Press Release
1/27 - WHITWORTH 79, GEORGE FOX 69: Five Players in Double Figures Help Pirates Hold Off Bruins
SPOKANE, Wash. - Bryan Williams hit a three-point field goal that sparked a 9-0 run with just over three minutes left in the game, enabling the Whitworth College Pirates to hold off the George Fox University Bruins 79-69 in a Northwest Conference men's basketball game Friday night here at the Whitworth Fieldhouse.
George Fox opened the game with a three-pointer by Aaron Schmick and led 6-4 after a jumper by Chris Parker, but Whitworth went on a 12-2 run to take a 16-8 lead after a basket by Kevin Hasenfus. The Pirates stretched that lead to 26-14 following a free throw by Williams, but Schmick answered with another three and George Fox closed to within 36-28 at halftime.
After Whitworth bumped the margin back up to 10 points early in the second half, the Bruins rallied to take a one-point lead on three occasions. The final George Fox lead was 55-54 after back-to-back layups by Schmick with just over seven minutes to play. The Pirates regained the lead on a three-point play by Williams and never trailed again. Phil Heu-Weller hit a three to bring the Bruins within a point at 61-60, but on the next possession, Williams hit his three that set off the decisive Whitworth run. Lance Pecht sank two free throws to give Whitworth a 70-60 lead with 1:25 to play, and the Pirates made 7-8 free throws in the final minute to keep the Bruins at bay.
Schmick led George Fox with 21 points, while Scott Szalay posted his 7th double-double of the year with 11 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. The Bruins also got 16 points off the bench from Heu-Weller and 10 from Ben Melvin. Brent Satern dished out a game-high 8 assists. The Bruins shot 41.8% from the floor (23-55), including 9-25 from three-point range.
Pecht posted a double-double of 23 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Pirates, as did Hasenfus with 15 points and 10 boards. Jon Young made four three-pointers to finish with 15 points, Williams added 12 points to go with 5 assists, and George Tucker also scored 12 points. The Pirates shot 50% from the field, sinking 26-52 shots.
George Fox, dropping its fourth decision in the last six games, fell to 11-7 overall and 4-5 in the conference. Whitworth improved to 12-6 overall and 6-3 in the NWC. Both teams return to action Saturday, the Bruins going to Whitman College in Walla Walla while Whitworth hosts Linfield College. Both games are set for 8 p.m., following NWC women's games at 6 p.m.