Press Release
1/13 - PACIFIC 64, GEORGE FOX 57: Boxers' Blistering First Half Leads to Win over Bruins
FOREST GROVE, Ore. - Shooting almost 60 per cent from the field in the first half, the Pacific University Boxers mounted a double-digit lead but had to hang on for dear life in the second half to defeat the George Fox University Bruins 64-57 in a Northwest Conference men's basketball game Saturday night here at the Pacific Athletic Center.
George Fox led only once in the first half, taking a 3-2 lead on a three-pointer by Phil Heu-Weller after Donnie Harrison-Davis had opened the scoring for Pacific with a layup. Harrison-Davis made another chippie to break a 5-5 tie and spark a 9-0 run that gave the Boxers a 14-5 lead with 15 minutes left in the period. The Bruins closed within five when Heu-Weller hit a three and a jumper back-to-back to cut the Pacific lead to 23-18 with 6:22 left, but the Boxers went on a 13-7 run to close out the half with a 36-25 lead. Joe Van Domelen's basket gave Pacific its largest lead of 14 points at 36-22 with 57 seconds left. The Boxers shot .593 (16-27) to .391 (9-23) for the Bruins in the half.
The Boxers cooled off considerably at the start of the second half, missing 11 of their first 14 shots, and the Bruins got hot, hitting six of eight from the field and the free throw line, to get back in the game. A jumper by Matt Noble with 10:36 left brought the Bruins within two at 46-44, but the Boxers responded with a rebound basket by Kyle Motta, a jumper by Ryan Turcott, and a pair of free throws by Jesse Wong to push the Pacific lead back to 52-44. A three-pointer by Satern got the Bruins back within three at 54-51 with 3:55 left, but Ross Bartlett hit a three-point play at 3:34 as the Boxers regained momentum, making seven free throws down the stretch to preserve the win.
Satern finished with 19 points and Heu-Weller 13 to pace the Bruins. Heu-Weller was the top rebounder with five, and Satern had four assists. After their hot start to the second half, the Bruins went cold and hit only three of their final 15 attempts, ending with a .391 percentage (18-46) for the game.
Harrison-Davis led the balanced Boxer attack with 13 points, Bartlett added 11, and Thomas Bright scored 10. Motta's nine rebounds led the Boxers to a 35-25 margin on the boards. Harrison-Davis had four assists. After their sizzling first half, the Boxers had to settle for a .440 percentage (22-50) for the game, hitting only .261 (6-23) in the second half.
George Fox (7-7, NWC 3-3) visits Pacific Lutheran University and Pacific (8-6, NWC 4-2) goes down the road to Linfield College for conference games Friday, both at 8 p.m. following women's NWC games at 6 p.m.