Nov. 27, 2006

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BELLINGHAM, Wash. -

UPDATE: Riding a three-game winning streak, the Western Washington University men's basketball team completes what has become a four-game home stand, entertaining University of Hawaii Hilo on Thursday (7 p.m.) and Notre Dame de Namur University on Sunday (5 p.m.) on Haggen Court at Sam Carver Gymnasium. Tuesday's game with Pacific Lutheran University was postponed because of winter weather conditions which forced closure of the school for two days.

The Vikings, 4-1, took two wins at their own WWU Chuck Randall Thanksgiving Classic last weekend, defeating Northwest, 96-88, on Friday; and Grand Canyon, 77-67, on Saturday. That extended their regular-season home court unbeaten string to 30 games.

Western is led by senior forward Lukas Henne, who was named most valuable player at the Randall Classic with 51 points and 19 rebounds in the two victories. He was 15-of-26 from the field and made 19-of-20 free throws. The performance also earned him Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Week honors.

On the season, Henne is averaging 19.6 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.0 blocks per game. He is shooting 52.6 percent (30-of-57) from the floor, 58.3 percent (7-of-12) from 3-point range) and 93.9 percent (31-of-33) at the line.

Henne, who was an all-tournament pick at the Seattle Pacific Tip-Off Classic two weeks ago, had a career-high 27 points, eight rebounds and three blocks in the win over Grand Canyon.

Western coach Brad Jackson, in his 22nd season, upped his career victory total to 402. That is nine wins 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.

Sophomore guard Ira Graham was also named all-tourney at the Randall Classic, scoring a career-high 27 points versus Northwest. He is averaging 16.8 points per game and a team-best 4.4 assists.

Also averaging double-figure points for Western are freshman guards Brandon Williams at 11.2 and Harold McAllister at 10.4. McAllister scored 30 points in two Randall Classic games, dropping in 20 versus Northwest. He is shooting 53.1 percent (17-of-32) from the field and 59.1 percent (13-of-22) from 3-point range, both team highs.

Sophomore forward Calin Schell is averaging 9.2 points and 8.0 boards. He has grabbed 32 rebounds in the last three games (10.7 avg.), including a career-high 12 against Grand Canyon.

The Vikings are shooting a school-record pace 81.5 percent (88-of-108) at the free-throw line, offsetting 41.1 percent (130-of-316) accuracy from the field. They have a 7.6 edge in rebounds per game.

UPCOMING GAMES:

Nov. 30 (Thu.) UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII HILO, 7 p.m. (BELLINGHAM)
Dec. 3 (Sun.) NOTRE DAME DE NAMUR UNIVERSITY, 5 p.m. (BELLINGHAM)
Dec. 19 (Tue.) WWU GREAT WESTERN SHOOTOUT (Las Vegas, NV)
Game 1 - WESTERN vs. Cal Poly Pomona#, 3 p.m.
Game 2 - Central Washington University vs. Cal State San Bernardino, 5 p.m.
Dec. 20 (Wed.) WWU GREAT WESTERN SHOOTOUT (Las Vegas, NV)
Game 3 - Central Washington vs. Cal Poly Pomona, 3 p.m.
Game 4 - WESTERN vs. Cal State San Bernardino#, 5 p.m.
Dec. 28 (Thu.) DIXIE STATE COLLEGE, 7 p.m. (BELLINGHAM)

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: Western made 45-of-50 free throws (90 percent) in the two Randall Classic victories ... Henne and Graham have scored double figures in each of the Vikings' first five games, with Henne having over 20 in each of their last three contests ... Junior reserve guard Eddie Coulson was hampered by a sprained ankle last weekend .... Western is now 15-3 in Randall Classic contests, winning its last 10 games ... The Vikings, who were 14-0 at Carver Gym last season, have won their last 30 regular-season home games ... The 42-point victory margin over Multnomah Bible was Western's largest in a season opener since 1993 ... 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 (402-225) and winning percentage (.641). 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/Fontana
G Brandon Williams, 6-4, Fr., Chicago, IL/Thornton Fractional North
C Steve Severin, 6-10, Fr., Richland, WA/Hanford
F Lukas Henne, 6-7, ***Sr., Bremerton, WA/Central Kitsap
F Calin Schell, 6-7, *So., Chelan, WA/Chelan

G Harold McAllister, 6-0, Fr., Vancouver, WA/Mountain View
F Gabe Thrash, 6-8, Fr., Gardena, CA/Gardena
G Eddie Coulson, 6-2, Jr.-TR, North Las Vegas, NV/Cheyenne/Treasure Valley CC
*letters

UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII HILO: The Vulcans (2-3) have had five straight winning seasons, including a 16-9 mark last year. Just one starter returns for coach Jeff Law (9th year, 130-88). That is 6-5 senior forward Justin Dobson (13.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg), who earned all-Pacific West Conference honorable mention. Another top returnee is 6-1 senior guard Darryl Harris (7.0 ppg, 5.5 apg). Four standout transfers are 6-0 junior guard Vince Alvarado (14.0 ppg) from Chaffey College, 6-5 junior guard Rashid Bilal (13.5 ppg) from Maryland-Baltimore County, 6-7 junior forward Samuel Wilhoite (13.0 ppg, 10.0 rpg) from Skyline College and 6-7 junior center Michael Martin (18.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg) from West Los Angeles JC. Western has won both previous meetings.

NOTRE DAME DE NAMUR UNIVERSITY: The Argonauts (2-1) return three starters from last year's 8-17 squad for coach George Puou (6th year, 72-77). They are 5-6 junior guard Ryan Cooper (9.5 ppg), 6-6 sophomore forward Dan Bergeron (9.0 ppg, 3.0 apg) and 6-5 junior forward Eric Bossom. A top transfer is 6-9 junior center Dustin Graul (9.0 ppg) from Diable Valley JC. Three other solid returnees are 6-0 senior guard Stephen Chang (12.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg), 6-4 junior guard Chris Clock (10.5 ppg), who was a redshirt last season after playing the previous two seasons, and 6-3 junior guard Aaron Parker (6.0 ppg), who was a redshirt last year after transferring from Ohlone College. NDNU, a member of the Pacific West Conference, split its last eight games in 2005-06 after getting off to a 4-13 start. First meeting.

CAL POLY POMONA: The Broncos (1-1, Nov. 27 host Cal State San Bernardino, Dec. 1 host Sonoma State, Dec.2 host Humboldt State, Dec. 11 host Vanguard), who have won two NCAA II West Region titles in the last four years, return three starters and nine players overall from a 17-10 team that finished third in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. CPP, which won regional championships in 2003 and 2005, failed to reach post-season play last year after reaching the tournament for three straight years for the first time in school history. The Broncos have had 12 consecutive winning seasons and are directed by coach Greg Kamansky (7th year, 121-51). They are led by first-team, all-CCAA 6-4 senior guard Dion Cook (17.0 ppg) and CCAA Freshman of the Year 6-5 sophomore forward Larry Gordon (14.5 ppg, 10.0 rpg). Three other talented returnees are 6-6 junior center Kaelen Daniels (10.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg), 6-7 sophomore forward Bill Forelli (9.5 ppg) and 6-7 junior center Kevin Neveu (11.0 ppg). Western has a 5-2 series advantage, losing 75-66 on Nov. 17 at the Seattle Pacific Tip-Off Classic.

CAL STATE SAN BERNARDINO: The Coyotes (0-1, Nov. 27 at Cal Poly Pomona, Dec. 1 host Humboldt State, Dec. 2 host Sonoma State, Dec. 12 host Seattle Pacific, Dec. 16 host Grand Canyon) return two starters from last year's 13-13 team as the school's string of six CCAA titles came to an end. The first-stringers back for coach Jeff Oliver (5th year, 83-30) are 6-6 senior forward Yoseph Yaisrael and 6-1 senior guard Geoffrey Clayton. Two other top returnees are 6-5 senior forward Joseph Tillman and 6-0 senior guard Prentice Harris. CSUSB picked up four standout transfers, led by 6-8 senior center Ivan Johnson from NCAA Division I University of Oregon. Completing that quartet are 6-3 junior guard Marlon Pierce from Cuyamaca JC, 6-7 junior forward Greg Williams from Contra Costa JC and 6-1 junior guard Lance Ortiz from Orange Coast JC. CSUSB holds a 2-1 series advantage.

