By: Ryan Lackey

NEWBERG, Ore. --- Despite egalitarian offensive contribution, the George Fox University men's basketball team fell to the Whitworth Pirates Saturday night, 89-68, on Christian Jurlina's solid offensive output for Whitworth.

The high-flying Pirates, who currently hold the best record in the Northwest Conference, took advantage of an unusually cold night shooting for George Fox that saw the Bruins go just 4-19 from beyond the arc.

The reliable Jonny Howard managed his team-high 15 points with just a single three, but JJ Lacey was the Bruins' most clinical player, scoring his 14 points on 5-8 shooting. Lacey added a pair of rebounds. Ultimately, each Bruin starter would score at least 8 points, as the Bruins moved the ball well.

In limited minutes, guard Mack Bertram managed to assert himself, scoring on a great individual surge and giving teeth to the Bruin press. Bertram later rediscovered the Bruins' long-range shooting, nailing a long, contested three. He drained another long two late in the game's twilight and found time to grab five rebounds.

The Bruins, playing their characteristic up-tempo game, started well, seizing a 12-10 lead early in the first half behind catalyzing drives from guard Johnathan Doutt, who played well in 31 energetic minutes. Offensive duties for the Bruins were spread out, as each starter had a quietly solid first half. Early on, the Pirates had difficulty breaking the Bruin press, coughing up several turnovers. The Bruins, though, had trouble capitalizing, committing turnovers themselves, including one stretch halfway through the first half that saw both teams trade turnovers in a rapid series of fast breaks.

The Pirates, though, slowly solved the Bruins' press and found a few opportunistic three-point baskets. They entered halftime with a sizeable, if not necessarily comfortable, 43-33 lead. The three-pointer, normally a staple of the Bruins and deadeye Jonny Howard, was notably absent, as the Bruins went just 1-8 from long range in the first half. Most of the Bruins' offensive in the first period came from tough mid-range jumpers and floaters, as Whitworth's packed-in zone proved resolute.

Whitworth surged ahead in the second half's infancy, seizing momentum after a delay-of-game foul against Eli Graham gave Whitworth two technical shots. An excellent and-one on a lunging layup from Lacey with 15 minutes to go to brought the Bruins back within 15, and remarkable grit from Chris Stanfield, diving to save a loose ball, proved the game still within reach. Stanfield finished with eight points and turned in a gutsy performance in a game characterized by a crowded and busy low post.

The Bruins showed signs of resurgence midway through the second half, as Howard ended another Pirate run with a layup from a nifty baseline cut, and Andrew Smith blocked a shot and ran coast-to-coast to draw a foul. Smith drew another foul seconds later and hit half of his one-and-one.

The Pirates, though, refused to let the Bruins chip away at the lead, seeming to hit tough shots or draw fouls whenever the Bruins threatened. The Bruins found three-point chances, but nothing seemed to fall.

With the win, Whitworth remains undefeated in NWC play at 6-0 and will look to stretch their unbeaten run when they host Puget Sound on Friday. George Fox fall to 4-11, 2-4 in conference, and have their first meeting with Pacific on Tuesday at home.