WALLA WALLA, Wash. – After shooting over .500 in three of the last four games (and over. 600 twice), George Fox University's field goal accuracy deserted them Friday night here at the Sherwood Center as the Bruins shot only .297 (19-64) in a 79-58 Northwest Conference men's basketball loss to the Whitman College Missionaries.

George Fox fell to 7-15 overall, 5-8 in the conference, and was mathematically eliminated from a spot in the four-team NWC Tournament at the end of the season.  Whitman, winning a sixth straight game for the second time this season and 14th in the last 16, improved to 16-6 on the season, retained a share of second place in the NWC standings at 9-4, and secured it first NWC playoff berth since 1995.

David Michaels gave Whitman a 2-0 lead with a layup 15 seconds into the game, then no one scored again until Rich Smith tied the game for the Bruins with a layin two minutes later.  Michaels hit back-to-back baskets to start an 8-2 run that gave the Missionaries a 10-4 lead, but Stephen Wiseley canned a pair of three-pointers for the Bruins to knot it 10-10 with 12:21 to go in the half. 

That was the last tie as a three by Ignas Pavilonis and a basket and two free throws by Brandon Shaw gave Whitman the lead for good at 17-10 midway through the half.  A layup by Shaw with nine seconds to go gave the Missionaries a 39-22 halftime bulge.  Whitman shot a sizzling .577 (15-26) in the half to only .241 (7-29) for the Bruins.

The second half was little more than a playing out of the string as the Missionaries kept the margin between 13 and 24 points the entire 20 minutes.  George Fox got within 13 at 46-33 on a pair of Cam Rier free throws with 15:32 remaining, while Whitman's largest lead came at 6:03 when Pete Clark's three-pointer made it 68-44.

Wiseley led the Bruins with 16 points and handed out four assists, while Rich Smith just missed a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds.  Mike Taylor led everyone on the glass with 12 rebounds.  The Bruins hit only 5-20 (.250) on threes, and .577 (15-26) from the line.

Josh Duckworth had 16 points, Michaels 15, and Pavilonis 12 for the Missionaries, who ended with a .444 field goal mark (.28-63), a .474 three-point percentage (9-19), and .778 accuracy (14-18) from the line.  Michaels had a team-high nine rebounds, and Shaw passed out four assists.

NEXT: George Fox plays Saturday at 8:00 p.m. at Whitworth University, the No. 1-ranked team in the country, NWC champion, and only remaining unbeaten team at 22-0.  Whitman hosts Willamette University Saturday, also at 8:00 p.m.  NWC women's games will precede the men's contests at 6:00 p.m.