12/4/2003

The Falcons brought the “54 trophy” to Friends University for the first time in school history after defeating the Newman University Jets. 

Aggressive defense and intensity were the main points that helped the Falcon basketball team go 2-0 in the Falcon Classic Nov. 21 and 22 at Friends.

The Falcons beat the Jets, who were ranked 11th in the preseason National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics poll, 85-60.

“The Newman game is one that the University and Friends community get more excited over,” head coach Dale Faber said.  “It has been awhile since Friends has been able to come out on top.”

The Falcons kept the Jets out of their comfort zone defensively, allowing the Falcons to take control of the offensive game. 

“We knew every play they ran and studied all their players days before the game,” Blake Joy, a senior guard, said.  “The more aggressive we were with them, the less aggressive they were with us.”

Junior forward Steve Rausch led the Falcons again with 17 points and two blocked shots.  Sophomore forward Stephan Pittman played a double-double game with 15 points and 13 rebounds.

Rausch was forced to redshirt last season when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament in the knee and had surgery.

“This year I am focusing on being able to play every day and giving everything I got because I know I missed out last year,” Rausch said.

On Friday night against Central Christian, the Falcons took a dominant lead in the beginning of the first half, but fouls allowed Central Christian to come close to tying the game at halftime. 

“We had a spurt of brutal defense,” Faber said.

The Falcons regained their focus in the second half and beat Central Christian 94-74.  Rausch led the Falcons with 19 points, five rebounds, four blocked shots and nine steals against Central Christian.

Faber was pleased with the overall performance of the team this weekend.

Senior Lance McArthur and sophomore Dennis Jackson set the tone on the defensive end by working the opponents’ point guards.  Senior Jamaal Jemmerson doesn’t have impressive numbers, but he gives a presence on the inside to let people know that the Falcons are coming to play, Faber said.

The Falcons finished the preseason with a record of 3-2.  The first conference game is tonight, Dec. 4, at home against Ottawa University. 

“We gotta clean up some glitches, such as missed box outs and fundamentals,” Faber said.