12/6 - CONCORDIA 86, GEORGE FOX 76: Host Cavaliers Hold Off Bruins to Win Tournament Title
PORTLAND, Ore. - Although they led for most of the game, it was not until the final six minutes of the contest that Concordia University-Portland could pull away fromGeorge Fox University for good, and the host Cavaliers went on to defeat the Bruins 86-76 in the championship game of the Mortgage Market Holiday Men's Basketball Tournament Saturday night here at the Cavalier Dome.
Concordia maintained a slim lead throughout most of the first half, although the Bruins did take a brief 3-2 lead early on as Bryan Wadlow canned a 3-pointer and later went up 26-23 on a layup by Wadlow with 7:47 left in the half. The Cavs went on an 18-7 run to end the half, however, and led at the break 41-33.
Brandon Erlandson's trey at the start of the second half gave Concordia its first double-digit lead of the night at 44-33, but the Bruins refused to go away and twice cut the lead to only 4 points, the last time on a 3-pointer from the corner by Aaron Schmick that made it 68-64 with 5:59 left. The Cavs' Jerry Smith keyed an 8-0 run at that point with a jumper and 4 free throws, boosting the home team to an insurmountable 76-64 lead with 3:32 to go, and the Bruins could get no closer than 9 the rest of the way.
Mark Gayman scored a game-high 22 points in a losing effort for the Bruins, while Scott Szalay added 15, Schmick 13, and Ben Melvin 12. Gayman had 8 rebounds, Melvin had 7 assists, and Schmick had 3 steals to lead the Bruins, who sank 10 3-pointers to keep things close.
Erlandson and Matt Ferrier had 18 each to pace the Cavs, with Ferrier coming off the bench to make 7-9 from the field. Andre Johnson and Smith chipped in with 14 apiece, and Nate Ferrier added 11. Erlandson had 9 rebounds to lead the Cavs to a 42-38 edge on the boards. Steve Ford had 5 assists and 3 steals for Concordia.
George Fox is now even at 2-2 on the season, while Concordia improves to 6-4.
The Bruins are back in action next Saturday (Dec. 13), visiting Northwest College for a rematch of this year's George Fox opener, won by the Eagles 89-88 on a 3-pointer with 2.5 seconds left. Game time is 7:30 p.m. in Kirkland, Wash. The Cavaliers host Pacific University next Saturday, also at 7:30 p.m.