Press Release
12/9 - GEORGE FOX 80, CORBAN 63: Bruins Blitz Warriors with Second-Half Shooting Spree
SALEM, Ore. - Shooting over 60% in the second half, the George Fox University Bruins broke upon a tight game and defeated the Corban College Warriors for the second time this season 80-63 in the final game of the Hillyer's Mid-City Ford Classic men's basketball tournament Saturday night here at Corban's C.E. Jeffers Sports Center.
George Fox never trailed in the game, but could never take more than a three-point lead through the first 10 minutes of the contest. Phil Heu-Weller scored 10 points in the first five minutes to spark the Bruins to an early 12-9 lead, and they gradually built up a seven-point lead at 33-26 on a layup by Brent Satern with 40 seconds left in the period. A pair of free throws by the Warriors' Brad Reynoso cut the Bruin lead to 33-28 at the half.
Jason Klontz scored on a driving layup to open the second half to pull Corban within three at 33-30, but then the Bruins went to work. Satern hit a jumper in the lane, Chris Parker completed a three-point play, and Heu-Weller drained a three from the left wing in less than a minute, and the Bruins held a double-digit lead of 41-30 with 17:48 left. The Warriors closed within six at 46-40 on a basket by Jason Braun with 14:24 remaining, but another trey by Heu-Weller and another layup and free throw by Parker put the Bruin lead back into double figures for good. The Bruins twice led by as much as 21 points before settling for the 17-point win.
Satern led all scorers with 20 points, Parker had 17, Heu-Weller finished with 16, and Brady Strutz added 10. Strutz and Mark Metzler hauled in six rebounds each, leading the Bruins to a 39-31 advantage on the glass, and Satern passed out four assists. The Bruins connected on 17-28 (.607) from the floor in the second half to finish 29-56 (.518) for the game.
Wade Douglas was the only Warrior in double figures with 19 points. Braun had a team-high six rebounds and Nate Morris handed out four assists. The Warriors shot .393 (22-56) from the field.
In Saturday's early game in the tournament, the Oregon Institute of Technology, ranked 2nd in the NAIA Division II, improved to 13-0 with a 60-56 win over Lewis-Clark State College. The Warriors from Lewiston, Idaho, dropped to 6-4 on the season.
George Fox, which defeated Corban 74-61 in Newberg to open its season on Nov. 17, snapped a three-game losing streak in raising its record to 5-4. Corban fell to 1-12 as it lost for the eighth straight time.
The Bruins are off until Dec. 20 when they visit NCAA Division II St. Martin's College in Lacey, Wash., for a 7 p.m. game. The Warriors host Eastern Oregon University on Dec. 19 at 7:30 p.m. in a Cascade Collegiate Conference contest.