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The Loggers opened up Northwest Conference play last weekend with a pair of wins on the road against Pacific an d George Fox. One of just three 2-0 teams in the Northwest Conference this year, the Loggers open up a four-game homestand this evening against rival Pacific Lutheran. The Loggers will then host Linfield on Friday, followed by Whitman and Whitworth the following weekend.
The Loggers vs. Pacific
For the first time since 2003-04, the 10th-ranked Puget Sound Loggers did not enter Northwest Conference play as the favorite to win the conference crown but that didn't stop the Loggers from opening NWC play in familiar fashion, defeating the Pacific Boxers, 82-61, in a men's basketball contest on Friday evening in Forest Grove, Ore.
In the first half, the Boxers (2-9, 0-2 NWC) scored the games first three points but the Loggers (8-1, 1-0 NWC) answered back with nine straight points, followed by a 12-4 run as they held a 21-7 lead with 7:17 remaining in the period. The Loggers kept up the pace for the remainder of the period, taking a 31-18 lead into the break.
In the second period, the Boxer offense woke up but the Logger shooters stayed hot as Puget Sound picked up the 82-61 victory.
The Loggers were led by 17 points from junior Jason Foster (Tacoma, Wash./Foss). Antwan Williams (Portland, Ore./Madison) finished with 14 points while Robert Krauel (Phoenix, Ariz./North Canyon) added 12 points off the bench.
The Boxers were led by 14 points from Joe Van Domelen, who also added a game-high eight rebounds. The Boxers shot 55.0% for the game but they also committed 30 turnovers in the loss.
The Loggers vs. George Fox
The host-Bruins gave the Loggers quite the game but in the end, it was 10th-ranked Puget Sound who picked up the victory, defeating George Fox, 90-78, in a Northwest Conference men's basketball game on Saturday night in Newberg, Ore. With the win, the Loggers improve to 9-1 overall and 2-0 in the NWC.
In the first period, the Bruins held the lead for almost the entire period, holding an eight-point advantage with 1:46 remaining. The Loggers (9-1, 2-0 NWC) then used a 7-0 run to end the half and tighten the GFU lead to just one point, 46-45.
In the second period, the Logger shooters were virtually unstoppable, going 18-for-24 from the field for 75%. After the Loggers closed the gap, the Bruins went on another run to pull ahead by eight with 7:55 remaining but the Loggers then went on a 16-0 run to put UPS up by six with two minutes remaining. Puget Sound finished the game on a 6-2 run to take the 90-78 victory.
The Loggers were led by 19 points and eight rebounds off the bench from junior Robert Krauel (Phoenix, Ariz../North Canyon). Senior Weston Wood (Spokane, Wash./Riverside) added 14 while Steffond Brown (Seattle, Wash./Lower Columbia CC) and Jason Foster (Tacoma, Wash./Henry Foss) chipped in 12 points each. Junior guard Antwan Williams (Portland, Ore./Madison) chalked up 10 points to round out the Loggers in double-digit scoring. UPS shot 60% from the field in the game, connecting on 33-of-55 attempts.
George Fox was led by 23 points from Bryan O'Connell. Brent Satern added 14 points while Stephen Campbell put up 10 points off the bench. The Bruins were 30-of-60 from the field for 50%.
Statistically Speaking
Through ten games, the Loggers lead the Northwest Conference in scoring offense (96.4 ppg), scoring margin (+ 19.0), field goal percentage (.504), three-point field goal percentage (.411), steals (13.10 spg), turnover margin (+9.1), three-point field goals made (9.70 3pg).
Individually, Antwan Williams is third in the NWC is scoring, averaging 17.9 ppg, and is second in assists (6.40 apg) while he leads the conference in steals (3.0 spg). Sophomore Austin Boyce and junior Robert Krauel are second and third in field goal percentage, shooting at clips of .611 and .598 respectively.
Among The Nation's Best
The Loggers jumped one spot in the D3Hoops.com Top 25, moving into the ninth spot after three weeks at #10.
Chasing 1,000
The Loggers have three players who could score their 1,000th point the maroon and white this season, including a pair of juniors. Senior Taylor Marsh has scored 776 points for the Loggers and would have to average 16.0 ppg the rest of the way to reach 1,000 points by the end of the season.
Junior guard Antwan Williams has 803 points in 63 games and would have to average 14.07 ppg the rest of the way to reach 1,000 by the end of the year. Also a junior, Jason Foster has 842 points in 62 games, including 61 started, and he would have to average 11.29 ppg to reach 1,000 this season.
Scouting Pacific Lutheran
The Lutes, currently 6-4 overall and 2-0 in NWC play, come to Memorial Fieldhouse on Tuesday for the first game after their upset win at Lewis & Clark on Saturday. Josh Dressler leads the NWC in scoring at 23.7 ppg and is averaging 36.6 minutes per game. Scott McDaniels is also off to a strong start, averaging 17.9 ppg and 9.1 rpg in 35.5 mpg.
Scouting Linfield
The Wildcats head into this weekend with a record of 7-4 overall and 2-0 in the NWC. Linfield opened up NWC play with an upset win at home over Whitworth, 77-70, and then held off Whitman, 109-81. K.C. Wiser and Steve Taylor are averaging 13.5 and 13.4 ppg respectively while Wiser adds 6.3 rpg on the glass.
The Coach
Justin Lunt enters his second season as head coach of the Logger men's basketball program. A graduate of Pacific Lutheran, Lunt is a native of San Diego, Calif. Heading into this weekend, Lunt now has a career record of 27-8, including 13-5 in the Northwest Conference.
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