PORTLAND, Ore. - Evan Atwater hit a three-pointer to break a 71-71 tie with just over a minute left and the George Fox University Bruins broke a tie for fourth place in the Northwest Conference men's basketball standings with a 76-71 win over the Lewis & Clark College Pioneers Friday night here at the Pamplin Sports Center.

George Fox improved to 7-9 overall and 4-3 in the conference, one game behind third-place Pacific Lutheran University.  Lewis & Clark dropped to 4-11 overall and 3-4 in league play.

With Kelly Edwards hitting a three and a long jumper and Tyler Tsukazaki sinking a fast-break layup, the Pios jumped out to a 7-2 lead just over two minutes into the game.  However, the Bruins struck back with a 25-12 run over the next 12 minutes to build a 27-19 lead with 6:54 to go in the half.  Seven different players contributed to the Bruins' outburst, which featured an unusual four-point play by Alex Stockner (a made three-pointer and free throw afterward) that gave the Bruins a 16-13 advantage at the 14:19 mark.

The Bruins went stone-cold the rest of the period, missing four shots and committing five turnovers and failing to score again as the Pios reeled off 13 uncontested points to take a 30-27 lead into the break.  James Hollins and Edwards had four points each in the rally, Edwards finishing the half with 15 to lead all scorers.

Jack Martin hit a three to tie it and a layup to put the Bruins ahead to open the second half, but Tsukazaki canned a three to regain the lead for the Pios.  The Bruins then reeled off seven unanswered points, capped by two free throws and a short jumper by Stockner, for a 39-33 lead with 16:32 to play.

The Bruins were still up by five at 43-38 when the Pios went on an 8-0 run featuring four points each by Kyle Meeuwsen and Edwards to take a 46-43 lead at the 13:09.  The lead then see-sawed back and forth over the next nine minutes, with four ties and three lead changes, before the Bruins forged ahead 71-67 on a turnaround jumper by Stockner and a three by Martin with 2:22 left.

Two free throws and a layup by Hollins knotted the game one last time at 71-71 with 1:33 to play, but Atwater drained an NBA-range three with 1:07 to go to make it 74-71 Bruins.  The teams traded missed field goals before Hollins was fouled and went to the line with 14 seconds left.  He missed the first, then slammed the second off the backboard without hit the rim, giving the ball over to the Bruins.  Travis Toedtemeier then iced the win for the visitors by making both ends of a one-and-one with 13 seconds left.

All five Bruin starters scored in double figures, led by Martin with 17 and Stockner with 16.  Atwater, Rich Smith, and Stephen Wiseley scored 10 apiece, with Wiseley handing out nine assists.  Stockner, Smith,and Toedtemeier had four rebounds each.  The Bruins shot a blistering .630 (17-27) in the second half to finish with a .558 mark (29-52) for the game, made 9-24 three-pointers, and were 9-10 from the line.

Edwards led all scorers with 30 points for the Pioneers, Tsukazaki added 14, Meeuwsen scored 11, and Hollins tallied 10.  Hollins had eight rebounds as the Pios held a 33-31 edge on the boards.  Edwards also passed out four assists.  The Pios were also hot in the second half, hitting .517 (15-29) to finish at .424 (25-59) for the game, and were 9-29 from three-point range. 

NOTES: George Fox will try to move into  a third-place tie in the NWC standings at home against Pacific Lutheran Saturday at 8:00 p.m. ... Lewis & Clark entertains the University of Puget Sound Saturday, also at 8:00 p.m. ... Both men's games follow NWC women's games at 6:00 p.m.