By: Ryan Lackey

PARKLAND, Wash. --- The George Fox University men's basketball team fell to a second-half comeback despite a run of excellent play and a halftime lead.

Despite taking a 33-29 lead into the locker room, the Bruins lost to the Pacific Lutheran Lutes, 70-58.

The game's back-and-forth tempo was established early: Pacific Lutheran's Dylan Foreman nailed a long three to begin the game, but JJ Lacey came back to swish a jumper. The Bruins shot a crisp 52% in the first half and managed a particularly good run in the first half's closing minutes and held off a Lutes surge, who managed to stay generally even with the Bruins despite shooting just 32%. Brendin Quinn was especially precise in the first, going 4-5 for ten points. Lacey added 11 of his own in the first.

The second half, though, proved to be the mirror opposite of the first, as the Bruins quickly found themselves trailing 64-50 and unable to convert open looks. George Fox shot just 29% in the second period of play, while the Lutes heated up to hit 54% of their shots. Despite showing their typical energy, the Bruins were unable to dent the Lute's lead, and Pacific Lutheran coasted to the game's conclusion for their 70-58 win. Remarkably, the Lutes' second efforts were nearly unstoppable, as they put in 17 second-chance points, while the Bruins only managed one.

The always-productive Lacey dropped 17 points, while guard Johnathan Doutt added 13 points and three assists. Lacey also grabbed six rebounds, while Eli Graham added five of his own.

Pacific Lutheran jumps to 7-14 and 5-7 in Northwest Conference competition. Regardless of their continued excellent first-half form, the Bruins fall to 5-16 and 3-9 in NWC play with the loss. The Bruins will look to put together a complete performance next weekend when they travel to Whitworth and Whitman.