Dean Uthoff
July 23, 2020
Ben Tower
- Nationality: USA
- Date of Birth: 15/08/62
- Place of Birth: Ionia, Michigan (USA)
- Position: PF
- Height (CM): 206
- Weight (KG): 92
- Junior Assoc:
- College: Michigan State (1980–1984)
- NBL DEBUT: 22/04/89
- AGE AT DEBUT: 26
- LAST NBL GAME: 16/06/89
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 26
- NBL History: Eastside Melbourne 1989
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Ben Tower was born in Ionia, Michigan (USA).
NBL EXPERIENCE
Ben Tower made his NBL debut with the Eastside Melbourne Spectres at 26 years of age. He scored 28 points in his first game.
After a import merry-go-round and lacklustre season in coach Brian Goorjian’s first year, he looked to create some stability within the franchise. He re-signed import Arne Duncan, last year’s leading scorer and paired him with import Ben Tower, a Michigan native who had been drafted by the Detroit Pistons five years earlier.
The Spectres retained the core group of last season’s roster, team captain Warren Pink, Dean Uthoff, the league’s leading rebounder and the league’s most improved player Darren Lucas. The rest of the roster was built around a bunch of young talent, with Shane Froling, Paul Hotchin and Steve Lunardon all returning with one more season of experienced, 17-year-old Spectres junior player Rupert Sapwell and 24-year-old Wayne Larkins from Westside Melbourne.
During the pre-season, Duncan suffered a injury that saw him miss the first half of the regular season.
The Spectres then signed Kent Lockhart, who had been playing in the state league for Sandringham, as an injury replacement for Duncan. Goorjian, who had been playing pickup basketball games against state league players during the offseason, was impressed by his ability to play both sides of the ball.
Lockhart (28.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists) led the team in scoring, and made such a impact on the team that when Duncan returned from injury, the team released Ben Tower and signed Lockhart to the full-time roster. Tower finished the season averaging 18 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 3 assists per game across 11 games. The Spectres finished the year with a 14-12 record, missing the playoffs by one game.
Ben Tower played one season in the NBL. He averaged 18 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists in 11 NBL games.
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 27 | Eastside Melbourne | 14-10 (7) | 11 | 392 | 198 | 89 | 33 | 41 | 48 | 21 | 2 | 33 | 45 | 90 | 211 | 43% | 0 | 7 | 0% | 18 | 23 | 78% | 45% | 43% | 28 | Totals | 11 | 392 | 198 | 89 | 33 | 41 | 48 | 21 | 2 | 33 | 45 | 90 | 211 | 42.7% | 0 | 7 | 0.0% | 18 | 23 | 78.3% | 45% | 43% | 28 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 27 | Eastside Melbourne | 14-10 (7) | 11 | 35.6 | 18.0 | 8.1 | 3.0 | 3.7 | 4.4 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 3.0 | 4.1 | 8.2 | 19.2 | 43% | 0.0 | 0.6 | 0% | 1.6 | 2.1 | 78% | 45% | 43% | 28 | Total | 11 | 35.6 | 18.0 | 8.1 | 3.0 | 3.7 | 4.4 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 3.0 | 4.1 | 8.2 | 19.2 | 42.7% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0% | 0.6 | 78.3% | 45% | 43% | 28 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 28 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 0 |
|---|
NBA EXPERIENCE
Ben Tower was drafted by the Detroit Pistons with pick #203 in the 1984 NBA Draft.
COLLEGE
Tower played college basketball at Michigan State University, As a freshman
He appeared in 27 games in 1980–81 as Michigan State finished 13–14 overall and 7–11 in Big Ten play under head coach Jud Heathcote.
In 1980–81, he averaged 5.0 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, and he recorded 16 blocked shots (0.6 per game).
Michigan State went 12–16 (7–11 Big Ten) in 1981–82 under Jud Heathcote, with the season also commonly listed as 11–17 (6–12 Big Ten) before the conference record and overall record adjustment tied to forfeits.
Tower played 28 games in 1981–82 and produced 5.4 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, and he totaled 14 steals (0.5 per game).
As a junior in 1982–83, he played 30 games for a Michigan State team that finished 17–13 overall and 9–9 in Big Ten play under Jud Heathcote.
In 1982–83, he averaged 5.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game, and he recorded 10 blocked shots.
Michigan State received an NIT invitation in 1982–83, defeating Bowling Green State before losing to Fresno State.
Tower served as a team captain in 1983–84 alongside Kevin Willis, and Michigan State’s official record was listed as 16–12 overall and 9–9 in Big Ten play under Jud Heathcote, with the season also commonly listed as 15–13 (8–10 Big Ten) before the adjustment tied to forfeits.
He played 27 games in 1983–84 and averaged 5.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game.
Across his four seasons, he totaled 112 games and finished with 496 rebounds, with season rebound totals of 103 (1980–81), 129 (1981–82), 141 (1982–83), and 123 (1983–84).
Tower played college basketball at Michigan State University where he averaged 5.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.2 asssists across 112 games.
Related
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