Press Release
1/28 - GEORGE FOX 87, WHITMAN 79: Bruins Sink Missionaries with 11-3 Run in Final Two-and-a-Half Minutes
WALLA WALLA, Wash. - Scott Szalay's jumper with 2:25 to play broke a 76-76 tie, igniting a 9-0 run that lifted the George Fox University Bruins to an 87-79 win over the Whitman College Missionaries in a Northwest Conference men's basketball game Saturday night here at the Sherwood Center.
Highlighted by back-to-back three-point field goals by Aaron Schmick, the Bruins jumped out quickly to a 13-4 lead five minutes into the game. The Missionaries responded with a 15-3 run of their own to take a 19-17 lead on a basket by Ian Warner, and they stretched it to 47-40 at the end of the period.
The Missionaries stayed marginally ahead before Phil Heu-Weller hit a three-pointer to tie the game 55-55 with 12:29 to play. The teams all but traded point for point over the next nine minutes, with seven ties during that time, the last coming as Whitman's Chris Faidley hit a pair of free throws for a 76-76 deadlock with 2:40 to play.
After Szalay broke the tie with his basket, Ben Melvin canned a trey and Brent Satern hit a jumper following Whitman turnovers, then Schmick was fouled grabbing a rebound after three straight Missionary misses and made two free throws for an 85-76 George Fox lead with 37 seconds remaining. Melvin hit two free throws to close out the scoring after Greg Ricker had made a quick three-point play for the Missionaries.
All five starters scored in double figures for the Bruins, Schmick leading the way with 21 points, including 10-10 from the free throw line which extended his streak of consecutive ones made to 38. He was joined by Chris Parker with 15 points, Szalay with 12, and Melvin and Satern with 11 each. Schmick topped the Bruins, who out-rebounded the Missionaries 34-32, with 5 boards, while Satern handed out 5 assists. The Bruins had a sharp shooting eye from everywhere, making 52.7% (29-55) from the field overall, 50.0% (7-14) from three-point range, and 91.7% (22-24) from the line.
Warner led the Missionaries with 19 points, Kyle Born had a double-double with 18 point and 13 rebounds, Faidley scored 14, and Ricker had 11. Matt Kelly, the league's leading scorer, was held to only 8 points on 4-16 shooting. Ricker passed out 5 assists.
George Fox improved to 12-7 overall and evened its conference record at 5-5, while Whitman slipped to 9-9 overall and 5-5 in the league. The Bruins head home to host the University of Puget Sound and the Missionaries visit Lewis & Clark College Friday, both games at 8 p.m. following NWC women's games at 6 p.m.