Men's Basketball Release
1/7 - GEORGE FOX 70, PACIFIC 67: Bruins Squander Most of Big Lead but Hang on to Defeat Boxers
FOREST GROVE, Ore. - Ahead by 20 points early in the second half, the George Fox University Bruins squandered all but two points of their huge lead but hung on for a 70-67 decision over the Pacific University Boxers in a Northwest Conference men's basketball game Saturday night here at the Pacific Athletic Center.
The Boxers led for most of the first 10 minutes of the game, going ahead 18-13 on a jumper by Ross Bartlett with 9:59 left in the period. The Bruins the began to find their range from long distance, Brady Strutz' three igniting a 28-9 George Fox run over the final 10 minutes. With Schmick scored 17 points in the half, the Bruins forged a 41-27 lead at the break.
A basket by Scott Szalay and two by Phil Heu-Weller put the Bruins up by 20, 47-27, with 16:40 to play in the game. Mison Henley's jumper at 16:16 gave the Boxers their first two points of the second half and ignited an almost-successful comeback. Sparked by Branden Kanazoe, who scored 16 of his 20 points in the second half, the Boxers went on a 28-10 tear and cut the lead to two points, 57-55, when Kanazoe completed a three-point play with 5:54 to go. A three-point play by Chris Parker enabled the Bruins to slow the run, and the 6-6 post player made two more big baskets inside later to help keep the Boxers at bay. Kanazoe hit a three at the buzzer for the final three-point differential.
Schmick finished with a game-high 21 points and Parker added 15. Heu-Weller had a game-high 10 rebounds, leading the Bruins to a 39-35 advantage on the boards. Brent Satern passed out 4 assists.
In addition to Kawazoe's 20, Kyle Motta scored 12 points and Henley tossed in 11. Motta was the top Boxer on the boards with 8 rebounds. Motta and Ryan Turcott had 2 assists each. There were only 12 turnovers in the game, 9 by George Fox and 3 by Pacific, and only one by each team in the second half.
George Fox (9-3, 3-1 NWC) goes to Linfield College in McMinnville Tuesday and Pacific (6-6, 1-3 NWC) hosts Willamette University Friday in the next conference action for each team. Game time is 8 p.m. for both, following NWC women's games at 6 p.m.