1/7 - GEORGE FOX 85, NW CHRISTIAN 76: Bruins Equal '02 Win Total of Five in Cruise Past Crusaders
NEWBERG, Ore. - With 60 percent of their season still to play, the George Fox University Bruins equaled their win total for all of the 2001-02 season with their 5th victory, an 85-76 decision over the Northwest Christian College Crusaders in a non-conference men's basketball game Tuesday night (Jan. 7) here at the Wheeler Sports Center.
Branden Whitney's free throw 13 seconds into the game proved to be the only lead the Crusaders would have all night. Bryan Wadlow hit a short jumper in the lane at the 19:10 mark to give George Fox a 2-1 lead, and the Bruins never trailed again. An 11-0 run midway through the first half enabled the Bruins to stretch a slim 19-17 lead to 30-17 with 8:30 left in the half, and the Crusaders got no closer than nine the rest of the game. The Bruins' largest lead was 24 at 75-51 with 7:32 left, before the Crusaders made a late run with George Fox subs in the game to make the final score respectable.
Mark Gayman led all scorers with 20 points for the Bruins, 10 in each half, while Trevor Person added 13, and Wadlow and Brett Yeager had 11 each. Gayman with 8 rebounds and Zach Hollin with 7 led the way on the boards as the Bruins out-rebounded their opponents for the first time this season 43-32. Person had 6 assists, and Nate Tyler led the defensive effort with 5 steals.
Steve Farley paced Northwest Christian with 15 points, followed by Whitney and Aaron Hegge with 12 each, and Micah Kehoe-Thompson with 10. The Crusader's leading scorer, Pete Moore, was held to only 5 points. Whitney had 8 boards for the Crusaders, Justin Kelly had 6 assists, and Jared Sand made 4 steals.
George Fox snapped a 3-game losing streak, evening its record at 5-5, and should better last year's 5-20 record. Northwest Christian, which lost at home to the Bruins 85-75 earlier this season, lost its 6th in a row and fell to 4-12.
The Bruins return to Northwest Conference play this weekend, playing their first home conference game against Pacific University at 8:00 p.m. Saturday (Jan. 11). The George Fox and Pacific women square off at 6:00 p.m. The Crusaders return home to host Pacific next Tuesday (Jan. 14) at 7:30 p.m.