 "Photo: Nathyn Gibson")
While many PUC students have spent their winter break catching up on sleep, the men's basketball team has been practicing and competing, as the winter season is in full swing.
The men got the chance to blow off some steam post-finals week in their game against Holy Cross on Dec. 17. Although the team led much of the way, they would eventually lose the match 83-77. Strong offensive efforts by sophomore Drew Ridlen and junior Andrew Anderson were not enough to combat PUC's inability to hold onto the ball, which resulted in 18 points in turnovers and 14 in fast breaks for the Saints.
Two days later, PUC would also suffer defeat at the hands of Olivet Nazarene University by a score of 74-69. The men's team would capitalize on 26 Tiger turnovers, but it, once again, was not enough to notch the victory. Ridlen and Anderson led PUC offensively for the second game in a row with 17 and 16 points respectively. Junior Kedric Williams also added 12 points and eight rebounds.
While a three game losing streak is sure to shake up a team's mentality, junior Trent Tucker said that the men are ultimately in control of their own destiny.
"It keeps us positive knowing that every game we play we have an opportunity to win if we play the way we are capable of playing," Tucker said.
The men would need this positivity, as they would suffer another loss, this time to NCAA Division II Tiffin University on New Year's Eve. Despite a solid first half performance by PUC, the Tiffin Dragons pulled out the 84-74 victory.
Next up for the Black and Gold was CCAC leader Cardinal Stritch University on Jan. 4. This first game of 2012 was reminiscent of last year's losses, where the competition exemplified superior offensive power and ran away with the victory. The Wolves won by a score of 81-63.
PUC was finally able to break the streak when they beat Trinity International University on Jan. 7, 80-70. This time the team was able to carry their first-half success all the way through to the final buzzer.
While TIU made several attempts to catch up, PUC continued with its offensive pressure, which led them to a convincing victory. Williams boasted a career-high 29 points while Anderson put up his fourth double-double of the season.
The men's team wrapped up winter break with a home contest against Trinity Christian College on Jan. 11. Despite a strong first half and an equally strong come-back attempt, PUC would lose the game in the final seconds, 75-70.
"We lost a close one," Anderson said.
Although the men have had a rough winter break, they are keeping their heads up for the rest of the season.
"The conference is still wide open behind Cardinal Stritch," Tucker said. "So if we can string a couple of wins together we will be right back in the mix."
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