2/7 - GEORGE FOX 82, PACIFIC LUTHERAN 72: Hot Night at Charity Stripe Lifts Bruins by Lutes
TACOMA, Wash. - Burning the nets from the free throw line to the tune of 88.6%, including 7-8 in the final 1:18, the George Fox University Bruins held off the Pacific Lutheran University Lutes 82-72 in a Northwest Conference men's basketball game Saturday night here at Olson Auditorium.
George Fox scored 12 points to PLU's 2 in the final 2:32 of the first half to take a 44-37 advantage at halftime, but the Lutes battled back to tie the score at 61-61 on Hazen Hyland's jumper with 9:25 left in the game. Mark Gayman connected on a jump shot to give the Bruins back the lead, but Sudon DeSuze answered with a lay-up for a 63-63 tie. Scott Szalay made 1-2 from the line for a 64-63 George Fox lead, then DeSuze made another lay-up for a 65-64 PLU advantage with 5:59 to play.
Gayman's 3-pointer with 5:31 left regained the lead for the Bruins and ignited a 13-3 run that put the Bruins in front 75-68. DeSuze made a lay-up and Kurt Oliver sank two free throws to bring the Lutes close at 75-72 with 1:22 remaining, but George Fox made their foul shots down the stretch to secure the win.
Aaron Schmick tallied 27 points, including 11-11 from the charity stripe, to lead George Fox, while Ben Melvin chipped in 17, and Gayman and Szalay both had 13. Szalay grabbed 8 rebounds as the Bruins held a 35-27 edge on the boards, and Schmick had a team-high 3 assists. The Bruins sank 31-35 from the free throw line for the game to only 12-20 for PLU.
Drew Cardwell led the Lutes with 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists, and Jason Pasquariello scored 15.
George Fox improved to 6-13 overall and 2-8 in the conference with its first league win on the road after 23 straight setbacks. The Bruins' last NWC road win was a 75-73 decision at Whitworth College on Jan. 6, 2001, in which the team rallied from 23 points down with 17 minutes to play. Pacific Lutheran fell to 4-15 overall and 1-9 in the conference.
The Bruins return home to host Yamhill County rival Linfield College Tuesday (Feb. 10) at 8:00 p.m., following the women's clash at 6:00 p.m. The Lutes visit Whitworth Friday (Feb. 13).