Overall 14-5: Home 6-1, Road 6-3, Neutral 2-1 / NWC 9-1: Home 5-0, Road 4-1
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HIGHLIGHTS:
* Recent Games: Bruins Sweep Homecoming Weekend to Stay Tied for First
* Coming Up: Home vs. Willamette, Road vs. Close Rival Linfield
* On the Air! Most Bruin Games Now on KFOX Radio/Internet
* Gayman Honorable Mention for NWC "Player of the Week" for Jan. 31-Feb. 6
* Schmick Named to D3hoops.com "Team of the Week" for Jan. 24-30
* Bruins Jump to Attendance Lead in NWC with Big Homecoming Crowds
* Bruins Secure First Winning Season in Six Years
* George Fox Comes in at 6th in Latest West Region Ratings
* Career Lists: Gayman Moves into Top Ten at 9th in All-Time Scoring
* NWC Stats: Bruins Take Over Top Spot as Best Defensive Team
* NCAA Stats: Bruins 35th Among 3-Pt Field Goal Pct. Leaders
* Halftime Promotions for Bruin Basketball Games
RECENT GAMES: 2-0 (Click score for link to stories and box scores):
Feb. 4 - George Fox 79, Whitman 75
Feb. 5 - George Fox 61, Whitworth 53
COMING UP:
* Fri., Feb. 11, 8:00 pm - vs. Willamette University (7-12, NWC 4-6), Newberg, Ore.
Radio/internet broadcast on KFOX ... The Willamette Bearcats from Salem, Ore., were picked to finish 4th in the NWC pre-season coaches' poll and are now tied for 5th ... Series record: GFU trails 28-38 since 1967 (home 16-11, away 12-27) ... The Bearcats have won the last 8 meetings, including a 94-87 overtime win in Salem on Jan. 18, the Bruins' only conference loss this season ... The Bruins' last win was 106-104 in double overtime on Jan. 16, 2001, in Newberg ... The Bearcats average 68.3 ppg (9th in the NWC) and allow 71.3 ppg (3rd) ... The Bearcats have two players in double figures in scoring: C.J. Stuvland (14.3, 10th in the NWC), and John Olinger (11.6, 21st) ... Todd Lewis is the top rebounder (5.9, 12th) ... Olinger is 2nd in the league in assists (4.17) ... Coach Gordie James, the 1993 NAIA National Coach of the Year when his team won the NAIA Division II championship, is 303-179 in his 18th season at Willamette ...
* Sat., Feb. 12, 8:00 pm - at Linfield College (10-9, NWC 6-4), McMinnville, Ore.
Radio/internet broadcast on KFOX ... The Linfield Wildcats were picked to finish 3rd in the NWC pre-season coaches' poll, and that's where they stand now ... Series record: GFU trails 35-36 since 1965 (19-15 home, 16-21 away) ... The Bruins snapped a 9-game losing streak to their Yamhill County rivals with an 81-76 victory in Newberg on Jan. 15 ... The Wildcats average 80.0 ppg (2nd in the NWV) and allow 79.5 ppg (5th) ... Linfield leads the NWC in field goal pct. (.488, 28th nationally), field goal pct. defense (.415), rebounding (40.10), and blocked shots (5.37) ... The Wildcats have players in double figures in scoring: Blake Shelton (18.4, 1st in the NWC), Sam Krieger (16.7, 6th), Chris Lewis (12.7, 18th), and John Hildebrandt (11.1, 22nd) ... Krieger is the top rebounder (8.6, 2nd) ... Krieger is 6th nationally in blocked shots (3.1) and 14th in field goal pct. (.637), both leading the NWC ... Eric Heferson leads the league in free throw pct. (.950) ... Coach Larry Doty is 256-214 in his 18th season at Linfield ...
ON THE AIR!
George Fox sports can now be heard locally via the airwaves and across the country via the internet through campus station KFOX. To listen to Bruin athletic contests, go to www.kfoxradio.net.
Current schedule of broadcasts for basketball:
Fri., Feb. 11 - vs. Willamette (Women 6 pm, Men 8 pm)
Sat., Feb. 12 - at Linfield (Women 6 pm, Men 8 pm)
Tue., Feb. 22 - vs. Pacific (Women 6 pm, Men 8 pm)
Fri., Feb. 25 - vs. Lewis & Clark (Women 6 pm, Men 8 pm)
NORTHWEST CONFERENCE:
The only team to defeat them in conference play and their cross-county rivals challenge the Bruins' effort to stay atop the NWC standings this weekend. The Bruins remain dead-even with 7th-ranked Puget Sound at 9-1 in the league. Willamette, with a 94-87 overtime win in Salem, is the only blemish on the Bruins' record; the Bearcats are in Newberg on Friday. Then it is down to McMinnville on Saturday, where the Wildcats are always tough. The Bruins are coming off Homecoming weekend wins over Whitman and Whitworth, the latter before the largest crowd in Bruin cage history. For the latest NWC standings, visit the NWC web site at www.nwcsports.com.
