Feb. 17, 2003
BELLINGHAM, Wash. -
UPDATE: Looking to build on an impressive road victory last Saturday, the Western Washington University men's basketball team returns home to play a pair of Great Northwest Athletic Conference games at Carver Gym.
The Vikings, 12-9 overall, 6-6 in the GNAC, host Western Oregon (12-10, 5-8) on Thurs., Feb. 20, then meet conference-leading Humboldt State (20-2, 11-2), which is ranked No.3 nationally in the NCAA Division II Coaches Top 25, on Sat., Feb. 22.
The home stand comes in the wake of a crucial 83-72 victory Saturday at Alaska Fairbanks in which Western snapped a three-game losing streak, handed the Nanooks their first home loss of the season and kept its flickering post-season hopes alive. Earlier in the trip, the Vikings rallied from a 21-point deficit but fell just short in a 79-77 loss at Alaska Anchorage.
This week's games bring the top three scorers in the GNAC to Carver Gym. Western Oregon's Sean Kelly leads the conference at 23.5 points a game and his teammate Robert Day is No.3 at 21.6 a contest. Humboldt State's Austin Nichols is second in scoring at 21.8 and the Lumberjacks also feature the GNAC's leading rebounder in Fred Hooks (12.1).
The Vikings are led by the No.5 scorer and No.4 rebounder in the conference, senior center Mike Palm. Palm, who became Western's career rebound leader (814) in the victory over Alaska Fairbanks and just the fourth player in school history to score 1,500 career points (1,544, fourth on all-time list) in the loss to Alaska Anchorage, is averaging 18.8 points and 9.7 rebounds a game.
Palm, who was named GNAC co-Player of the Week after scoring 60 points (25-of-34 field goals, 73.5 percent, and 9-of-10 free throws), grabbing 31 rebounds and blocking nine shots in the two Alaska games, is also shooting a GNAC-best 58.4 percent from the field, is second in the conference in blocked shots (2.2) and ninth in free throw percentage (87-of-106, 82.1 percent). He has scored double figures in 20 of 21 games this season (and in 37 of his last 40 contests), with 10 double-doubles (points and rebounds) and nine 20-point contests.
Palm is third in Western history in career blocked shots with 155, making him one of just two players to be in the top four in points, rebounds and blocked shots. He is 27 points from third place in career scoring and 80 points from second place, and is 13 blocked shots from second in that category.
Junior guard Jason Burrell is averaging 12.8 points and 4.6 rebounds a game and is second in the GNAC in assists (4.7). He ranks fifth in the league in free-throw percentage, shooting 84.0 percent (68-of-81).
Also contributing double-figure scoring from the backcourt is redshirt freshman Grant Dykstra. He is averaging 11.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists.
Sophomore forward Maurice Tyree returned to the lineup last week after missing three games with a kidney ailment. Tyree averages 10.3, points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks, and ranks seventh in the GNAC in field-goal percentage (54.4 percent, 68-of-125).
Completing the starting lineup is senior forward Nehemiah Campbell, who averages 8.2 points and 5.2 assists and is shooting a team-best 36.6 percent (15-of-41) on 3-pointers.
The key performer off the bench is redshirt freshman guard Ryan Diggs, who is averaging 9.6 points and ranks fourth in the GNAC in steals (1.8).
In national statistics through games of Feb. 1, the Vikings ranked No.18 in rebounding margin. They are currently averaging 81.3 points a game, shooting 47.3 percent from the field while holding opponents to 42.0 percent, and have an average rebound margin of 7.0 a game.
Western leads the league in rebound margin and blocked shots (5.3), and is second in scoring margin.
