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Date: January 3, 2004
Contact: Bill Sodoma

 

Grinnell tops Colby to go 2-0 at invite

WATERVILLE, Maine --

Grinnell College men's basketball coach David Arseneault had a perfect weekend at his alma mater.

Arseneault and Grinnell improved to 7-0 on the season with a 116-77 victory over Colby College in the second day of the Colby Men's Invitational on Saturday night at Wadsworth Gymnasium. Since the tourney games were pre-set, no team champion was honored.

Grinnell and Arseneault, a member of the Colby Class of 1976, drew a packed crowd of 2,700 fans to watch the Pioneer's fast-paced style of play. Arseneault played for current Colby head coach Dick Whitmore.

Steve Wood (Peoria, Ill.) earned tournament most valuable player honors with 22 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in the win over Colby. Steve Nordlund (Madison, Wisc.) made the all-tournament team with 21 points on Saturday for Grinnell, while point guard Ken Heiser (Upper Arlington, Ohio) also made the all-tournament team after dishing off 14 assists in Grinnell's two victories this weekend.

Colby's Nate Dick (North Attleboro, Mass.) had 13 points and seven rebounds and he made the all-tournament team along with teammate Michael Westbrooks (Dublin, Ireland), who had 12 points and six assists. Nate Loukes (Glenburn, Maine) added 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Andrew Jenkins (Gorham, Maine) had 11 points and 13 rebounds.

The Mules led for a good deal of the opening half and played inspired basketball in front of the large crowd. Colby trailed 60-48 at halftime, but had problems keeping up the much fresher Grinnell squad in the second half. With Grinnell's substitution pattern, a player rarely plays more than 20 minutes in a game.

In the first game Saturday, St. Joseph's College took a 94-65 victory over Thomas College. Mike Stallings (Waterbury, Conn.) made the all-tournament team for the Monks after scoring 24 points and pulling down eight boards on Saturday.