Sports - Local Colleges

POSTED: Saturday, Nov. 29, 2008

MEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Vikings stay undefeated

BELLINGHAM - Morris Anderson came close to guessing how many assists he had, which was a feat in itself after the newcomer helped Western Washington University's men's basketball team improve to 6-0.

"Fifteen?" he answered in reply to a query, before he had seen the statistics of the Vikings' 96-76 victory over Northwest University on Saturday, Nov. 29, at Carver Gym.

Fifteen, coincidentally, is the school record. And after the whirlwind way the quick 6-foot-3 transfer guard played in the second half, he soon may have the mark all to himself.

Anderson had 13 assists - nine in the final 20 minutes - to go along with five steals and 7 for 13 shooting from the field for 17 points, matching Ira Graham for team scoring honors.

"That doesn't surprise me. That's what I want, the school assist record," said Anderson, a 21-year-old from Highline Community College.

"I'm excited to be here. I like the way the community supports the team, and I just felt this was the best program," said Anderson, who came in averaging a team-leading 6.5 assists.

"If you ask him, passing is what he likes most," said Western coach Brad Jackson of Anderson, who was responsible for 43 points - plus what the steals set up - in a 30-minute stint.

Jackson recruited Anderson in hopes he would work well together with fast-break loving senior starters Ira Graham and Calin Schell, along with senior Steve Alford, who shot 6 for 8 for 14 points in his sixth man role, including a pair of 3-pointers, in only 23 minutes.

"Mo is the kind of player who makes other players better," Jackson said, "although we're also looking to get him to shoot a little more. He has exceptional vision and makes good decisions. He's a real catalyst, and he's just getting started.

"He's the same every day, and he loves to play," the coach said. "He has a great mentality and you can really count on him. He and Ira have really connected."

Graham, who came in leading the starters in shooting with 62.5 percent from the field, went 5 for 8, in part because of sharp passes from Anderson.

Graham and Anderson connected very well, indeed, as Northwest (5-4) pretty much saw its chances to win sail away in the first two minutes of the second half.

With Western up 41-29 at the break, Graham made a 3-pointer in the opening seconds off a quick pass from Anderson, who then grabbed a defensive rebound and found Graham from another bucket. Anderson then scored on a drive, and it was pretty much over at 48-29, especially considering the Vikings' intensity.

"We did a good job of maintaining our intensity," Jackson said. "I was pleased with our work on defense.

"And, hey, I liked how Dave Vanderjagt broke out in an overall way," said the coach, referring to the 7-foot junior center's team-high eight rebounds, two blocks, two assists and six points in 24 minutes. David Brittinen, the backup pivot, played 11 minutes and contributed 10 points without missing a shot - three from the field and four from the line.

Schell and frontcourt running mate Michael Duty combined for 8 for 13 shooting and 18 points as the Vikings went 37 for 62 from the field (59.7 percent) and 16 for 19 from the line (84.2 percent).

Northwest freshman guard Rich Skillman from Nooksack Valley enjoyed a productive first half when the starting guards got into quick foul trouble. Skillman made a 3-pointer on his first shot, and finished 3 for 5 from the field for seven points, with four assists.

"He's the first guard off the bench," Northwest coach John Van Dyke said of Skillman, who also had the chance in the final moments to play against former Nooksack teammate Chris Mitchell of Western.

Greg George, a 6-9 sophomore, led Northwest with 22 points, shooting 8 for 15. But other than George and Skillman, the rest of the Eagles shot only 18 for 54 (33 percent) against the quicker Vikings, who collected 10 steals.

Western will take time off for finals before hitting the road to face Dixie State in Utah on Dec. 15.