By: Ryan Lackey

Photo Taken By Jake Ryan

NEWBERG, Ore. --- Freshman forward Jacoby Wolfe led the Bruins with 14 points on seven-of-nine shooting, but the Bruins faded in the second half against the visiting Whitman Missionaries. In the first half, the Bruins' hot shooting – 44% from the field and from three – kept the score close, but the shots didn't seem to fall after halftime.

Recap:
The first half was largely a game of cat-and-mouse. Whitman built leads of five, seven, even nine points, but the Bruins' high-energy play led to baskets in bunches to narrow the score. From the game's opening jump, Whitman raced out to an early 5-0 lead, but the Bruins worked the score to 10-11 with a good open jumper from Chris Fedler.

Whitman took control again, enjoying a 22-14 lead after Austin Butler made a good move to the basket. The Bruins rallied, but the Missionaries, again on a Butler layup, took a double-digit lead, 29-19. But good play from Wolfe, and two key three-pointers from shooter Joshua Caddel re-energized the Bruins. Caddel's second form long-range brought the Bruins within three, 38-35.

A Fedler three in the dying minutes of the first half gave the Bruins hope of carrying a lead into the locker room, but they settled for a close 47-42 scoreline at half.

Unfortunately for the hosts, their surgical shooting seemed absent in the second half, and so the Bruins found Whitman's runs difficult to stymie. Immediately after the restart, the Missionaries went on an 8-2 run to increase their cushion to 11, 57-44. Still, the Bruins threw punches. Good play inside from Wolfe pulled the Bruins within nine, 59-50. A clutch three from Brendan Jones and a layup from Mason Green-Richards made the score 69-62, and the Bruins seemed within striking distance.

The Bruins' shooting, though, couldn't sustain them forever, and a 14-2 Whitman run in the second half's twilight nixed any comeback aspirations. The final went to Whitman, 91-73.

Top Performers:
For the Bruins, the big story was freshman forward Jacoby Wolfe's breakout game. Wolfe paced the Bruins with 14 points on a clinical 7-9 shooting, and he also did the most work on the boards, pulling down seven rebounds. Guards Ryan Thistlewood and Chris Fedler both had 11-point games. Willie Perkins proved a nuisance to Whitman, recording five steals and three assists, and grabbing five rebounds. Josh Caddel did his job well, going 2-3 from beyond the arc – both his threes catalyzed Bruin comebacks.

What It Means:
The Bruins sit at 5-9 with the loss. Their 2-3 record in the NWC means they remain in seventh, just ahead of Linfield. Whitman stand 12-2, 4-1 in conference. They retain their second-place spot.

What Comes Next:
The Bruins look to do some giant-killing tomorrow night, as they host NWC-leaders Whitworth.