2/21 - WILLAMETTE 59, GEORGE FOX 52: James Ties Coaching Mark as Bearcats Rally Past Bruins
NEWBERG, Ore. - Gordie James tied the Willamette University record for most coaching victories with 277 as his Bearcats rallied to defeat the George Fox University Bruins 59-52 in a Northwest Conference men's basketball game Friday night (Feb. 21) here at the Wheeler Sports Center.
James, last year's NWC Coach of the Year, is now 277-158 in his 16th season with the Bearcats, equaling the total of wins for John Lewis, who was 277-239 in 20 years at Willamette. It was not an easy victory, however, as the Bruins spent most of the game in front, though rarely by more than a few points.
George Fox never trailed in the first half, leading the whole way except for a 2-2 tie. Bryan Wadlow's jumper with 8:32 left in the half gave the Bruins their biggest lead at 24-15. It was 28-25 George Fox at the break.
Kenny Macy hit a 3-pointer to start the second half for the Bruins, and the home team kept a slim lead for well over 12 minutes. An Aaron Schmick trey gave the Bruins a 39-34 lead with 11:50 to play, but the Bearcats rallied with a 10-0 run, taking the lead for good at 40-39 on a David Force jumper with 7:39 left. Macy hit another three to break a 5 1/2 minute scoring drought by the Bruins at 6:07 and cut the lead to 44-42, but the Bearcats hit a perfect 8-8 from the line in the final 4 minutes to remain just ahead of the upset-minded Bruins.
Marques Johnson and Miles Sandgathe paced the Bearcats with 15 points each, Ryan Hepp scored 11 and had 4 assists, and Harold Sublett, Jr., posted a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds. A huge discrepancy in rebounds - Willamette had 43, including 13 offensive, to only 23 for George Fox - was a major factor in the Bearcats' comeback.
Macy scored a career-high 18 points in his final game as a Bruin senior, while Mark Gayman and Schmick had 11 each. Gayman was the Bruins' top rebounder with 6, while Trevor Person had 8 assists. It was the Bruins' best defensive effort of the season in terms of points allowed, their previous low being 68 in an 82-68 win at Multnomah Bible College.
George Fox finished the season at 7-18 overall and in 9th place in the conference at 1-15. Willamette clinched a berth in the NWC Tournament next week and is now 17-6 overall and 11-4 in the league. The Bearcats host the University of Puget Sound Saturday (Feb. 22) at 8:00 p.m.