11/30 - GEORGE FOX 56, NORTHWEST 54: Second-Half Defense Enables Bruins to Hold Off Eagles
KIRKLAND, Wash. - Holding the Northwest College Eagles to only 20 second-half points, the George Fox University Bruins took the lead for good early in the second half and hung on for 56-54 road victory in a non-conference men's basketball game Tuesday night here at the Northwest Pavilion.
Other than an early 2-0 George Fox lead on a Mark Gayman jumper, the host Eagles led throughout the first half, although they never held more than a six-point advantage. Northwest shot .500 (12-24) in the first half, but the Bruins stayed close with a hot hand of their own, shooting .571 (12-21). It was 34-31 Northwest at the half.
Consecutive baskets by Aaron Schmick, Gayman, and Schmick again to start the second half put the Bruins in front 37-34, and they never trailed thereafter. Brent Satern's jumper gave George Fox its biggest lead at 44-37 with 14:58 to play. The Eagles twice got within one point, but the Bruins answered both times with buckets by Chris Parker and Ben Melvin. The Bruins cooled off the Eagles in the second half, holding them to a .333 shooting mark (9-27). Northwest twice had chances to tie or win in the final 30 seconds after two Bruin turnovers, but the Eagles turned it over themselves the first time and missed a long three-point attempt as time expired on the second opportunity.
Schmick led all scorers with 18 points, the only Bruin in double figures, and had 3 assists, while Scott Szalay had a game-high 7 rebounds. The Bruins finished with a .489 shooting percentage (23-47) and were 5-6 from the line, although they were outrebounded 30-25.
Grant Enloe was the only Eagle in double figures with 10 points, Aaron Sawyer led the team with 6 rebounds, and Andrew Gard passed out 6 assists. The Eagles finished with a shooting mark of .412 (21-51) and hit 10-14 on free throws.
George Fox, avenging a 63-59 loss to the Eagles in the season opener in Newberg on Nov. 19, evened its record at 2-2. Northwest slipped to 5-2.
The Bruins return to action this weekend in the Concordia University-Portland Tournament, taking on Northwest Christian College Friday at 5:30 p.m. Concordia and Multnomah Bible College meet at 7:30 p.m. in the other bracket, with the consolation game Saturday at 5:30 p.m. and the championship game at 7:30 p.m.