By: Ryan Lackey

NEWBERG, Ore. --- Despite a dominating stretch of play throughout the first half, the George Fox University men's basketball team succumbed to a grinding comeback and fell to the Pacific University Boxers on Tuesday night, 91-82.

The Boxers were catalyzed by guard Riley Grandinetti, who hit 8-14 from three (tied for a school record).

Pacific managed to beat Bruins at their own game, as the Boxers' full-court, pressured attack proved a quality mimicry of the Bruin's own high-octane pace.

Despite the loss, the Bruins turned in an encouraging offensive game. The Boxers had no answer for lanky JJ Lacey, who torched the Boxer defense for a career-high 27 points, which topped his previous high of 23 against Colorado College on Nov. 16. The ultra-efficient Lacey went 9-11 shooting and 5-6 from beyond the arc, and he added four assists, four rebounds, and a pair of blocks.

Jonny Howard turned in a solid 20-point game on 8-11 shooting, including a perfect 2-2 from three. Howard's energy was the fulcrum for the Bruins' first-half tirade, as he played stellar defense and handled the ball without miscue.

The Bruins found their touch early on, blitzing the Boxers with a speed and precision Pacific found indefensible.

Jonny Howard and JJ Lacey were both in scintillating form in the opening half, going a stellar 11-11 shooting between the two. Both had 13 points in the first half, while no Boxer had more than six. Eli Graham and Chris Stanfield both added six apiece, as the Bruins shot 60% from the field in the first.

Pacific managed to stay in the game on the back of their three-point shooting: the Boxers hit threes at a 50% rate in the first half. The Bruins entered halftime guarding a 43-35 lead.

The Boxers caught fire in the opening minutes of the second half, quickly closing the gap to four as the Bruins seemed unable to find a rebound. Mack Bertram stopped the bleeding with a quick-release three, but Pacific fired right back, grabbing a turnover and nailing a quick succession of shots to seize a 68-63 lead. Despite pressure from the Bruin defense, the Boxers, led by sharpshooter Grandinetti, found open looks and refused to misfire, never relinquishing the lead.

Bruins sparked to life as the game waned, as Jonny Howard missed a layup but tenaciously grabbed his own rebound, made the basket, and helped Chris Stanfield force an immediate Boxer turnover. Pacific, though, managed to see the game out.

Stanfield had ten points and seven rebounds, and Graham added 12.

Pacific improves to 8-9 with the win, 3-4 in conference, and will host Willamette on Friday night.

George Fox stands at 4-12 with the loss, 2-5 in NWC play. The Bruins will look to leap back onto the winning track on Saturday night when they travel to Lewis & Clark.