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.