TACOMA, Washington – The Puget Sound men's basketball team gets its first taste of NCAA D-III competition when it travels to southern California this weekend. The Loggers take on Chapman Friday, Nov. 12, at 7 p.m., and then battle Redlands Saturday, Nov. 13, at 7 p.m.
 
Promising start
Puget Sound won its first two games of the season, both of which were at home against NAIA programs. The Loggers topped Multnomah in overtime, 97-86, (Nov. 6), and beat Evergreen State, 93-72 (Nov. 7). It's Puget Sound's first 2-0 start since 2017-18.
 
What's a sophomore slump?
Paul Johnson is out to prove that his freshman season was no fluke. Last year, Johnson was the Loggers' second-leading scorer with 12.8 points per game. He began this season with 32 points against Multnomah, followed by 25 points against Evergreen State.
 
Reliable as always
Senior Cal Hansen – a two-time All-NWC honoree – picked up his first double-double of the season with 16 points and 14 boards against Evergreen State. Hansen was named to the D3hoops.com All-West Region Team following the shortened 2020-21 season.
 
A Grant performance
Junior Grant Erickson matched his career-high in scoring with 19 points against Evergreen State. He added nine rebounds in the winning effort.
 
A Pohlish debut
Playing in his first collegiate basketball game, freshman Will Pohland dropped 21 points on Multnomah by shooting 5-for-9 from 3-point range. It was a trey by Pohland that sent the game into overtime, and then he accounted for five of the Loggers' first seven points in the extra period.

Mussie muscles the glass
Mussie Teclemariam is averaging 10 rebounds through the first two games of the season.

Fresh dimes
Freshman Taj Phillips dished out eight assists in just 15 minutes against Evergreen State.
 
Scouting Chapman (0-0)
Friday marks the first game of the year for the Panthers. Chapman did not compete in 2020-21, and the program posted a 15-10 overall record in 2019-20.
 
Scouting Redlands (1-1)
The Bulldogs began the season with a loss to No. 19 Whitworth, 74-68, (Nov. 6), but they bounced back with a 76-66 win over Pacific (Nov. 7). Justice Marmara is averaged 13.5 points per game, and Darne Ducket is averaging 12.0. Redlands is connecting on just 25-percent of its 3-point attempts, but it is shooting 58-percent overall from the floor.