Press Release
2/18 - WILLAMETTE 79, GEORGE FOX 76: Bearcats Thwart Comeback-Minded Bruins in Regular-Season Wrapup
NEWBERG, Ore. - Jason Luchterhand rebounded a missed George Fox University free throw that would have tied the game with five seconds left, then sank two free throws of his own to preserve a 79-76 win for the Willamette University Bearcats over the Bruins in the regular season Northwest Conference men's basketball finale for both teams Saturday night here at the Wheeler Sports Center's Miller Gym.
The win enabled the Bearcats to claim a share of second place in the conference with Whitworth College, both 13-3 in the league and a game behind first-place University of Puget Sound. Willamette, 17-7 overall, will go to Whitworth Thursday for the NWC Tournament semi-final game, with the winner going to Puget Sound Saturday. George Fox completes its season at 16-9 overall and 9-7 in the conference, good for fourth place.
Willamette, bounced from a first-place tie in a loss at Puget Sound Friday, came out with guns blazing, scoring the first six points on a jumper by Drew Miller, a basket by C.J. Stuvland, and two free throws by Miller. Scott Szalay's basket with 18:14 to go in the half got the Bruins on the board, and the home team was able to tie the game twice in the half but never took the lead. Shooting 64.3% (18-28) for the period, the Bearcats stretched their lead to as much as nine points four times before settling for a 38-31 lead at halftime. Szalay's 13 points and 10 by Chris Parker kept the Bruins in the game.
The Bruins cut the gap to one point when Phil Heu-Weller drained a three-pointer to make it a 47-46 score with 14:49 left, but the Bearcats when on a 14-3 run to raise the lead to 12 at 61-49 with 11:27 to go. Again the Bruins rallied, and Szalay's rebound basket with 46 seconds left made it a two-point game, 77-75, setting up a dramatic finish.
Willamette, milking the clock, took a shot by David Fife with 15 seconds left but missed, and Aaron Schmick grabbed the ball, giving the Bruins a chance to tie or win. Schmick's short jumper along the baseline bounced off to Szalay, who shot quickly, missed, grabbed his own rebound, and was fouled by Luchterhand with five seconds left. Already 11-12 from the line in the game, Szalay made the first free throw to make it 77-76 but missed the second, and Luchterhand collared the rebound. After Luchterhand's two insurance freebies with 2.7 seconds left, John Olinger intercepted Brent Satern's long full-court pass, foiling any desperation three-pointer by the Bruins for a tie.
Szalay closed out his George Fox career with his 10th double-double of the season and 16th overall, posting game highs of 24 points and 14 rebounds. Parker scored 16 points, while seniors Schmick and Ben Melvin added 14 and 11 respectively. Schmick finished his Bruin career seventh on the all-time scoring list with 1,470 points. Satern had a game-high 5 assists.
Luchterhand led the Bearcats with 20 points, Josh Erickson scored 13, Olinger had 12, and Stuvland tossed in 10. The Bearcats finished with a 57.1% (32-56) from the field, but managed only 15.4% (2-13) from three-point range after hitting 75.0% (12-16) the first time the two teams met this season down in Salem. Luchterhand also topped the team with 6 rebounds, while Stuvland handed out 4 assists.