The Clippers Men's Basketball team continues on an amazing run of play as they are winners of eight straight with their most recent win coming against the defending NWAC champions and No. 2-ranked team in the league, the Green River Gators, by a score of 79-65.
The key to the win against the Gators? Defense, defense, defense.
"Our guys are really, really bought into defending," said Head Coach Zach Smith. "They care about defense and one of their goals going into the year is to be the No. 1 defense in the NWAC. I'm just proud of their effort on the defensive end, I think it saved us because no matter where you go, defense travels."
The Clippers were able to hold Green River to 65 points, which is impressive considering that this is the third-lowest point total for the Gators all season. This low point total was due in part to the stifling Clippers defense that held Green River to a 42% field goal percentage for the game and a 14% three-point percentage. Lastly, the Clips were monsters on the boards as they outrebounded the Gators by 21 and doubled up the Gators on defensive rebounds alone (28 to 14).
On the offensive side of the ball, Sophomore Guard Marcus Lawson and Center Jeremiah Lewis came up big with 20-point performances. Lawson was 8-12 from the field and was perfect form the free-throw line, which was good for a team-leading 23 points, and Lewis had a monster game where he recorded a 21-point and 12-rebound double-double.
"We knew Green River were going to play a lot of zone. But the key to beating a zone is you either got to shoot them out of it or pass your way out of it, and I thought our guys did a really good job of staying patient, getting into the middle of that zone, and finding options," said Coach Smith about the game plan against the Gators. "Jeremiah [Lewis] was huge on the backside of that zone and finding a ton of options, whether it was assists from his teammates or getting offensive rebounds."
With this win, the Clippers now take sole possession of first place in the West Region with a 7-0 record in conference play. With the NWAC releasing the bracket pairings last week, the playoff scenarios are clearer and MBB looks to try and lock up the first seed in the West, which will play the No. 4 seed from the North on Friday, March 7 in Pasco, Washington.
Although it is still early to talk about tournament seedings and playoff scenarios, the team is bought into Coach Smith's system and the expectation to have a deep playoff run is certainly on the minds of the student-athletes.
"I think this team can go all the way, there's no doubt," Freshman Forward Caleb Bowden. "I think we can win the whole NWAC, I think we all have that expectation to win it all."
The Clipper Men's Basketball team is back in action after a weekend off as they travel up the I-5 to take on Tacoma on Wednesday, Feb. 5 before coming home on Saturday, Feb. 8 to face-off against Grays Harbor for a 3 p.m. tip-off. For more information, please visit www.spsccathletics.com.