Feb. 19, 2008

BELLINGHAM, Wash. -

By Brady Henderson, WWU sports information office

For Western Washington University men's basketball center Steve Severin, every game is a party. A block party that is.

The 6-foot-10 sophomore leads the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and ranks 12th nationally among NCAA Division II leaders in blocked shots this season, averaging 2.7 per game and having 20 more than his nearest league rival.

"His ability to move laterally and his timing - which is always a big part of shot-blocking - are very good," said Viking head coach Brad Jackson. "Plus, he's got long arms and he's 6-10."

Severin, who is also third among GNAC leaders in rebounds, averaging a team-high 7.6 per game, credits a more disciplined defensive approach for his swat success this season.

"I'm staying out of foul trouble this year and keeping myself on the floor," said Severin, who found himself in frequent foul trouble last year. "Once I block somebody's shot, I have to figure out how they're going to play off of it. They either get timid or get really aggressive and try to get me into foul trouble."

Severin had career highs of eight blocks, one shy of the school record set in 1989, and 16 rebounds in an 81-63 win at Alaska Fairbanks in mid-January. He also had a career-best 17 points and 14 rebounds in a 116-66 win over Montana State Billings on Feb. 2.

Jackson said Severin's ability to anticipate opponent's offensive moves puts him in position to block shots.

"He reacts well off the ball," Jackson said. "That puts him in a position where he can be a factor even if it's not against the player that he's defending. It has certainly become a major weapon for us defensively."

While shot-blocking and rebounding have been his most notable contributions this season, Severin has also developing his game on the offensive end. He is averaging 7.3 points per game and is shooting 52.3 percent from the field, having started all 22 games for Western, which is 13-9.

"Offensively, I never really came around until this summer," Severin said. "I really worked on my jump hook and got really confident with that. Once I had that, everything else opened up offensively for me."

A graduate of Hanford High School in Richland, Severin started all 26 games for Westerrn last year as a freshman, averaging 6.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.7 blocks.

But for now, he's fine with being known as the guy who blocks shots. "I've always like blocking shots," said Severin. "The crowd gets into it. Everybody gets hyped. It's a great feeling.

"It's [my] role and I accept it. If it helps the team, great, I just do what I can to help."