DIXIE STATE COLLEGE: The Rebels (3-2, Nov. 29 host BYU-Hawaii, Nov. 30 host Adams State, Dec. 1 host Westminster UT, Dec. 2 host Carroll MT, Dec. 7 at Westminster UT, Dec. 8 vs. Northwest Nazarene, Dec. 13 at Montana Western, Dec. 14 at Carroll MT, Dec. 15 at MSU Northern, Dec. 18 host Texas A&M International, Dec. 19 host Seattle Pacific), who are making the transition from junior college to NCAA Division II (member of Pacific West Conference) have no starters back from last year's 21-12 team for second-year coach Jon Judkins that ranked No.14 nationally in the final poll. Two of last season's redshirts are starting this year - 5-10 junior guard Dan Stock (9.0 ppg, 3.1 apg) and 6-6 sophomore forward Mike Shaw (5.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg). Three newcomers complete the first five. They are 6-2 freshman guard Johnny Little (18.0 ppg), 6-4 sophomore guard Ryan Sanchez (10.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg), a transfer from the College of Eastern Utah) and 6-6 junior forward Troy Randall (10.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg), a transfer from Western Wyoming College. First meeting. PACIFIC LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY: The Lutes (2-0) are looking to begin turning things around after four straight losing seasons. Steve Dickerson was promoted from associate head coach to head coach and has 10 returnees, including four starters. They are led by two honorable mention all-Northwest Conference picks - 5-11 junior guard Kurt Oliver and 6-4 senior forward Josh Vanlandingham (13.2 ppg). Also back are 6-2 sophomore guard Josh Dressler (19.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg) and 5-11 junior guard Landon Heidenreich (14.0 ppg, 8.5 rpg). A top newcomer is 6-3 junior forward Jared Brandeberry (13.5 ppg. 6.0 rpg), a transfer from Wenatchee Valley CC. Western trails 71-60 in the series.

LAST WEEK'S GAME SUMMARIES:

Nov. 24 - WESTERN 96, Northwest 88 at Bellingham (Randall Classic) Graham scored a career-high 27 points to lead three Vikings with 20 points or more as Western overcame an early 12-point deficit and defeated Northwest, 96-88, in first-day action at the ninth annual WWU Chuck Randall Thanksgiving Classic at Carver Gym. Henne and McAllister also had career-highs in scoring, with Henne having 24 points and a game-high 11 rebounds, and McAllister coming off the bench to contribute 20 points while hitting 5-of-6 on 3-pointers. Northwest, ranked No.13 nationally in the NAIA Division II preseason top 25, fell to 6-3. Forward Kendrick Holley led the Eagles with 24 points, and center Aaron Sawyer added 23. Northwest jumped to a 12-0 lead less than three minutes into the game, and held a 24-14 advantage with 12:44 left in the first half. But Western rallied to take its first lead at 36-34 on a McAllister 3-pointer with 4:39 remaining in the period, and had a 50-45 lead at halftime. Graham had 17 points in the first half, hitting his first six shots from the field, and scored 13 of Western's first 19 points. The Vikings shot 60.7 percent (17-of-28) from the floor in the first half. Western led the entire second half, opening up a 13-point margin, 80-67, with 5:25 left, and never being up by less than six points in the final 18 minutes. The Vikings, who entered the game shooting just 38.3 percent from the field, made 52.5 percent (31-of-59) of their attempts, including 11-of-20 (55.0 percent) on 3-pointers. Western also had a 38-27 edge in rebounds and hit 23-of-25 free throws (92.0 percent).

Nov. 25 - WESTERN 77, Grand Canyon 67 at Bellingham (Randall Classic) Henne earned tournament MVP honors with a game and career-high 27 points as Western defeated Grand Canyon, 77-67, to close out the ninth annual WWU Chuck Randall Thanksgiving Classic at Carver Gym. The game was the unofficial tourney championship as both teams won their opening-day games. Schell had 12 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, and Williams also had 12 points as five Western players scored in double figures. Grand Canyon fell to 2-2 with the loss despite getting 25 points from forward Rudy Bogan. Guard Richard Davis added 17 points and forward Andray Glenn came off the bench to contribute 15. Western trailed by six, 41-35, early in the second half, but went on an 11-2 run to take a 46-43 lead with 14:53 to go. Henne scored the first eight points in the run. The score was then tied six times in the next 7:37 before Western took control of the game by scoring eight straight points to take a 67-59 lead with 5:08 to play. Grand Canyon never was closer than six points after that. Graham had 11 points and eight assists for Western, and McAllister contributed 10 points off the bench. The Vikings jumped to an 8-2 lead less than four minutes into the game, but then went more than four minutes without scoring as Grand Canyon took an 11-8 advantage and led the rest of the half, although never by more than seven points. Western shot just 30.0 percent (9-of-30) from the field in the first half and trailed, 77-67, at halftime.