Press Release
1/19 - GEORGE FOX 77, PACIFIC LUTHERAN 68: Parker's Career High Powers Bruins past Lutes
TACOMA, Wash. - With No. 2 scorer Phil Heu-Weller sidelined indefinitely by a foot injury, senior post Chris Parker stepped up with a career-high 32 points, leading the George Fox University Bruins to a 77-68 win over the Pacific Lutheran University Lutes in a Northwest Conference men's basketball game Friday night here at Olson Auditorium.
George Fox maintained the lead for the first 11 minutes of the game as Parker scored 10 of his 12 first-half points in that span, carrying the Bruins to an 18-14 lead. Back-to-back three-pointers by Kurt Oliver and Jared Brandeberrry gave Pacific Lutheran its first lead at 20-18, and they remained ahead until the final 30 seconds of the period. The Bruins regained the lead for the break 32-31 when Brent Satern stole the ball as Josh Dressler went up for a three-point attempt and drove for the go-ahead layup.
With Scott McDaniels scoring nine points in the first six minutes of the second half, the Lutes used a 6-0 run to take a 47-45 lead, but the Bruins answered with an 8-0 run on layups by Parker and Satern and two baskets by Brady Strutz for a 53-47 lead with 10:27 to play. The visitors would not trail again, although the Lutes stayed close until the very end. Parker's fast break layup with 1:54 to go put the Bruins up 67-58, and they hit 10-10 free throws in the final 1:30, two by Parker and eight by Evan Atwater, as the Lutes resorted to fouling in an effort to catch up.
Parker, whose previous high was 27 points in the season opener against Corban, hit 12-17 from the field and 8-10 from the line. Satern added 17 points and Strutz had 13. Parker and Strutz grabbed seven rebounds each as the Bruins controlled the boards 38-35. Strutz had four assists and Satern picked up three steals. The Bruins shot .520 (26-50) from the floor and .800 (24-30) from the line.
Brandeberry led the Lutes with 19 points, Oliver ended with 11, and McDaniels had 10. Dressler, the NWC's leading scorer with a 20.4 average coming in, was held to eight points on a 3-11 night from the field. Landon Heidenreich had a team-high six rebounds, and he and Brandeberry had three assists each. The Lutes managed a .379 shooting mark (25-66).
George Fox (8-7, NWC 4-3) continues its conference road swing Saturday, visiting Lewis & Clark College for an 8 p.m. game. Pacific Lutheran (6-8, NWC 3-4) hosts Pacific University Saturday, also at 8 p.m. Both games will follow women's NWC games at 6 p.m.