UPCOMING GAMES:Feb. 20 (Thu.) WESTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY* (CARVER GYM, 7 p.m.)Feb. 22 (Sat.) HUMBOLDT STATE UNIVERSITY* (CARVER GYM, 7 p.m.)Feb. 27 (Thu.) at Seattle University*@ (Seattle - 7 p.m.)Mar. 1 (Sat.) at Northwest Nazarene University*@ (Nampa, ID - 6 p.m. PT)*Great Northwest Athletic Conference counter@broadcast on KBAI Radio (930 AM - Bellingham) and internet (wwuvikings.com)
THREE-DOT NOTES: The Vikings have lost three of their last four home games, the first time that has happened since 1997-98, after having a streak of 19 consecutive home wins, the second longest in school history ... Western shot 53.3 percent from the field against Alaska Fairbanks, ending of string of seven games in which the Vikings had not shot better than 48.3 percent, being under 36.0 in two of them. In the previous four contests, the Vikings had shot at least 57.9 percent, going over 60.0 percent twice. Western is 6-1 when shooting better than 50.0 percent from the floor ... Viking opponents are making a remarkable 75.5 percent of their free throws. That mark would lead the GNAC by a comfortable margin and would rank in the top 10 nationally in NCAA Division II ... Dykstra is on pace to become just the fifth freshman in school history to average double figures. The other four - Jared Stevenson (11.8, 1996-97), Palm (12.7, 1999-2000), Harold Doyal (10.8, 1991-92) and Jeff Dick (13.4, 1990-91) - currently rank first, third, fourth and fifth, respectively, on Western's career scoring list. With Diggs just under double figures, the Vikings still have the possibility of having two freshmen average double figures in the same season for the first time in school history.
Burrell has averaged 16.7 points over the last three games ... Tyree was named tourney MVP as Western won its own WWU/Chuck Randall Thanksgiving Classic with victories over BYU-Hawaii, 74-65, and Cal Poly Pomona, 68-54. Also picked to the all-tourney team were Palm and redshirt freshman guard Kyle Jackson ... Humboldt State was the near-unanimous preseason coaches poll pick to win the 2002-03 GNAC title, getting nine of 10 first-place votes and 108 points. Western was second (77), with Central Washington third (75) and Seattle Pacific fourth (74).
D-II PLAYOFFS EXPANDED: The NCAA Division II post-season playoff field has been expanded from 48 to 64 schools, with eight schools from each region qualifying. That means that even though the GNAC champion doesn't earn an "automatic" berth in the playoffs, it could conceivably have three or possibly four of its teams advance to the March tournament.
PALM 1-3-4 (REBOUNDS, BLOCKS, POINTS) AMONG CAREER LEADERS: Six-foot-10 senior center Mike Palm is the school's career leader in rebounds with 814 and ranks fourth in scoring with 1,544 points (27 short of third). He broke Jim Adams' career rebound mark of 800 set in 1960-63 on Saturday at Alaska Fairbanks. It was the oldest individual mark on the books.
Palm is one of just two players currently ranked among Western's career Top 4 in points, rebounds and blocked shots. Palm is first in rebounds, third in blocked shots at 155 and fourth in points. The last Viking to achieve that was forward Harold Doyal (1991-95), who now plays professionally in the first division in France.
During his four-year career, Palm is shooting 58.4 percent (561-of-961) from the floor and 82.9 percent (412-of-497) at the free throw line.
LAST SEASON: Western finished 21-6, winning its last nine games, and tied for the inaugural Great Northwest Athletic Conference championship with Humboldt State and Seattle Pacific at 15-3, but was denied a berth in the West Region of the NCAA Division II National Tournament after reaching the national semifinals in 2000-01.
RADIO BROADCASTS: Eleven Western games are being broadcast this season on KBAI Radio (930 AM) with Doug Lange handling the play-by-play, and either Jason Stiles or Mark Scholten providing the color commentary. They also can be heard on the internet at www.wwuvikings.com.
ON THE WEB: For up-to-date statistics, box scores of every game, records, stories, etc., see the Western Athletic web page at www.wwuvikings.com. Up-to-date league standings and statistics can be found on the Great Northwest Athletic Conference web page at www.gnacsports.com.
