Jan. 15, 2007

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BELLINGHAM, Wash. -

UPDATE: Beginning a three-game home stand, the longest of its league season, the Western Washington University men's basketball team entertains arch-rival Central Washington University in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference contest Saturday (7 p.m.) on Haggen Court at Sam Carver Gymnasium.

The Vikings, who are 6-1 at Carver Gym this season, have won 33 of their last 34 regular-season home games.

Western, 8-6 overall, split a pair of conference road games last week. After defeating Seattle U., 86-80, on Jan. 11, the Vikings fell 80-65 to defending GNAC and West Region champion Seattle Pacific on Jan. 13.

Western has lost five of its last eight games after a 5-1 start. However, two of the losses during that stretch were to Top 25-ranked teams and five of the contests were on the road.

The Vikings are tied with Central for fifth place in the GNAC at 2-2. The Wildcats, who are 7-8 overall, were the preseason coaches pick to win the league title. They have won four of their last six games after a 3-6 start.

Senior forward Lukas Henne continues to be Western's leader in virtually every statistical category. He is scoring at a 19.6 clip, shooting 54.8 percent (91-of-166) from the field and 91.1 percent (82-of-90) at the line. Henne also is grabbing 7.0 rebounds per game and blocking 1.9 shots.

Henne's free throw percentage is school-record pace and ranked third nationally last week. He is second in the conference in points and blocks, third in rebounds, fourth in free throw accuracy and ninth in field goal shooting. Henne has scored over 20 points eight times this season, having a career-high 27 points three times, and is the only Western player to reach double figures in every game.

Sophomore guard Ira Graham is averaging 15.3 points and a team-best 3.9 assists, which ranks eighth among league leaders. Junior forward Brett Weisner has scored at an 11.3 clip in seven games since returning to action following a torn ACL suffered last April.

Freshman guard Harold McAllister continues to shine since being inserted into the starting lineup five games ago. He tops the team and ranks second among league leaders in 3-point shooting at 51.2 percent (21-of-41), while averaging 7.4 points and making 20-of-24 free throws (83.3 percent). McAllister also paces the squad in steals (1.3).

Freshman guard Brandon Williams also is averaging 7.4 points, sophomore forward Calin Schell is averaging 7.8 points and 6.3 rebounds and freshman center Steve Severin is averaging 6.5 rebounds, 5.9 points and 1.4 blocks.

Severin is tied for third in the GNAC in blocks, having at least one rejection in every game this season, and is seventh in rebounds. He and Henne have helped Western lead the league in blocks (4.6).

Western coach Brad Jackson, in his 22nd season, has 406 career victories. That is five shy of the school record for wins by a coach in any sport. Current WWU director of athletics Lynda Goodrich posted 411 victories in 19 campaigns as the Vikings' women's basketball coach from 1971-90.

UPCOMING GAMES:

Jan. 20 (Sat.) CENTRAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY*# (BELLINGHAM), 7 p.m.Jan. 25 (Thu.) UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE* (BELLINGHAM), 7 p.m.Jan. 27 (Sat.) UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS*# (BELLINGHAM), 3 p.m.Feb. 1 (Thu.) at Central Washington University*# (Ellensburg), 7:30 p.m.
Home games (all caps) on Haggen Court at Sam Carver Gymnasium#broadcast on KBAI Radio (930 AM) and via the internet at wwuvikings.com*Great Northwest Athletic Conference contest

THREE-DOT NOTES: Joe Moses, an all-star guard at Western from 1938-42 and a member of the WWU Athletic Hall of Fame, will be introduced at halftime of the Central game ... Henne has made 29-of-33 free throws (87.9 percent) and 39-of-70 field goals (55.7 percent) over the last five games ... Western is 6-1 at Carver Gym this season, winning 33 of its last 34 regular-season home contests ... Two of Western's losses were to Top 25-ranked opponents at the first Great Western Shootout on Dec. 19-20. After a narrow 67-64 loss to No.22 Cal Poly Pomona, the host Vikings fell 86-67 to No.24 Cal State San Bernardino ... The Vikings, who are shooting 45.3 percent from the floor, have not shot below 46.4 percent from the field for a season since hitting 44.4 percent during the 1999-2000 campaign ... Western's home game with Pacific Lutheran on Nov. 28 was postponed because of winter weather conditions that forced closure of the school for two days. The contest will not be made up.

