1/13 - PACIFIC 77, GEORGE FOX 67: Charity Doesn't Work at Home as Boxer Free Throws Burn Bruins
NEWBERG, Ore. - Making four times as many free throws as the home team, the visiting Pacific University Boxers sank 20 of 28 from the charity stripe, including 9 of 12 in the final 5 minutes, to hold off the George Fox University Bruins 77-67 in Northwest Conference men's basketball Tuesday night here at Miller Gym in the Wheeler Sports Center.
The first half was a tight one with 4 ties and 5 lead changes, Pacific eking out a 32-30 advantage at the intermission. The Boxers' Joe Van Domelen, last week's NWC Player of the Week, took over in the second half, however, scoring 17 of his game-high 25 points to keep the Boxers in front.
Pacific had 11-point leads three times in the second half, the last coming with 4:39 to play on a pair of free throws by Van Domelen that gave the Boxers a 70-59 advantage. The Bruins began to foul in an effort to catch up, but the Boxers, defeating the Bruins for the 9th straight time, rose to the challenge at the line, and George Fox was able to get no closer than 6 points at any time thereafter.
The field goal totals were equal - 27 each - and the Bruins made 8 3-pointers to only 3 for the Boxers, but while Pacific was having a good time at the line, George Fox managed to make only 5 of 10, and therein lay the difference. Both teams had good nights from the field, Pacific hitting 51.9% (27-52) and George Fox slightly under that at 49.1% (27-55). George Fox controlled the boards 34-28 but made more turnovers, 17-10.
Mark Gayman led the home team with 18 points, and Scott Szalay and Aaron Schmick had 15 each. Szalay had 7 rebounds, while Gayman and Brett Yeager had 6 assists each.
In addition to Van Domelen's big game, Erin Gram scored 14 and Branden Kawazoe added 12. B.J. Anderson led the Boxers with 7 rebounds and 4 steals, while Gram had 9 assists.
George Fox dropped its 5th in a row and fell to 3-8 overall and 0-3 in the conference, while Pacific climbed to 3-6 overall and 1-1 in the league.
Both teams are back in action Friday, the Bruins visiting Lewis & Clark College for their first NWC road game, and the Boxers going to Linfield College. Both men's games are at 8:00 p.m., following women's games at 6:00 p.m.