MEN’S BASKETBALL: Lutes Face “Whits” On Season’s Final Road Trip

THIS WEEK: Pacific Lutheran (10-10, 6-6 Northwest Conference) at Whitworth (15-6, 8-4 NWC), Friday, 8 p.m.; PLU at Whitman (4-16, 0-12 NWC), Saturday, 6 p.m.

ABOUT THE MISSIONARIES: With only four games left in the season, Whitman is inching closer to the first winless Northwest Conference season since the 2001-02 George Fox team went 0-16 and 3-22 overall. This season has not been easy on a young Missionaries team that is currently ranked last in the conference in scoring margin (-7.8), rebounding margin (-5.8), assists per game (12.75) and steals per game (4.7). In its 12 conference games, Whitman has been outscored by an average of 14.3 points per game. In spite of their struggles, the Missionaries have a talented team that is led by conference player of the year candidate Chris Faidley. The junior combo guard leads the league in scoring at 23.2 points per game, 1.7 more than PLU’s Josh Dressler. Post Graham Brewer and guard Jordan Wheeler average 11.7 and 11.5 points per game, respectively, creating threats both in the paint and on the perimeter. Faidley’s makes his presence known in more than just his scoring, ranking ninth in the league with 6.3 rebounds per game and sixth in the league with 4.0 assists per game. PLU has won the past four games between these two teams, as well as 65 of the 92 total meetings since the series began in 1956.

ABOUT THE PIRATES: Whitworth and Puget Sound have been the frontrunners for the Northwest Conference championship pretty much all season. The two teams represent the debate between offense and defense, running the floor or the traditional half-court offense. The Loggers have dominated by simply overpowering their opponents, scoring at a pace that no other team can consistently maintain. On the other hand, the Pirates focus on defense and slowing the pace. Whitworth has outscored its opponents by 12.3 points per game, a close second in the conference to Puget Sound’s 12.8. The Pirate defense has held opponents to a league-best .423 field goal percentage, while out-rebounding its opponents by 6.2 boards per game. Whitworth’s 1.44 assist/turnover ratio is significantly better than anyone else in the conference, and the Pirates’ rank second in the league in both three-point shooting percentage and three-point shooting defense. Fouling is never a good idea against the Pirates, who shoot conference-best a .776 percentage from the charity stripe. Position-by-position, Whitworth boasts the biggest starting lineup in the conference, an experienced team with size and strength and motivation to win its second straight Northwest Conference championship.

A SCHEDULE NOTE: PLU fans should take note that Saturday's women's and men's games against Whitman start two hours earlier than normal. The women tip off at 4 p.m., with the men's game scheduled to begin at about 6 p.m. This schedule accommodates the visiting teams traveling back to their home campuses.

BEARCATS’ RALLY DOWNS LUTES: Willamette overcame a quick start by visiting Pacific Lutheran to take an 80-71 Northwest Conference men's basketball victory on Saturday night in Cone Field House. With Josh Dressler hitting his first five shots, the visiting Lutes raced out to a 22-9 lead nine minutes into the game. From that point on, however, the Bearcats took over, finishing the half with a 26-5 run and taking a 35-27 lead into halftime. Willamette opened up a double-digit lead early in the second half and kept that margin throughout most of the final period. It's biggest lead of 17 points came when Corey Constantino hit a three-point field goal to make the score 78-61 with 2:56 remaining in the contest. Dressler had a strong game for the Lutes and led both teams with 27 points. Scott McDaniels was the only other PLU player in double figures, finishing the game with 10 points. Kyler McClary topped the Bearcats in scoring with 19 points while Constantino finished the game with 16. The game was a foul fest as the Lutes committed 27 fouls leading to a 34-for-43 performance at the foul line for the Bearcats. Willamette committed 24 fouls, but the Lutes were less effective at 19-for-30 on their charity tosses.

HEAR IT ON KLAY 1180 AM: Pacific Lutheran’s conference basketball games can be heard live in the Tacoma-Parkland area on KLAY 1180 AM with Hall of Fame announcer Bob Robertson calling the action. The games are also available online at www.klay1180.com.

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