Complete release in pdf format
This Week
The 12th-ranked Westminster men's basketball team is off to Phoenix, Arizona for two games at the Grand Canyon Classic. Westminster will face Southwestern (Ariz.) on Tuesday, December 29 at 8 p.m. On Wednesday, December 30, the Griffins play Wisconsin-Platteville at 6 p.m. Both games will be played at Fultz Memorial Gymnasium on the campus of Southwestern College.
Westminster brings an 8-4 record and a five-game winning streak into the games this week. They picked up wins against Notre Dame College and William Jewell during the Las Vegas Hoopla on December 18 and 19. They are 4-2 in games played away from the Behnken Field House including 1-0 in true road games.
Westminster is scoring 71.6 points per game while shooting 47.4% from the field through the first 12 games of the season. They distribute the ball well, averaging 15.4 assists per game and have a 1.07 assist-to-turnover ratio. Defensively the Griffins limit the opposition to just 65.1 points per game and allow them to shoot just 40.9%. Westminster opponents shoot just 30.8% from 3-point territory and collect just 32.2 rebounds per night.
Blair Prowse leads the team, and ranks fourth in the Frontier Conference, with his 16.3 points per game average. Prowse ranks in the top 20 in the conference in eight statistical categories and is tied for first with his 3.0 makes from beyond the arc per game.
Weston Anderson averages 13.5 points per night and is fourth in the Frontier with four assists per night.
Ben Walker is third on the team in scoring at 12.8 points per game.
Live Media
Trip Sports is offering Live Video and Live Stats of all the games at the Grand Canyon Classic. The Live Video is provided by Stretch Internet at a fee of $8.95 per game. The Live Stats is a free service. Fans can access these features by visiting westminstergriffins.com
Men's Basketball Fast Break
•The current five-game winning streak is the longest of the season for the Griffins.
•Only four different players have led the team in scoring in a game through the first 12 games of the season.
•The Griffins are shooting 52.5% from the field during this current five-game winning streak.
Inside the Series with…
Southwestern (AZ)
Series Record: First meeting
Current Streak: First meeting
Last Meeting: First meeting
Wisconsin-Platteville
Series Record: William Jewell leads 1-0
Current Streak: William Jewell 1 win
Last Meeting: William Jewell def. Westminster, 74-62 (11/4/0)
Getting Defensive
Westminster has been using its defense to help them win games this season. They allow the opposition to score just 65.1 points per game while shooting 40.9% from the floor. They rank in the top 30 in each of those categories. Griffin opponents average 14.6 turnovers per game and get outrebounded by 3.7 rebounds per night. Westminster limits the opponent to just 30.8% from beyond the arc to lead the Frontier Conference and rank 33rd nationally.
The Griffins have three individuals that rank in the top six in the Frontier in steals. Jeramie Hopson is second grabbing two steals per game. Michael Stockton ranks fourth with his 1.83 per game average while Blair Prowse is sixth at 1.75 thefts per game. Ben Walker is 29th nationally with 1.5 blocks per night and leads the team by grabbing 51 defensive rebounds.
On the Prowse
Senior Blair Prowse is having a great start to the season after missing most of 2008-09 with an injury. He is ranked in the top 20 in eight categories and leads the team in scoring at 16.3 points per game. His 43.2% field goal percentage is 10th-best in the conference and he is tied for first with 3.0 makes from deep per game. He can also be found in the top 20 in rebounds, steals, blocks, and assist/turnover ratio. Prowse has reached double figures in scoring during 11 of the 12 games played this season, and has been the team leader in that department seven times.
A Walker to Remember
JC transfer Ben Walker has flourished during his first 12 games as a Griffin. Walker currently ranks third on the team with 154 points and is tops on the squad with his 76 rebounds. From the line Walker is solid, shooting 86.3% to rank 11th in the country and first in the Frontier Conference. Walker has recorded two double-doubles through the opening two months and has reached double figures in scoring nine times.
Coaches like the Griffins
The Westminster men's basketball team was selected to win the Frontier Conference according to a poll of the conference coaches. The Griffins received 47 total points and five first-place votes in the poll of the eight conference coaches. Defending NAIA national champion Rocky Mountain College finished second with 44 points and three first-place votes.
In the Polls
The Westminster men's basketball team is currently ranked No. 12 in the NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Coaches' Poll that was released on December 14. The Griffins climbed one spot from No. 13 in the December 7 poll. Westminster received 189 points in the recent poll that has Mountain State (W.Va.) as the nation's No. 1 team. The Griffins began the season at No. 9 in the preseason poll. The next poll will be released on January 11.
NAIA Game of the Week
College Fanz Sports Network, launched by ESPN founder Bill Rasmussen, is partnering with members in the NAIA to present the College Fanz NAIA Basketball Game of the Week. The Westminster basketball teams will be featured as the game of the week on January 21, 2010 when they host Carroll College in Frontier Conference action in the Behnken Field House. The women's game will begin at 5:30 p.m. and be followed by the men's game at 7:30 p.m.
Next Week
Westminster will begin Frontier Conference action with two games in the Behnken Field House. On Thursday, January 7 Montana State-Northern comes to town and on Saturday, January 9 Great Falls makes the annual trip to Salt Lake City. Both games will begin at 7:30 p.m.
