Box Score

NEWBERG, Ore. - Free throw woes - their own misses and Pacific Lutheran University's makes - proved costly to the George Fox University Bruins as they coughed up a double-digit lead in the second half and dropped a 61-58 decision to the visiting Lutes in the Northwest Conference men's basketball opener for both teams Friday night here at the Wheeler Sports Center's Miller Gym.

After two ties and three lead changes in the game's first five minutes, the Bruins took a 9-8 lead on a jumper by Brent Satern, who scored 11 first-half points, and stayed ahead the remainder of the period. A layup by Satern with just under a minute left enabled the Bruins to take their largest lead of nine points, 35-26, into the intermission.

The Bruins twice took 12-point leads in the second half, the second at 51-39 on a basket by Dan Lingenfelder with 10:25 to play. They were still up by 11 at 55-44 with 6:45 left after a layup by Mark Metzler when the Bruins suddenly went ice-cold from everywhere. Over the remaining time, the Bruins went 0-6 from the field and 3-11 from the free throw line, including misses on all three of their one-and-ones, enabling the Lutes to catch up.

The Lutes reeled off 11 unanswered points, starting with back-to-back three-pointers by Kyle MacTaggart and Josh Dressler, PLU's only threes of the night. A Dressler free throw knotted it 55-55 with 2:53 left before one free throw each by Satern and Travis Toedtemeier put the Bruins ahead for the last time 57-55 with 2:10 to go. Jared Brandeberry, playing his first game of the season, tied it with a jumper, then put the Lutes ahead 58-57 with a free throw with a minute left. Toedtemeier missed a go-ahead three with 34 seconds to play, then Brandeberry hit another free throw with 18 seconds left to make it a two-point game. Satern made the second of two free thows with 11 seconds left, but Dressler iced the game with two freebies with nine seconds to play, and Evan Atwater was long on a three-point try for a tie at the buzzer.

Satern led all scorers with 17 points, but he was the only Bruin in double figures. The Bruins hit .368 (21-57) from the field, but only .188 (3-16) from three-point range, and an even .500 (13-26) from the line, including 5-14 (.357) in the second half. Atwater and Toedtemeier grabbed seven rebounds apiece as the Bruins held a 43-40 edge on the glass. Satern passed out six assists and made four steals.

Scott McDaniels scored 16 points before fouling out to lead the Lutes, Dressler added 12 (13 below his scoring average), and Landon Heidenreich tallied 11. PLU shot .333 (18-54) from the floor, made only .118 (2-17) from three-point range, and .719 (23-32) from the line. MacTaggart had a game-high nine boards, and Heidenreich and Dressler had three assists each.

George Fox (4-6, NWC 0-1) hosts the 10th-ranked University of Puget Sound and Pacific Lutheran (5-4, NWC 1-0) goes to Lewis & Clark College Saturday, both at 8:00 p.m. following NWC women's games at 6:00 p.m.