No. 3 Oregon Tech Takes on No. 12 Northwest in NAIA Game of the Week
01.13.2012
Friday, Kirkland, Wash., 7:30 p.m. PST, NU Pavilion
Bryant Sentman drives to the hoop for two. (photo by Kelly Caleb)  |
KIRKLAND, Wash. - A pair of teams tied on top of the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) standings will face each other on Friday in Kirkland, Wash., as No. 3 Oregon Tech visits No. 12 Northwest (Wash.) in the NAIA Division II men's basketball Game of the Week.
Both squads were hit with their only loss against No. 8 Warner Pacific (Ore.) earlier in the year and the pair is tied with the Knights at 6-1 in the league. The Knights' only conference setback came at the hands of Southern Oregon on Dec. 30.
Northwest is one of the hottest teams in the country, as it has vaulted out to a 15-1 record. The Eagles rebounded from their lone loss on Jan. 6 to take down Concordia (Ore.), 75-65, one night later. Northwest gets it done on defense as it ranks sixth in the NAIA in field goal percentage defense (.399), sixth in steals per game (10.7) and ninth in scoring defense (63.3). They have held five opponents to 60 points or fewer this year.
Oregon Tech is one of just three teams currently in the NAIA with 17 or more wins. A consistent model of success, the Hustlin' Owls have won three-straight CCC Tournament championships under the guidance of 41-year veteran Danny Miles. With a current 954-380 (.715) record, Miles stands second on the men's college basketball all-time wins list (NAIA and NCAA) behind McKendree's (Ill.) Harry Statham.
Picked to finish sixth in the preseason CCC coaches poll, Northwest is led in scoring by Jordan Call with 14.1 points per game. He is one of four Eagles to average in double-figures. Michael Greene grabs a team-high 7.5 rebounds per game. Rich Skillman is the NAIA's steals leader with 3.4 thefts per contest.
Last time out on Jan. 7, Oregon Tech won on the road at Southern Oregon, 69-56. That was the Hustlin' Owls third-straight win after an 85-75 loss to then-No. 17 Warner Pacific on Dec. 29. Oregon Tech ranks in the top-20 in 15 different national statistical categories, including second in turnover margin (plus-5.79), sixth in scoring margin (18.9) and seventh in assists per game (17.6). Bobby Hunter is the focal point with an average of 19.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.6 steals per game.
Chad Waller - NAIA National Office
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