Press Release
12/20 - ST. MARTIN'S 78, GEORGE FOX 67: Bruins' Balance Not Enough to Overcome D-II Saints
LACEY, Wash. - Despite a balanced offense that saw five players score in double figures, the George Fox University Bruins were unable to overcome the Saint Martin's University Saints on the road and dropped a 78-67 decision to the NCAA Division II team in a non-conference men's basketball game Wednesday night here at the SMU Pavilion.
The first half was tight as neither team was able to mount more than a five-point advantage. The Bruins twice held four-point leads, the last at 19-15 on a free throw by Phil Heu-Weller, playing just 10 minutes from home, with 8:33 left in the half. The Saints held five-point margins three times, the last when Jake Linton hit a three-pointer with a second remaining for a 33-28 halftime lead. The Bruins' Chris Parker had 12 first-half points to keep his team in the game.
St. Martin's never trailed in the second half, though the Bruins got within a single point four times, the last at 47-46 on a free shot by Mark Metzler with 11:11 left in the game. The Saints went on a 12-3 run over the next three minutes, however, capped by a pair of Greg O'Neal layups following Bruin turnovers, to take a 59-49 lead with 8:17 to go. The teams all but traded points thereafter, as the Bruins got no closer than eight but the Saints led by no more than 12 the rest of the way.
Parker led the Bruins with 14 points, Heu-Weller had 13, Brent Satern 12, and Brady Strutz and Metzler had 10 each. Heu-Weller posted his first career double-double by hauling down a game-high and career-high tying 10 rebounds, leading the Bruins to a 37-34 advantage on the boards. Satern passed out seven assists.
The Saints got 16 points each from Linton and Stephon Harris, while Brendan Campbell added 12 and O'Neal 10. Harris and Campbell had six rebounds apiece, and Linton handed out seven assists.
George Fox (5-5) returns to Northwest Conference action Friday, Jan. 5, hosting Whitman College at 8 p.m. following the women's NWC contest at 6 p.m. St. Martin's (3-8) plays again Saturday, Jan. 6, hosting Western Oregon University at 7 p.m. in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference game.