1/22 - GEORGE FOX 83, PACIFIC LUTHERAN 71: Bruins Stay Tied for First in NWC with Win over Lutes
NEWBERG, Ore. - Mark Gayman led a quintet of George Fox University players in double figures with 19 points as the Bruins posted an 83-71 win over the Pacific Lutheran University Lutes and remained in a tie atop the Northwest Conference men's basketball standings Saturday night here at the Wheeler Sports Center's Miller Gym.
The game was close through the first 12 minutes, but the Bruins went on a 15-4 run over a four-minute span to move from a 19-17 lead to a 34-21 advantage with 5:15 left in the first half. The Bruins hit four three-pointers in that stretch, two by Philip Heu-Weller and one each by Gayman and Ben Melvin. Kurt Oliver's three-pointer cut the George Fox lead to nine at the break, 42-33.
Oliver hit another three with 14:30 to play that narrowed the George Fox margin to 49-43, but that was the closest the Lutes would come as the Bruins reeled off 10 unanswered points over the next three minutes for an insurmountable 59-43 lead. The Bruins took their largest lead with 6:31 to go on a three-pointer from the left corner by Aaron Schmick, making it 73-51. The Lutes went on an 11-4 run to end the game when George Fox coach Mark Sundquist cleared his bench with two minutes left for the final 12-point margin.
In addition to Gayman's 19, Heu-Weller, Schmick, and Chris Parker each had 11 points, and Melvin finished with 10. Scott Szalay and Parker grabbed 8 rebounds apiece as the Bruins held a 47-31 advantage on the boards, including 21 on the offensive end. Schmick passed out 6 assists.
Oliver led the Lutes with 18 points, including four three-pointers, while Drew Cardwell and Michael Torbenson added 13 each. Cardwell was PLU's leading rebounder with 6, and Jake Cartensen handed out 5 assists.
George Fox climbed to 10-5 overall, their most wins since a 13-12 record in the 1998-99 season, and 5-1 in the conference, remaining in a tie for first with the University of Puget Sound, an 86-84 winner at Linfield College. Pacific Lutheran fell to 5-10 overall and 3-3 in the NWC.
The Bruins visit Pacific University Tuesday and the Lutes go to crosstown rival Puget Sound in Tacoma Friday in each team's next action, both games at 8:00 p.m. following women's games at 6:00 p.m.