1/11 - GEORGE FOX 90, MULTNOMAH 68: Bruins End Non-Conference Slate with Win over Ambassadors
PORTLAND, Ore. - Concluding the non-conference portion of their schedule on a winning note, the George Fox University Bruins overpowered the Multnomah Bible College Ambassadors in the second half and went on to a 90-68 victory in men's basketball action Tuesday night here at MBC's Lytle Gym.
The visiting Bruins came out hot, scoring the game's first 11 points, but cooled off considerably thereafter, allowing the Ambassadors back into the game with the next 7 points. The Bruins maintained a shaky lead throughout the remainder of the half, but with Dave Carpenter, last year's leading scorer in the National Christian College Athletic Association at 30.1 ppg, knocking down 18 first-half points, the Ambassadors stayed close. George Fox held a 39-31 lead at intermission.
The Bruins' shots began falling again early in the second half, and they eventually built up their largest lead of 23 at 62-39 on a layup by Mark Gayman with 13:26 left in the game. It was Carpenter again who rallied Multnomah, scoring 17 second-half points as the Ambassadors got back with 11 at 70-59 with 6:26 left on a three-point play by Carpenter. With a chance to get the lead back into single digits, however, Carpenter misfired on a thee-pointer, and the Bruins raced away again, finishing with a .559 shooting percentage (19-34) in the second half after hitting only .364 (12-33) in the first.
Mark Gayman led the Bruins with 24 points, hitting 10-14 from the field, and 12 rebounds, his 18th career double-double and 3rd this season. Aaron Schmick scored 13 before fouling out, and Chris Parker chipped in with 10 off the bench. Ben Melvin passed out 6 assists and Tony Walther 5 as the Bruins had 24 assists, while Brent Satern led the defense with 3 steals.
Carpenter had 35 points and Don Wilder added a double-double of 17 points and 13 rebounds for the Ambassadors. Carpenter had half of Multnomah's assists with 3, and Wilder picked up 4 steals. Multnomah controlled the boards 46-42.
George Fox, stretching its winning streak to three, finished with a 5-4 record outside the Northwest Conference and is 7-4 overall, equaling its wins total for all of last year with over half the season remaining. Multnomah fell to 8-13.
The Bruins, 2-0 and tied for first in the NWC, return to league play Saturday when they host Yamhill County rival Linfield College at 8:00 p.m., following the women's game at 6:00 p.m. The Ambassadors host Walla Walla College Saturday at 8:00 p.m.