Box Score
NEWBERG, Ore. - Guards Jack Martin and Evan Atwater
combined for 45 points and forward Alex Stockner added 17 without
missing a shot, lifting the George Fox University Bruins to their
first home win of the season 78-76 over the Northwest Christian
University Beacons in a non-conference men's basketball game
Tuesday night here at the Wheeler Sports Center's Miller Gym.
The first half was tightly contested with four ties, nine lead
changes, and neither team mounting more than a six-point
lead. The Beacons held the largest lead of the
half at 28-22 after Andrew Miller converted on a three-point play
with 5:42 left, but the Bruins closed with a 16-6 run, capped by an
Atwater three-pointer with two ticks left, for their largest lead
of 38-34 at the break. Martin had 14 points and
Atwater 12 in the first half, while Miller topped the Beacons with
nine points.
A 12-6 run to open the second half gave the Beacons their only
lead of the final stanza, Erik Quick-Warner canning a pair of free
throws for a 46-44 edge with 16:08 left to play.
A jumper by Atwater tied it, and Stockner's fast-break layup
off a pass from Steve Campbell put the Bruins ahead for good 48-46
at the 14:48 mark. The Bruins twice built
nine-point leads, the last at 69-60 with five minutes left on a
three from the right wing by Stockner, but had to fight to hang on
as the Beacons rallied.
Three free throws by Dylan Perry and a layup by Cameron Marshall
brought the Beacons within four before Martin hit a trey, boosting
the Bruin lead back to seven at 72-65 with three minutes
left. After Perry and Martin traded baskets,
Perry hit a layup and Quick-Warner hit two free throws, cutting the
NWC U deficit to 74-71 with 33 seconds left.
Stockner hit two free throws with 26 seconds to go before Jordan
Whittenburg canned a three to make it a two-point game of 76-74
with 13 seconds left.
The Beacons quickly fouled on the in-bounds pass, sending Joe Ahn
to the line for a one-and-one. Ahn missed the
first one, but a lane violation by NWCU gave him another chance,
and he sank both to give the Bruins a 78-74
lead. Perry tipped in a missed shot with 1.6
seconds left for the final margin, but the Bruins got the ball in
bounds and the Beacons could not foul again before time expired.
Martin led all scorers with 24 points for the Bruins, hitting
10-17 from the field with four three-pointers, while Atwater hit a
trio of threes en route to 21 points.
Stockner's 17 points came on a 5-5 night from the field,
including a three, and 6-6 from the line. Center
Bryan O'Connell added 10 points on 5-7 from the
floor. Stockner just missed a double-double with
a game-high nine rebounds, leading the Bruins to a 34-26 advantage
on the boards. Martin passed out seven
assists. The Bruins had their best shooting
night of the season, sinking 29-56 from the field for 51.8%.
The Beacons had a balanced attack with five players in double
figures, led by Whittenburg's 13, including three
three-pointers. Miller, Quick-Warner, and Perry
had 11 each, and David Berney chipped in with
10. Perry had a team-high six rebounds, and
Quick-Warner handed out five assists. The
Beacons were also accurate from the field, hitting 27-54 for 50.0%.
George Fox is now 2-4 with its second straight win, while
Northwest Christian drops to 5-3. The Bruins are
off until a week from Friday, Dec. 11, when they will visit
Concordia University-Portland for a 7:30 p.m.
tipoff. The Beacons play again this Friday at
Cascade College at 7:30 p.m.
