Men's Basketball Release
11/29 - GEORGE FOX 78, NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN 63: Bruins Overcome Early Deficit to Bounce Beacons
NEWBERG, Ore. - Aaron Schmick and Chris Parker scored 17 points apiece and Scott Szalay posted his third double-double in as many games with 10 points and 13 rebounds, leading the George Fox University Bruins to a come-from-behind 78-63 win over the Northwest Christian College Beacons in a non-conference men's basketball game Tuesday night here at the Wheeler Sports Center's Miller Gym.
Playing their first game in a week after time off for the Thanksgiving holidays, the Bruins came out of the gate slowly and spotted the Beacons an early 10-2 lead. Jesse Taylor nailed a three-pointer to start the game for NWCC, added a jumper, Jesse Meeks canned a three, and Josh Harbert scored to get the Beacons fired up. The Bruins, meanwhile, missed three layups, a jumper, and committed a turnover in their first five possessions.
The Bruins finally got going when Schmick and Ben Melvin each hit a three-pointer and a two-point basket to forge a 12-12 tie with 14 minutes left in the half. The lead then changed hands four times down the court before a pair of free throws by Szalay at 11:36 gave the Bruins the lead for good at 18-17. With Schmick scoring 16 in the half, the Bruins stretched their lead to 11 at the break, 41-30.
In the second half, the Beacons could get no closer than nine points, at 49-40 with 13:54 to play on a three-point goal by Taylor, one of five he drilled for the game, but neither could the Bruins pull away completely. Parker came off the bench to score 11 of his 17 in the second half as the Bruins built up as much as an 18-point lead, going up 62-44 with 11:22 left on a pair of Parker free throws. Taylor nailed three threes in a row to get the Beacons back within 10 at 69-59 with 6:52 to go, but two more freebies by Parker started a 9-4 Bruin run to end the game.
Schmick hit three three-pointers en route to his 17, while Parker was 5-7 from the field and 7-7 from the line. Phil Heu-Weller chipped in with 11 points. George Fox shot better than .500 for the third straight game, hitting 26-51 for a .510 percentage. Szalay's 13 boards helped the Bruins to a 33-26 advantage in the rebound department. Schmick and Brent Satern had 5 assists each.
Taylor finished with 21 points for the Beacons and Josh Brown added 10. Andrew Williams pulled down 7 rebounds and Meeks handed out 6 assists.
George Fox (2-1) begins Northwest Conference play Friday when the Bruins host Whitworth College at 8:00 p.m., following the women's game at 6:00 p.m. Northwest Christian (2-7) goes to Coos Bay Wednesday to take on Southwestern Oregon Community College at 7:30 p.m.