TACOMA, Washington – With wins in five of its last six games, the Puget Sound men's basketball team heads to Oregon this weekend where the Loggers resume their Northwest Conference slate at George Fox (Jan. 6) and Willamette (Jan. 7).
 
Keeping it close
Four of the Loggers' last six games have been decided by seven points or less, and three games have been decided by four points or less.
 
Warmed up
Puget Sound shot a season-best 59.4-percent from the floor in its 98-64 win at home against Portland Bible (Jan. 2). The Loggers made a season-high 41 shots from the floor.
 
Mussie muscle
Mussie Teclemariam has scored in double figures for five consecutive games. He is averaging 15.6 points during that stretch, and 12.3 points overall this season.
 
Takes it, makes it
Liam Ruttledge ranks fifth in the NWC for 3-point makes (29). He is shooting 45.3-percent from beyond the arc this season, and he leads Puget Sound in scoring (13.2 ppg).
 
Feeding teammates
Taj Phillips' 4.5 assists per game ranks third in the NWC. He has five games with five or more assists this season, including a season-high nine dimes against Evegreen State (Nov. 15.
 
A little bit of everything
Grant Erickson notched his first double-double of the season against Gustavus Adolphus (Dec. 28) when he scored 10 points and pulled down 12 boards. So far this season,Erickson has nine games with at least five rebounds, six games with at least three assists, and five games with at least 10 points.
 
Turned a page
Freshman Jaden Turner scored a season-high 10 points against Portland Bible (Jan. 2), and he did so by shooting a perfect 5-for-5 from the floor.
 
Scouting George Fox (2-8, 1-1 NWC)
The Bruins enter this weekend with six losses in their last seven games. The Lone win during that stretch was against Willamette, 103-79. Mome Stokes is the team's leading scorer so far this season (14.5), followed by Davon Walker (11.7). Chris Nickelberry averages a team-high 4.9 rebounds, and no other Bruin averages so much as 3.5 boards. George Fox shoots well from 3-point range (40.2-perent).
 
Scouting Willamette (5-6, 1-2 NWC)
The Bearcats have won two of their last three games, including a conference victory over Linfield, 98-95, Tuesday. Willamette puts up 86.5 points per game, as four players average double-digits in scoring. Jack Boydell averages 21.6 points per game, which ranks third in the NWC. Ryder Hsiung (14.3), Jonathan Watts (12.7), and Josiah Frank (11.8) are also key contributors on offense. With 41.7 boards per game, Willamette is the conference's top rebounding team.