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SALEM, Ore. – Winning at Willamette
University's Cone Fieldhouse for the first time since 1996,
the George Fox University Bruins hit eight of their first 11 shots
to build an 11-point lead, then held off a late rally by the
Bearcats for a 75-70 win in Northwest Conference men's
basketball action here Friday night.
The Bruins' victory snapped a 12-game losing streak to the
Bearcats in Salem and improved their record to 6-10 overall and 2-5
in the conference. George Fox last won here
83-74 on Jan. 27, 1996. Willamette fell to 8-6
overall and 4-3 in the NWC.
With Jack Martin scoring seven points and Brady Strutz hitting a
pair of the three-pointers, the Bruins, after an early 2-0 deficit,
jumped to a 20-9 lead six-and-a-half minutes into the
game. The Bruins remained in front throughout
the half despite 16 first-half points by the Bearcats' Kyler
McClary, and were still up by 10 at 35-25 after a jumper by Bryan
O'Connell with 2:53 left. McClary and Tain
Cantrell nailed threes, however, to cut the George Fox lead to
35-31 at the half.
Evan Atwater opened the second half with a three for the Bruins,
who pushed the lead up to 11 once again on a trey by Martin that
made it 39-28 with 15:28 to play. George Fox was
still up by seven after an Alex Stockner layup 71-64 with 3:11
left, but McClary nailed back-to-back threes to bring the Bearcats
within a point at 71-70 with 1:07 remaining.
Willamette got the ball back after a George Fox missed shot with
33 second left, but a costly turnover gave the ball back, and Joe
Ahn sank two free throws for a 73-70 Bruin lead with 17 seconds to
go. Josh Erickson missed a three with seven
seconds left, but Cameron Mitchell hauled down the rebound to give
Willamette another chance. After a timeout, the Bruins forced a
turnover near the sideline, and Martin iced the Bruin win with two
free throws with 1.8 seconds left.
Both teams made 27 field goals and Willamette held an 11-9
advantage in threes, but George Fox won it at the free throw line,
sinking 12-15 to 5-13 for the Bearcats.
Stockner topped the Bruins with 18 points, Martin posted his third
double-double of the season with 17 points and 11 rebounds, and
Atwater scored 15. Both Martin and Atwater
drained three three-pointers. Atwater narrowly
missed his own double-double with nine rebounds, and Martin handed
out six assists.
McClary tied his career high with 30 points, the only Bearcat in
double figures, and sank 6-9 on threes. Mitchell
had a game-high 12 rebounds, leading Willamette to a 42-37
advantage on the boards, and scored nine points.
Robbie Kunke handed out five assists.
The first half of conference play concludes Saturday as George Fox
visits Pacific Lutheran University while Willamette goes to the
University of Puget Sound. Both games tip off at
8:00 p.m., preceded by NWC women's games at 6:00 p.m.
