TACOMA, Washington – The final athletics event of the calendar year is in Memorial Fieldhouse Wednesday, Dec. 28, when the Puget Sound men's basketball team tips off against Gustavus Adolphus at 6 p.m.
 
Holiday cheer
The Loggers enter the midweek contest with three wins in their last four outings. That stretch includes a victory over Pomonoa-Pitzer when the Sagehens were nationally ranked (Nov. 26), and a conference win over Whitworth at home (Dec. 2).
 
Liam lights the way
Liam Ruttledge is the Loggers' leading scorer so far this season, averaging 14.0 points per game. He has reached double digits in scoring in all but one game this season. Ruttledge's 49.1-percent 3-point shooting ranks second in the Northwest Conference, and his 2.9 makes per game ranks third.
 
Feed the Moose
Mussie Teclemariam is averaging 17.0 points per game and shooting 48.6-percent from the floor in his last three games. He is also shooting 46.2-percent (6-for-13) from 3-point range during that run.
 
Setting the table
Taj Phillips is averaging 4.6 assists per game, which ranks third in the NWC. He has at least five assists in four games this season, including a career-high nine against Evergreen State (Nov. 15).
 
Crashing the boards
Mussie Teclemariam's 6.3 rebounds per game rank fourth in the NWC, while Grant Erickson ranks 12^th (5.2), and Taj Phillips ranks 15^th.
 
Scouting Gustavus Adolphus (4-5)
The Gusties are NCAA D-III members of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC), and they make home in St. Peter, Minnesota. Gustavus Adolphus is exceptional at shooting the ball, connecting on 48.8-percent of its attempts from the floor, and 43.1-percent of its tries from 3-point range. Four players average double digits in scoring, led by Spencer Swanson (18.9) and Adam Blewen (13.4).