1/31 - WHITMAN 71, GEORGE FOX 65: Late Three-Pointers by Whitman Spoil Bruins' Comeback Bid
NEWBERG, Ore. - After battling back from a 13-point second-half deficit, the George Fox University Bruins could not seal the deal and lost a 71-65 heartbreaker to the Whitman College Missionaries in a Northwest Conference men's basketball game Friday night (Jan. 31) here at the Wheeler Sports Center.
Both teams had spurts early in the game before the first half settled down. Aaron Schmick opened the game with a pair of 3-pointers for the Bruins, giving the home team an early 6-0 lead. George Fox led 8-2 when the Missionaries went on a 13-2 run of their own for a 15-10 lead. After a couple of lead changes midway through the period, Whitman managed a 31-25 lead with 1:45 left, but Zach Hollin drilled a long three as the buzzer sounded to bring the Bruins within 31-28 at the half.
Whitman's Mark Bouma exploded for 11 points in the first seven minutes of the second half, pushing the Missionaries out to a 53-40 lead, but Bryan Wadlow hit back-to-back threes to ignite a 14-1 run that brought the Bruins back to a 54-54 tie with 9:43 left. The teams then traded baskets for several minutes before Schmick drove inside for a layup to give the Bruins a 65-63 lead with 3:49 remaining, but the Bruins did not score again
Casey Nelson drilled a 3-pointer from the top of the key to put Whitman back on top 66-65 with 1:26 left, and Scott Erickson hammered another nail in the coffin with a trey from NBA range with 36 seconds left. Erickson closed the scoring and completed a Whitman season sweep of the Bruins with a pair of free throws at the 18.9-second mark.
Wadlow led the Bruins with 14 points, Gayman posted his third double-double of the season with 12 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, and Schmick added 11 points. Wadlow also had 8 boards as the Bruins out-rebounded the bigger Missionaries 36-32. Brett Yeager and Trevor Person had 4 assists apiece.
For Whitman, Bouma finished with 24 points, Greg Caldwell tallied 13, and Erickson had 12. Kyle Dalvit led the Missionaries with 8 rebounds, while Erickson handed out 7 assists.
The Bruins fell to 6-11 overall and 1-8 in the conference, while the Missionaries climbed to 6-12 overall and 3-6 in league play.
George Fox hosts 17th-ranked Whitworth College Saturday (Feb. 1) in the George Fox Homecoming game at 8:00 p.m. Whitman travels to Pacific University Saturday, also at 8:00 p.m.