SALEM, Ore. – Spencer Bolte scored a career-high 23 points, 21 in the second half to spearhead a spirited but ultimately-futile George Fox University rally from 22 points down, as the Bruins dropped their first Northwest Conference men's basketball game of the season 85-74 to the Willamette University Bearcats Saturday night here at Cone Field House.

Terrell Malley gave the Bearcats a 3-0 lead to open the game with a three-pointer from the right wing, but the Bruins answered with a fadeaway jumper by Sean Atkins and a three by Jon Adrian for a 5-3 lead at the 18:10 mark.  Elliot Babcock-Krenk's steal and layup tied it 5-5 and started an 8-0 Willamette run that gave the home team the lead for good.  Kyle McNally's fast-break layup at 17:10 broke the tie, and the Bearcats made it 11-5 with 15:45 to go in the half on baskets by Avery Manu and Malley.

Atkins hit a shot from the left corner and a putback to draw the Bruins within two at 11-9 with 14:52 showing, but the Bearcats gradually pulled away by shooting .500 (17-34) in the period to only .344 (11-32) for the Bruins.  The Bearcats' first double-digit lead came on a rebound basket by Brandon Luedtke that made it 23-12 with 10:15 to go, and their lead reached 16 when Alex Brown picked up a loose ball under the goal and scored to make it 35-19 with six minutes left.  Willamette led 40-28 at the break.

Adrian drained a three to open the second half as the Bruins cut the Bearcats' lead to single digits at 40-31, but the home team went on a 17-4 tear over a five-and-a-half minute span to take a commanding 22-point lead of 57-35 with 13:48 to play after a trey by Oliver Hughes.  Malley had two free throws and a three and Sean Dart powered in two shots to highlight the charge. 

Spencer Bolte canned five free throws and Cole Ramey made a three-point play and a layup as the Bruins fought their way back with a 16-4 spurt that trimmed the deficit to 10 at 61-51 with 6:15 remaining.  The Bearcats twice extended the lead back to 14, the last at 67-53 with 5:15 left on goal by Trevor Box, before the Bruins made one final spirited run, out-scoring the Bearcats 12-2 to get within four at 69-65 with 3:19 to go on an Adrian free throw.  Two free throws and a jumper by Dart around a Bolte free throw made it 73-66 Bearcats with 1:46 left, and they drained 12-of-14 from the line the rest of the way to keep the Bruins at back, making their last 10 in a row.

Bolte hit 10-of-13 from the line on the way to his game-high 23, while Anthony Sanchez added 11 points and Atkins 10 for the Bruins.  Seth Brent had a team-leading 12 rebounds, and Sanchez handed out five assists. 

Malley finished with 20 points to pace the Bearcats, including four threes, and Dart posted a double-double with 14 points and 14 boards, leading Willamette to a 49-40 edge on the glass.  Brown and Babcock-Krenk added 10 points each, with Box contributing four assists and Babcock-Krenk making five steals.

NEXT: George Fox (6-5, NWC 2-1) hosts sixth-ranked Whitworth University Friday at 8:00 p.m. in the first of six straight home games for the Bruins.  Willamette (5-7, NWC 2-1) welcomes Lewis & Clark College Friday, also at 8:00 p.m. Women's NWC games will precede the men's games at 6:00 p.m.