COACH JACKSON: Brad Jackson is in his 18th year and is the winningest coach in school history, both in total wins (332-198) and winning percentage (.626). He ranks among the top 30 active NCAA II coaches in victories. Two years ago, Jackson directed Western to a 27-4 record and the semifinals of the NCAA II National Championship, being named NABC/NCAA II West Region, Northwest small college and Pacific West Conference Coach of the Year. Five times named district/region Coach of the Year, Jackson has directed Western to 14 post-season playoff appearances, including district/region/conference championships and national tournament appearances in 1988, 1994 and 2001. He has had seven 20-win campaigns (1986-90, 1993-94, 2000-01, 2001-02).
PROBABLE WESTERN STARTERS & TOP RESERVES:G Jason Burrell**, 6-1, Jr., Ontario, CA, 12.8 ppg, 4.7 apg, .840 FT Pct.G Grant Dykstra, 6-4, R-Fr., Everson, WA/Lynden Christian, 11.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.5 apgC Mike Palm***, 6-10, Sr., Puyallup,WA/Rogers, 18.8 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 2.2 bpg, .584 FG Pct.F Nehemiah Campbell***, 6-4, Sr., L.A., CA/Washington, 8.2 ppg, 5.2 rpgF Maurice Tyree*, 6-7, So., Sacramento, CA/Jesuit, 10.3 ppg, 6.1 rpg, .544 FG Pct.
G Ryan Diggs, 6-2, Fr., Victorville, CA/Silverado, 9.6 ppg, 2.5 apg, 1.8 spgF Chris Stevens***, 6-9, Sr., Long Beach, CA/Long Beach Poly, 3.2 ppg, 2.5 rpg, .571 FG Pct.G Stefan Dickason, 6-1, Jr., Kent, WA/Kentridge, 7.1 ppg, .818 FT Pct.F Darrell Visser, 6-6, Fr., Lynden, WA, 3.1 ppg, 2.6 rpgG Kyle Jackson, 5-10, R-Fr., Bellingham, WA/Sehome, 4.9 ppg. .857 FT Pct.*letters
UPCOMING OPPONENT INFORMATION:
WESTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY: The Wolves (12-10, 5-8, Feb. 15 host Central Washington), who finished 10-17 last season, have won three of their last four games. That followed a four-game losing streak after a 9-5 start. WOU has two of the top 25 scorers in NCAA II - 6-5 sophomore forward Sean Kelly (23.5 ppg-14th nat., 7.1 rpg, .413 3-pt. Pct), a transfer from Ricks College (Id.), and second-team all-GNAC 6-5 junior guard Robert Day (21.6 ppg-25th nat., 5.6 rpg). Day, who ranks 15th nationally in 3-pointers (3.3) and 27th in 3-point percentage (42.0), scored a personal-best 41 points against Western last year. Another top returnee is 6-7 senior center Kevin Broderick-Kartye (6.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg). Two talented newcomers are 6-0 junior guard Chris Olson (6.6 ppg), a second-team NWAACC all-star from Lane CC (Ore.), and 6-0 freshman guard Kevin Tyner (7.4 ppg, 5.6 apg-28th nat.). In his first year as coach is Tim Hills (26th year overall). Hills coached the WOU women the last two seasons (31-23) after directing the Western Baptist men for 23 years (394-360). WOU ranks eighth nationally in made 3-pointers, averaging 9.8 per game, and 24th in 3-point percentage (38.9). Western holds 24-8 series advantage, winning, 68-63, at Monmouth, Ore., on Jan. 25.