Henne was named MVP at the WWU Chuck Randall Thanksgiving Classic and was an all-tourney choice at the Seattle Pacific Tip-Off Classic. He also was a GNAC Player of the Week for Nov. 19-25 ... Graham was an all-tourney pick at both the Great Western Shootout and Randall Classic ... The last time Western did not score 100 points in a game during a season was 1983-84 ... Just five letter winners and no starters return from last year's 23-7 Viking team that reached the championship game of the NCAA Division II West Regional. It was the first time that Western had made back-to-back appearances in the national tournament (reached regional semifinals in 2004-05). The Vikings, who placed second in the GNAC with a 13-5 record, had their second straight 20-win season and their fourth in the last six years.

COACH JACKSON: Brad Jackson is in his 22nd year and is the most successful men's coach in school history, both in total wins (406-230) and winning percentage (.638). He ranks No.19 among active NCAA II coaches in victories and 35th in winning percentage. In 2001, 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 16 post-season playoff appearances, including district/region/conference championships and national tournament appearances in 1988, 1994, 2001, 2005 and 2006. He has had nine 20-win campaigns (1986-90, 1993-94, 2000-01, 2001-02, 2004-05, 2005-06).

RADIO BROADCASTS: Selected Western games are being broadcast this season on KBAI Radio (930 AM) with Doug Lange handling the play-by-play, and either Mark Scholten, Jason Stiles or Ervin Kuehbler 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.

PROBABLE WESTERN STARTERS & TOP RESERVES:

G Ira Graham, 6-1, *So., Fontana, CA/FontanaG Harold McAllister, 6-0, Fr., Vancouver, WA/Mountain ViewC Steve Severin, 6-10, Fr., Richland, WA/HanfordF Lukas Henne, 6-7, ***Sr., Bremerton, WA/Central KitsapF Brett Weisner, 6-5, **Jr., Spokane, WA/Shadle Park/Eastern Washington
F Calin Schell, 6-7, *So., Chelan, WA/ChelanG Brandon Williams, 6-4, Fr., Chicago, IL/Thornton Fractional NorthF Gabe Thrash, 6-8, Fr., Gardena, CA/Gardena*letters

OPPONENT SKETCHES:

CENTRAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY: The Wildcats (7-8 overall, 2-2 GNAC, Jan. 18 host Seattle U.), who have played just two homes games to date, were picked to win the GNAC title in the preseason coaches poll after finishing in a fourth-place tie last year (15-13 overall, 10-8 league). They have won four of their last six games after a 3-6 start. Nine letter winners return for coach Greg Sparling (12th season, 193-138), including three starters. They are 6-6 senior forward Lance Den Boer (17.3 ppg - 6th GNAC, 4.9 rpg, 91.8 FT Pct. - 6th nationally, 3rd GNAC), a second-team all-GNAC pick, 6-2 sophomore guard Johnny Spevak (3.1 apg) and 6-9 senior forward Grant Assink (6.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg), who played one season at Western. Heading a standout group of newcomers are 6-8 senior center Bryan Freshwater (9.4 ppg), who redshirted last year after transferring from Alaska Anchorage, 6-0 junior guard Nate Jackson (6.3 ppg) from Highline CC, and 6-0 junior guard Tyler Monk (11.4 ppg) from Bakersfield College. Central holds a 148-84 series advantage with Western winning the last four meetings and 10 of the last 12 after the Wildcats had taken 10 of the previous 11.

UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE: The Seawolves (11-3 overall, 2-1 GNAC, 9-3 home, 2-0 road, Jan. 18 at Saint Martin's, Jan. 20 at Western Oregon), who have won five of their last six games, tied for fourth in the GNAC last year (19-12, 10-8) and were picked to place third in the preseason coaches poll. Two starters return for coach Rusty Osborne (3rd year, 41-31) - 6-0 junior guard Luke Cooper (4.9 ppg, 8.1 apg - 2nd nationally, Eltham, Australia), who has led the GNAC in assists the last two years, and 6-6 junior center Carl Arts (15.1 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 3.1 apg). Another top returnee is 6-2 senior guard Eric Draper (15.6 ppg). Five talented newcomers have been seeing plenty of action. They are 6-7 sophomore forward Ivan Platenik (9.6 ppg) from Australia, 6-5 junior forward Allen McFarland (3.6 ppg, 2.4 rpg), who played at Salt Lake CC and NCAA I Western Illinois University, 6-5 freshman forward Trenton Millar (5.5 ppg), a two-time Alaska all-state pick, 6-8 junior center McCade Olsen (12.1 ppg), a two-time Region IX pick at Eastern Wyoming College who led the region in scoring last season with a 21.7 points per game average, and 6-3 senior guard Buddy Bailey (7.6 ppg), who played three seasons at NAIA Cal Baptist University. UAA ranks fourth nationally in field goal percentage (52.7), and ninth in both scoring margin (18.0) and free throw accuracy (77.4). Western, which leads the series 6-5, split a pair of meetings last season.

UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS: The Nanooks (11-6 overall, 2-1 league, 7-5 home, 4-1 road, Jan. 18 at Western Oregon, Jan. 20 at Saint Martin's, Jan. 25 at Seattle U.), who have won five of their last six games, tied for fourth place in the GNAC last season (17-10, 10-8) and were picked to place seventh in the preseason coaches poll. They have qualified for the NCAA tournament in three of the last four seasons, twice sharing the GNAC title. One starter returns for coach Frank Ostanik (3rd year, 39-19) - 6-3 junior guard Kenny Barker (15.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg). Another top returnee is 6-2 junior guard Mike Titus (9.3 ppg). Three talented transfers complete the starting five. They are 6-5 senior forward Jushay Rockett (20.7 ppg, 9.8 rpg) from NCAA I Texas State University, 5-9 junior guard Barry Barnes (9.1 ppg, 5.6 apg) from Long Beach City College and 6-8 sophomore center Colin Matteson (8.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg) from Edmonds CC. Western leads the series 13-6.

GAME SUMMARIES:

Jan. 11 - WESTERN 86, Seattle U. 80 at Seattle, WA

Weisner had a game-high 22 points and Henne added 21 points and a game-high nine rebounds as Western defeated Seattle U., 86-80, in a GNAC game at Connolly Center. Seattle U. fell to 9-4 overall and 1-1 in the GNAC with its first home loss of the season. Guards Ryan Webb and Sam Kirby each had 13 points for the Redhawks and Webb also had team highs of eight assists and five rebounds. The lead changed hands nine times in the first 14 minutes of the second half. Seattle took its last lead at 68-67 on a putback by Travis Welt with 6:41 to play. Western then went on a 9-2 run that included 3-pointers by reserves McAllister and Williams to take a 76-70 lead with 4:13 to go. Western never trailed again, but the Redhawks did tie the game, 76-76, on a free throw by Leigh Swanson with 3:11 left. Henne then hit a free throw with 2:13 to play, and after Seattle failed to score on the next two possessions, Graham was fouled on a 3-point attempt and hit all three free throws, putting Western up by four, 80-76. The Redhawks did not have a potential tying possession after that. Seattle jumped to an 8-0 lead and led by as much as 12 in the first half. The Redhawks were up by 10, 34-24, with five minutes left in the period, but Western went on a 12-2 run, with Weisner scoring nine of the points, to tie the game at 36-36, with 1:55 to play, and the Vikings held a 42-41 edge at halftime. McAllister had 11 points for the Vikings and Severin added 10. Both were 4-of-5 from the field as Western shot 57.1 percent (28-of-49) from the floor, including 61.9 percent (13-of-21) in the second half. The Vikings were 10-of-15 (66.7 percent) on 3-pointers, with Weisner going 4-of-6 and McAllister and Williams each being 2-of-2.

Jan. 13 - Seattle Pacific 80, WESTERN 65 at Seattle, WA

Guard Dustin Bremerman scored 17 of his game-high 26 points in the second half as Seattle Pacific defeated Western, 80-65, in a GNAC game at Royal Brougham Pavilion. Henne scored 22 points for Western, which fell to 8-6 overall and 2-2 in the GNAC. Schell added 12 points for the Vikings, all in the first half. Seattle Pacific, the defending GNAC and West Region champion, improved to 10-5 overall and 3-1 in conference play with its sixth win in seven games. Center Robbie Will had 18 points and game-highs of nine rebounds and four blocked shots for the Falcons, who are 7-0 at home this season. The Vikings used a 9-1 run to take a 49-48 advantage on an 8-footer by Henne with 10:49 left, but it was the last Western lead. Seattle Pacific responded with eight straight points to take a 56-49 advantage. Western rallied briefly with a free throw by Graham and a 3-pointer by Henne, but the Falcons then ran off 10 straight points, eight of them by Bremerman, to go up 66-53 with 5:13 left. Six of those points came on free throws and Bremerman was 12-of-12 at the line for the game. Western got no closer than 10 points after that. Graham had 11 points for the Vikings, who shot just 38.3 percent (23-of-60) from the field. Western jumped to a 6-1 lead to start the game, but the Falcons rallied to take an 11-9 advantage. The score was tied six times in the first half, and the Falcons held a 33-31 edge at the intermission.