Grant

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

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

Mike Taylor 

- Bruin Athletic Association Athlete of the Week - Nov. 28-Dec. 4

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

Sean Atkins

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

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

* Bruins’ Guard Grant Played HS Ball for Ex-Bruin Coach Vernon

Not only does first-year guard A.J. Grant bring a very local flavor to this year’s George Fox men’s basketball team, he brings an affinity to some of the Bruins’ past history with him as well.  Grant starred at nearby Newberg High School under head coach Mark Vernon, who coached the George Fox men from 1982-2000 and is the most successful coach in Bruin history, going 318-218 in his 18 seasons at the university.  After leaving George Fox, Vernon coached at Southridge High in Beaverton, Ore., before returning to Newberg for several seasons.  Grant graduated from NHS in 2010 and attended Whitman College briefly last fall, not playing on the team there, before transferring closer to home for the 2011-12 season. 

* 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: Bruins 24th-Best in Nation in Avoiding Turnovers

- In the first NCAA Division III national statistics release (thru games of Dec. 11), George Fox ranks 24th in fewest turnovers per game (12.0 topg) ...

* NWC Stats: Bruins Lead Conference in 3-Point Field Goals, Assists

- In Northwest Conference stats thru games of Dec. 14, George Fox is 1st in 3-pt field goals (71), assists (13.7 apg), 2nd in blocked shots (3.3), fewest turnovers (12.2 topg), 7th in field goal pct. (.412), steals (5.9 spg), 8th in free throw pct. (.657), 3-pt pct. (.305), 9th in scoring (63.7 ppg), rebounding (32.1 rpg) ...

- A.J. Grant is 1st in free throw pct. (1.000, T), 4th in 3-pt field goals (20, T), steals (1.4 spg, T), 7th in 3-pt pct. (.444), 9th in assists (2.6 apg), 13th in scoring (13.4 ppg, T) ...

- Mike Taylor is 2nd in blocked shots (1.2 bspg), assists (3.8 apg), 9th in 3-pt field goals (16), 11th in scoring (14.2 ppg), 13th in rebounding (5.3 rpg) ...

- Anthony Sanchez is 6th in 3-pt field goals (18), 19th in rebounding (4.6, T), 25th in scoring (9.8 ppg) ...

- Sean Atkins is 6th in blocked shots (0.8 bspg, T), 28th in scoring (9.4 ppg) …

- Corey Clark is 4th in assists (3.3 apg) ...

* 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 726 in a Row

With the Bruins’ three games this past week, long-time statistician Mike “Biggs” Wirta extended his streak of George Fox men’s basketball games attended, home and way, to 726 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 (1,137 of 2,164 for 52.54%) in the 107-plus seasons of Bruin basketball.

* Head Coach Mark Sundquist

Head coach Mark Sundquist (Seattle Pacific ’87) is 114-171 (.400, 59-65 home, 43-92 road, 12-14 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: 0-0 vs. Trinity (Texas); 0-0 vs. Buena Vista