1/4 - WHITWORTH 88, GEORGE FOX 78: Bruins Hang Tough but Fall to 14th-Ranked Whitworth
SPOKANE, Wash. - Behind a career-high 30 points from Bryan Depew, the 14th-ranked Whitworth College Pirates held off a stiff challenge from the visiting George Fox University Bruins for an 88-78 Northwest Conference men's basketball victory Saturday night (Jan. 4) here at the Whitworth Fieldhouse.
Depew scored 15 points in each half to lead the Pirates, while Chase Williams and Scott Bierlink each scored 16 points and Eric Avery added 11. Avery and Bierlink, a pair of guards, led Whitworth with 8 rebounds apiece.
George Fox stayed close behind Nate Tyler, Mark Gayman and Aaron Schmick. Tyler scored 18, while Gayman and Schmick each chipped in 16 points. Gayman also had 8 rebounds to lead the Bruins.
Whitworth jumped to a big early lead for the second straight evening, two free throws by Pete Svennungsen giving the Pirates a 27-11 lead 10 minutes into the game. But George Fox fought back to pull within 42-35 at halftime, Tyler scoring 10 points over the final five minutes of the half to key the comeback.
George Fox kept the game close for much of the second half, pulling to within 56-52 with 12:23 to play on a basket by Tyler. But the Pirates went on a 14-2 run to open up a 70-56 lead. Whitworth still led 78-66 with 5:12 to play when the Bruins made a final run, pulling to within 79-74 with 2:30 to play. But Depew hit an inside basket on the next trip and Whitworth made 7-8 free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
George Fox, in falling to 4-5 overall and 0-2 in the conference, lost its third straight and its 18th NWC game in a row. Whitworth, 11-0 overall and 2-0 in the NWC, continued to extend its school record for best season-opening winning streak. The Pirates' previous best start was 6-0, done three times.
The Bruins return to Newberg for a non-conference game Tuesday (Jan. 7) at 7:30 p.m. against Northwest Christian College, their first home game since the season opener against Concordia-Portland on Nov. 27. The Pirates next visit Pacific Lutheran University on Friday (Jan. 10) for an 8:00 p.m. contest.