NEWBERG, Ore. - With four players in double-figure scoring and four more within two points of double digits, the George Fox University Bruins were able to offset a 43-31 rebounding deficit for an 87-74 victory over the Willamette University Bearcats in Northwest Conference men's basketball Friday night here at the Wheeler Sports Center's Miller Gym.

The Bruins, who were picked to finish seventh in the NWC coaches' pre-season poll, improved their conference record to 3-2 and went to 6-8 overall.  The Bearcats remained winless in the conference at 0-6 and fell to 3-12 overall.

Willamette gave the home team fits at first, playing the Bruins to a 7-7 tie two minutes into the game and later to a 17-17 tie at the 11:22 mark. During that span, Rich Smith and Stephen Wiseley combined for 12 George Fox points, scoring seven and five respectively, while Dan Lingenfelder added a three-pointer and Alex Stockner drained a long jumper.

The following four minutes saw George Fox mount an 8-0 run, started by a driving Cole Whitehurst lay-in and capped by two consecutive Jack Martin trey balls. Cameron Mitchell scored the next seven points of the game for Willamette, hitting his first three-pointer of the year and two deep jumpers.

Two Whitehurst free throws and a Smith lay up kept the Bruins in the lead as Taylor Mounts drained a three from the top of the key for the Bearcats to make the score 29-27 GFU. The visitors got within two points three more times before George Fox ended the first half on a 7-0 run for a 42-33 halftime lead. Martin and Smith contributed two points each and Wiseley ended the first half scoring with a three at the 1:04 mark.

The home team used a .471 (16-34) shooting performance and 13 forced turnovers with six steals to take control in the first half. In the second half, the Bruins shot .516 (16-31) and collected six more steals to extend the lead. The Bearcats committed 20 turnovers as George Fox cashed in to take a 16-4 points-off-turnovers advantage.

Smith drew first blood 16 seconds into the second half, nailing a jumper to put George Fox up by 11, and they would keep a comfortable cushion for most of the second half. The lead ballooned to 23 at the 10:32 mark after another 7-0 run by the Bruins, back-to-back three-pointers by Martin and Travis Toedtemeier and a layup by Whitehurst encompassing the run.

Mitchell and Terrell Malley kept the Bearcats, who shot .438 (14-32) in the second half, within striking range, scoring 27 of their team's 41 second half points. Malley had 21 for the game, 15 in the second half, including three conventional three-point plays and a deep triple.

Smith led the Bruins with 21 points as Martin and Whitehurst came off the bench to score 11 and 10 respectively. Wiseley added 10 points and nine assists. Toedtemeier added nine points off three from long range, and Martin shot .600 (3-5) from downtown.  Stockner and Lingenfelder had eight points each. Stockner led the Bruins with eight boards and Martin had six.

Mitchell led all scorers and rebounders with 26 points and 10 boards. Mounts also had a double-double with 13 points and 10 caroms. Willamette shot .415 (27-65) after a cold first half shooting performance of .394 (13-33).

NOTES: George Fox hosts Linfield College Saturday at 6:00 p.m. in conference action, with the GFU-Linfield women's game following at 8:00 p.m. ... Willamette is off until next Friday when the Bearcats will entertain Pacific Lutheran University in NWC action at 8:00 p.m., with the Willamette-PLU women's game preceding at 6:00 p.m.