COACH MARK SUNDQUIST
Mark Sundquist (Seattle Pacific '89) is 41-77 (.347) to date in his 5th season as a college head coach, all at George Fox. He coached the boys' programs at Woodburn (Ore.) High for two years and at Newberg (Ore.) High for one year before joining the Bruins. Click here for the complete bio on Coach Sundquist.
Sundquist vs. upcoming opponents:
Willamette - 1-8 (home 1-3, road 0-5)
Linfield - 1-9 (home 1-4, road 0-4, neutral 0-1)
BRUIN BITS:
* Gayman Honorable Mention for NWC "Player of the Week" for Jan. 31-Feb. 6
Wing Mark Gayman posted double-doubles in both games as the Bruins went 2-0 and kept pace with Puget Sound for first place in the conference, receiving honorable mention for Northwest Conference "Player of the Week" for Jan. 31-Feb. 6. In a 79-75 win over Whitman on Friday, he had 22 points on 8-15 from the field and 6-8 from the line, with 10 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal. In a 61-53 win over Whitworth on Saturday, he had 18 points on 7-14 from the field and 4-7 from the line, with 11 rebounds and 1 blocked shot. For the week, in 2 games, he scored 40 points (20.0), hitting 15-29 (.517) from the floor and 10-15 (.667) from the line, with 21 rebounds (10.5), 1 assist, 1 blocked shot, and 1 steal. He was the NWC Player of the Week for Jan. 3-9
* Schmick Named to D3hoops.com "Team of the Week" for Jan. 24-30
George Fox wing Aaron Schmick was honored by D3hoops.com when he was named to their "Team of the Week" for Jan. 24-30. Schmick, who led the Bruins to NWC road wins at Pacific and Lewis & Clark that week, was named NWC "Player of the Week", and his name (as are all "Players of the Week" from every conference in the country) are submitted to D3hoops.com for consideration for their five-player "Team of the Week". Schmick's big week, in which have averaged 20.5 ppg while shooting .632 from the field, .750 from 3-pt range, and .917 from the line, with 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals, obviously impressed the national voters - as it did those of George Fox and Northwest Conference fans.
* 2004-05 Honors:
Mark Gayman - Surf's Up Invitational All-Tournament Team; NWC "Player of the Week" (Jan. 3-9)
Aaron Schmick - RBC Mortgage/Windermere Real Estate Holiday Tournament All-Tournament Team; NWC "Player of the Week" (Jan. 24-30); D3hoops.com "Team of the Week" (Jan. 24-30)
* Bruins Jump to Attendance Lead in NWC with Big Homecoming Crowds
Buoyed by the largest home crowd in team history, the George Fox Bruins have jumped to the top of the Northwest Conference in home attendance for the 2004-05 season. After hosting some 1,500 fans on Friday night against Whitman to open Homecoming weekend, the Bruins drew a record 2,400 or so for Saturday night's Homecoming Game against Whitworth. The surge gave the Bruins a total of 8,050 in 7 dates for the year, an average of 1,150 per home date. Puget Sound, with whom the Bruins are tied atop the league standings, is 2nd with an average of 888 per game.
And if anyone ever questioned the correlation between winning and attendance, the Bruins would present a strong argument for its veracity. During last year's 7-18 season, the Bruins averaged 416 per home date. With this year's 14-5 team and exciting conference race, the Bruins have seen their support jump 276% over the year before!
Overall, the Bruins are averaging 576 in 19 dates, 5th in the league.
* Bruins Secure First Winning Season in Six Years
With their 79-75 win over Whitman on Feb. 4, the George Fox Bruins guaranteed themselves their first winning season since the 1998-99 team went 13-12. The Bruins improved the next night to 14-5 when they defeated Whitworth, the most wins since the 1997-98 team went 15-10. At 9-1 in the Northwest Conference, this year's Bruins have the best start ever for George Fox as a member of a conference.
* Bruins Come in 6th in Latest West Region Ratings
As their record continues to grow, the George Fox Bruins have caught the attention of the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Committee, who tabbed the Bruins 6th in the West Region in their latest ratings of Feb. 9. The Bruins are 14-5 overall and 10-2 against regional opponents. Ahead of George Fox are #1 Wisconsin-Stevens Point, #2 Puget Sound, #3 Wartburg, #4 Buena Vista, and #5 Gustavus Adolphus.
Complete polls: D3hoops.com Poll / NCAA Division III Regional Rankings
* 2004-05 Records:
Best 3-Pt Field Goal Pct. (with a miss) - .923 (12-13) at Whitworth, 1-8
* Double-Doubles:
Mark Gayman: Career 22, season 7 - 32 pts/10 reb vs. California-Santa Cruz, 11-27 at Honolulu, Hawaii; 13 pts/11 reb at Whitman, 1-7; 24 pts/12 reb at Multnomah Bible, 1-11; 18 pts/13 reb vs. Puget Sound, 1-21; 18 pts/11 reb at Lewis & Clark, 1-28; 22 pts/10 reb vs. Whitman, 2-4; 18 pts/11 reb vs. Whitworth, 2-5
Scott Szalay: Career 7, season 2 - 25 pts/10 reb at Whitman 1-7; 11 pts/11 reb vs. Linfield, 1-15
* Career Lists: Gayman Moves into Top Ten at 9th in All-Time Scoring
Mark Gayman scored 40 points in the Bruins' two games last week, boosting his four-year career total to 1,356. One of 31 players to have reached the 1,000-point mark as a Bruin, he moved past Jared Gallop (1,323, 1994-96, 97-98) and Grant Hartenstein (1,346, 1992-96) into 9th place all-time at GFU. Ahead are Mike Royer (1,367, 1978-82) and Jordan Green (1,468, 1997-2001) ... With 21 rebounds during the week, he has 677 for his career, and needs 63 in the last 6 games to tie Gary Blackmar (740, 1965-68) for 10th on the all-time list ...
