TACOMA, Washington – The Northwest Conference slate begins this weekend when the Puget Sound men's basketball team hosts Linfield (Dec. 3) and George Fox (Dec. 4) this weekend. Tipoff against the Wildcats is 8 p.m., and the game against the Bruins starts at 6 p.m.
 
Ups and downs
The Loggers enter this weekend with a 3-4 overall record. The season began with consecutive home wins against Multnomah (Nov. 5) and Evergreen State (Nov. 7). Puget Sound then lost two games in California against Chapman (Nov. 12) and Redlands (Nov. 13). The Loggers split their McArthur Classic games, with a loss against Claremont-M-S (Nov. 19) and a win over Redlands (Nov. 20).
 
Calculated
Cal Hansen notched his second double-double of the season last weekend at Northwest (Nov. 27), pulling 16 rebounds to go with 22 points. It was Hansen's highest single-game total for rebounding since Jan. 2019, when he grabbed 18 boards against George Fox. He is averaging 12.7 points and 10.0 rebounds this season.
 
Better call Paul
Paul Johnson has hit 18 3-pointers in his six games this season - by far Puget Sound's leader in 3-point shooting. Following the McArthur Classic, Johnson was named the NWC Student-Athlete of the Week. Johnson scored 27 points against Redlands (Nov. 29), 20 of which came in the second half. Of those 20 points, 18 were in the game's final 10 points.
Johnson shot 7-for-13 from 3-point range against the Bulldogs. Johnson is the Loggers' leading scorer with 21.3 points per game.
 
On the glass
Mussie Teclemariam has three games with 10+ rebounds this season – the most such games for Puget Sound. He began the year with a 15-rebound effort against Multnomah (Nov. 5). Teclemariam is averaging 7.7 rebounds per game.
 
Scouting Linfield (2-2)
The Wildcats are the favorites to win the NWC crown, according to the preseason Northwest Conference coaches poll. Linfield as losses against Claremont-M-S and Pomona-Pitzer, and wins against La Verne and Portland Bible. Three players average double digits in scoring, led by Dempsey Roggenbuck's 20.5 points per game. Trey Bryant is Linfield's leading rebounder with 5.8 boards per game. The Wildcats are connecting on one-third of their attempts from 3-point range, and shooting 46.9-percent overall from the floor.
 
Scouting George Fox (2-3)
The Bruins enter the weekend with three consecutive losses against Hardin-Simmons, McMurray, and Redlands. They beat Evergreen State and St. Thomas (Tex.) earlier this season. Austin Clark is the only Bruin averaging double figures in scoring (10.2). Brendan Ritschard averages a team-high 4.8 rebounds. George Fox is shooting a solid 41.3-percent from 3-point range, but only 59.5-percent from the free-throw line.