2/25 - GEORGE FOX 86, LEWIS & CLARK 72: Win over Pios Completes Bruins' Best Season in 13 Years
NEWBERG, Ore. - An 86-72 victory over the Lewis & Clark College Pioneers Friday night here at the Wheeler Sports Center's Miller Gym in their final Northwest Conference game of the men's basketball season enabled the George Fox University Bruins to finish with their best record in 13 years.
The Bruins' 18-7 record is the most wins since the 1991-92 team went 24-11 and reached the quarterfinals of the NAIA Division II National Tournament. Their won-lost percentage of .720 is the highest since the 1990-91 team was 24-6 for a .800 mark. Their 13-3 (.813) conference record, good for second in the league, is the best in the 10 years George Fox has been a member of the NWC, topping the 1997-98 team's 13-5 (.722).
After falling behind 7-2 to start the game, the Bruins reeled of 7 unanswered points on a three-pointer by Mark Gayman, a rebound basket by Scott Szalay, and a three by Tony Walther for a 10-7 lead. The Bruins never trailed again, and led 41-35 at the half, despite a length-of-the-pass with 2 seconds left to the Pios' Mike Kirkham for a buzzer-beating three-pointer.
Ben Melvin's three-pointer capped off a 9-1 run to start the second half that boosted the Bruins' advantage to 13 at 50-37 with 16:41 left. The Pioneers then went on a 17-8 spree to get within 4 at 58-54 with 10:18 to go, but that was as close as the visitors would get. Philip Heu-Weller's three capped off a 14-4 burst by the Bruins that upped the margin to 14 at 72-58 with 5:44 left, and the Bruins held 16-point leads twice before the game ended.
Gayman and Szalay each posted double-doubles, Gayman with a game-high 23 points and 10 rebounds and Szalay with 11 points and a game-high 14 boards, while Heu-Weller tallied 20. The Bruins held a 42-27 advantage in rebounds and had a sterling shooting night, hitting .541 (33-61) from the field, with 8-20 on threes, and .923 (12-13) from the line. Gayman, a senior, tied his personal high with 6 assists and closed out a stellar career with 1,457 points, 8th on the all-time George Fox scoring chart.
Travis Jones paced the Pioneers with 19 points and 6 rebounds, Thomas Tillery scored 13, and Kirkham and Ryan Wells had 10 apiece. Jeff Christensen handed out 3 assists.
Lewis & Clark, now 11-12 overall and 7-8 in the conference, completes its season by hosting league champion and 8th-ranked University of Puget Sound Saturday at 8:00 p.m.