Aaron Schmick hit 6-8 free throws in two games last week, putting his three-year career free throw pct. at .805 (211-262), 11th on the all-time list ... With 23 points during the week, giving him 933 in his career, he needs 67 in the last 6 games to become the 32nd player in Bruin history to reach 1,000 ...
Scott Szalay had 3 blocked shots in two games last week, giving him 58 for his two-year career. He needs 16 in the last 6 games to tie Rick Schlachter (74, 1986-90) and Curtis Kimbrough (74, 1983-87) for 7th on the all-time list ...
Chris Parker had no free throws last week, remaining 9th on the all-time free throw pct. list at .814 (83-102) ...
* NWC Stats: Bruins Take Over Top Spot as Best Defensive Team
In the latest Northwest Conference stats (Feb. 5), George Fox is 1st in scoring defense (70.7), 3-pt field goal pct. (.389); 2nd in scoring margin (+4.0), field goal pct. (.475), field goal pct. defense (.426), free throw pct. (.712), rebound margin (+1.1), rebounding defense (34.6); 3rd in assists (14.26, tie); 4th in scoring (74.7), assist/turnover ratio (0.98), blocked shots (2.95); 5th in steals (6.37), turnover margin (-0.95); 9th in 3-pt field goals (5.26) ...
Mark Gayman is 2nd in scoring (18.4), 3rd in rebounding (8.3), 11th in field goal pct. (.500) ...
Aaron Schmick is 1st in 3-pt pct. (.547), 3rd in field goal pct. (.584), 7th in scoring (15.9), 3-pt field goals (2.16), assists (2.84), 12th in free throw pct. (.800) ...
Scott Szalay is 2nd in blocked shots (1.84), 7th in rebounding (6.9) ...
Philip Heu-Weller is 3rd in 3-pt pct. (.423), 6th in free throw pct. (.842), 27th in scoring (10.0) ...
Ben Melvin is 11th in assists (2.74) ...
Brent Satern is 10th in assist/turnover ratio (1.26), 15th in assists (2.53, tie) ...
Chris Parker is 7th in free throw pct. (.812) ...
For the latest NWC statistics, go to www.nwcsports.com.
* NCAA Stats: Bruins 35th Among 3-Pt Field Goal Pct. Leaders
In the latest NCAA Division III national stats (games thru Feb. 6), the George Fox Bruins ranked 35th in 3-pt field goal pct. (.389) ... The Bruins have the best mark this season for 3-pt field goal pct. in one game: .923 (12-13) at Whitworth on Jan. 8 ...
Aaron Schmick has a 3-pt field goal pct. of .547, which would lead the nation, but candidates must have at last 2.5 threes made per game to qualify ...
* The Wirta Streaks:
Mike "Biggs" Wirta, George Fox's statistical guru, raised his string of consecutive Bruin men's basketball games attended, home and away, to 557 with two games last week, last missing one on Nov. 25, 1985, at Puget Sound. His streak of men's basketball home games worked is 412, last missing a home game on Dec. 15, 1972, vs. Willamette, when he was in advanced training with the Army at Ft. Jackson in Columbia, S.C. Now in his 34th season of keeping Bruin statistics, Biggs has seen 970 George Fox men's basketball games in his lifetime.
* Halftime Programs for Bruin Basketball Games
A number of special promotions are scheduled for the halftimes of George Fox men's and women's basketball games throughout the 2004-05 season, including:
"Halftime Hoop Shoot" - Co-sponsored by the Coffee Cottage in Newberg and Country Insurance & Financial Services, this promotion takes place at the halftime of every home game. Tickets for $1 are sold in the gym lobby until just before halftime, and one lucky ticketholder is selected to shoot. A made free throw earns a $5 coupon at the Coffee Cottage, a made three-pointer earns a $10 coupon. A made half-court shot earns the shooter the Country Financial "pot" for the evening, which increases by $50 each time no shot is made (the pot currently stands at $400 for the men's games and $400 for the women's games). All proceeds from the ticket sales go to the GFU basketball programs as a donation.
"Border Collies Night", Feb. 11 - The always-popular Border Collies show from Dallas, Ore., will perform during halftime of both Bruin games vs. Willamette. This entertaining group of trained dogs has performed at many college and professional games, including the Portland Trailblazers and Portland Beavers.
"Chehalem Valley Dance Academy Night", Feb. 25 - The CVDA Performing Company from Newberg will present some of their competition dance routines during halftime of both Bruin games vs. Lewis & Clark.