HUMBOLDT STATE UNIVERSITY: The Lumberjacks (20-2, 11-2, Feb. 20 at Seattle Pacific), ranked No.3 nationally and No.2 in the West Region, have won seven of their last nine games (4-game winning streak) after a 13-0 start. The top players back from last year's 25-4 team that tied for the GNAC title and reached the West Regional title game are 6-6 junior forward Austin Nichols (21.8 ppg-23rd nat., 4.8 rpg, .544 FG Pct., .481 3-pt. pct., .842 FT Pct.), an honorable mention DII Bulletin All-American, and 6-6 junior forward Fred Hooks (16.8 ppg, 12.1 rpg-4th nat., .538 FG Pct., 1.5 bpg), the GNAC Player of the Year who was a third-team Daktronics All-American and a fourth-team DII Bulletin All-American. Two other returning standouts for coach Tom Wood (22nd year, 311-286) are 6-6 junior center Trey Shannon (8.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg) and 5-8 senior guard Jeremy Robinson (6.9 ppg, 3.8 apg). A big addition is 6-4 junior guard Kaylin Thornton (8.7 ppg), a transfer from Columbia College where he was MVP of the Central Valley Conference. After missing the first 12 games because of a herniated disc, 6-2 junior guard Mark White (8.0 ppg, 3.7 apg), who set a school record for assists last season, played in seven contests before breaking a bone in his foot. HSU ranks 11th nationally in scoring margin (15.0), 18th in scoring (83.8), and 25th in field goal percentage (48.4). The Lumberjacks lead the league in scoring offense, scoring defense (68.8), scoring margin and assists (18.5). HSU has the longest home winning streak in the nation at 29. Western holds a 7-5 series edge, losing, 76-69, at Arcata, Calif., on Jan. 23.
SEATTLE UNIVERSITY: The Redhawks (14-7, 7-5, 7-3 home, Feb. 20 at Saint Martin's, Feb. 22 at Central Washington), who were 6-23 last season, have lost three of their last five games after a 12-4 start, their best in 36 years (have won all three of their overtime games this season). They are led by three returning starters - 6-4 senior forward Darnell Lyons (16.4 ppg, 83.3 FT Pct.), 6-3 sophomore guard Andy Bloom (10.9 ppg, 83.9 FT Pct.) and 6-4 senior forward Bryan Peterson (8.1 ppg). Second-year coach Joe Callero (42-55 overall, 3rd year) picked up four talented newcomers, led by 6-6 freshman forward Jeffrey McDaniel (9.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg, .527 FG Pct.). Three transfers round out that quartet - 6-3 junior guard Jelani Williams (7.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg), who came from Los Medanos JC after a stop at Portland State University; 6-8 junior center Nic Lano (7.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg) from Edmonds CC, and 6-4 junior guard Eddie Lincoln (5.3 ppg, 3.8 apg), who played the last two seasons at Eastern Washington University after earning 2000 Class 3A state Player of the Year honors at Seattle's O'Dea High School. Western leads the series, 41-29, losing 73-65 at Bellingham on Feb. 1.
NORTHWEST NAZARENE UNIVERSITY: The Crusaders (3-17, 1-11, Feb. 20 at Central Washington, Feb. 22 at Saint Martin's, Feb. 27 host Seattle Pacific) have lost six straight games (had 8-game losing streak earlier in season). Three top newcomers for coach Ed Weidenbach (7th year, 147-75), who returns for his second stint after directing NNU for six years from 1991-97, are 6-9 junior center Cam Wattling (12.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg, .577 FG Pct.) from Wenatchee Valley CC and 6-9 junior forward Matt Gerome (8.6 ppg) from Scottsdale CC (Ari.) and 6-3 sophomore forward David Lehrschall (6.2 ppg), who has not played for three years after earning all-conference honors at Yakima Valley CC. Another new face is 6-3 freshman guard Ryan McCarthy (10.3 ppg), who redshirted last season. Heading the returnees from last year's 1-18 team, are 5-10 senior guard Larry Graves (10.8 ppg, 4.3 apg), 6-5 senior forward Kevin Richard (6.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg) and 6-3 senior guard Tyler Jeans (8.0 ppg). The Crusaders are being outscored by 10.7 points per game. Western holds an 8-1 series advantage, winning, 80-61, at Bellingham on Jan. 30.
GAME SUMMARIES:
Feb. 13 - Alaska Anchorage 79, WESTERN 77 at Anchorage, AK Palm matched his career high of 35 points and became just the fourth player in school history to reach the 1,500 plateau in career scoring, but it was not enough as the Vikings fell 79-77 to Alaska Anchorage in a GNAC game at the UAA Sports Center. The Vikings, who trailed by 21 points, 62-41, with 8:22 to go, used a furious rally to cut the deficit to one point, 78-77, with 13 seconds remaining. After Seawolves' guard Scott Stevens made one of two free throws for a two-point advantage at 0:07, Western's Burrell missed a driving layin that would have tied the game as time ran out. Alaska Anchorage improved to 11-10 overall and 8-4 league with its eighth win in 12 games after a 3-6 start. The Seawolves were led by guard Mark Drake, who came off the bench to score 25 points, 16 in the first half, as he made 7-of-9 3-pointers. Behind by 21 points, Western used a 21-5 run with Palm scoring nine, to trail by just five points, 67-62, with 3:24 left. The Seawolves, who scored their last 12 points on free throws, still led by six, 77-71, with 27 seconds remaining. Western's Diggs, who scored 10 of his 12 points in the last seven minutes, then drove for a layup. After Alaska Anchorage failed inbounds the ball, Palm scored with 20 seconds left to put the Vikings within two, 77-75. Guard Jesse Brown made one of two free throws for a 3-point Alaska Anchorage lead at 0:16, but Burrell, who scored 14 points for Western, connected on two free throws with 13 seconds to go, cutting the deficit to one. In the first half, the Seawolves used a 14-1 run, Drake scoring the last eight points, to lead by 13, 30-17, with 7:18 left in the period. After the Vikings cut that margin to eight, Alaska Anchorage scored eight of the last 10 points for a 42-28 halftime advantage. Western held the Seawolves scoreless for the first five minutes of the second half to get within seven, 42-35. But Alaska Anchorage used a 15-4 run for its biggest lead of 21 points. Palm, who also had game highs of 15 rebounds and four blocked shots, was 14-of-18 from the field (1-of-2 3-pointers) and 6-of-7 at the line. He now has 1,519 career points and 798 rebounds, just two short of the Vikings' career record of 800 held by Jim Adams (1960-63). Palm scored his 1,500th point with 17:02 left in the second half on a layup that resulted in a 3-point play. Western shot 50.0 percent (15-of-30) from the floor in the second half and was 18-of-20 (81.8 percent) at the line. Guard Cody Gallatin scored 11 points for Alaska Anchorage, and forward Peter Bullock, who entered the contest averaging 19.5 points, had nine points and nine rebounds. Western's Tyree returned after missing three games with a kidney ailment. He finished with four points and two rebounds.
Feb. 15 - WESTERN 83, Alaska Fairbanks 72 at Fairbanks, AK Palm scored a game-high 25 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, becoming the school's career leader in that category, as Western upset Alaska Fairbanks, 83-72, in a GNAC game at Patty Center. The Vikings also got 17 points from Burrell. Alaska Fairbanks, which lost at home for the first time in 12 games this season, fell to 16-6 overall and 9-4 league. The Nanooks were led by center Jason Williams with 21 points and a game-high 18 rebounds. Palm broke the oldest existing school record when he grabbed his third rebound of the game with 13:16 left in the first half, giving him 801 for his four-year career. The old mark of 800 was set by Jim Adams in 1960-63. Palm, who also had five blocked shots, now has career totals of 814 rebounds and 1,544 points. Palm, who had 13 points and 13 rebounds in the opening half, scored on the first two possessions of the game to give the Vikings a 4-0 lead, but Western scored just five points in the next 10 minutes and trailed, 12-9, with nine minutes left in the half before going on a 12-2 run to take a 21-14 lead with 6:21 left in the period. The Vikings never trailed again, holding a 33-25 edge at halftime. Alaska Fairbanks pulled to within four just 58 seconds into the second half, but Western ran off seven straight points to take a 40-29 lead, their biggest of the game to that point, with 17:51 to play. The margin fluctuated between seven and 13 points until the final minute. A layup by Williams pulled the Nanooks to within six, 76-70, with 56 seconds to go, but the Vikings put the game away by hitting 7-of-8 free throws in the final 48 seconds. Dykstra had 14 points for the Vikings, who shot 53.6 percent (30-of-56) from the field, hitting better than 50 percent for the first time in eight games. Jackson came off the bench to contribute 11. Brade Oleson had 15 points for Alaska Fairbanks and Steve Towne added 14. The Nanooks committed just seven turnovers, the lowest number for a Western opponent this season, but shot only 37.1 percent (26-of-70) from the field.
