By: Ryan Lackey

WALLA WALLA, Wash. --- The Bruins concluded their road trip through Washington on Saturday night with a 97-72 loss to the Whitman Missionaries, who sit in second in the Northwest Conference. Though the Bruins looked much sharper in the second half, a lackluster first half proved costly.

Recap:
The Bruins have proved themselves a team of two halves this season, often looking dynamic and clinical in one half and languid in the other. Such was the case Saturday night: the Bruins managed just 9-29 shooting in the first half but shot at a 45% clip in the second.

Whitman claimed the first few baskets, but a jumper from Jacoby Wolfe made the score 11-7 four minutes in, and the Bruins seemed poised to compete. But a 10-0 run from the Missionaries immediately widened the gap, and the Bruins would play from the behind for the rest of the game. Even in twilight of the first half, the Bruins began to show signs of life, scoring 14 points over the last five minutes, as Thomas Rico suddenly couldn't miss. Still, playing with the ease of a significant lead, Whitman coasted into the break with a 44-28 cushion.

Carrying over their momentum from the end of the first, the Bruins immediately cut into the Missionaries's lead as the second half opened. A pair of placid free throws from Willie Perkins slimmed the Bruins's deficit to 12. Soon after, Ryan Thistlewood crowned another strong Bruin run by making an agile move to the basket and finishing his layup to bring the Bruins within 10, 59-49.

From there, though, the Bruins cooled, and they were never again so close to completing their comeback. Forced into playing with a breakneck offensive emphasis, the Bruins couldn't stop the Missionaries from scoring, and took the 97-72 loss.

Top Performers:
Three Bruins finished in double-digits Saturday. Freshman Jacoby Wolfe led with 15 points on an accurate 7-10 shooting. He was one rebound away from a double-double, pulling down nine, and also had a block. Thomas Rico added 14 points; even more important to the Bruins was his tireless motor over his 36 minutes played. Johnathan Doutt had 11 points. JJ Lacey had nine points and two steals.

What It Means:
Now ninth in the NWC, the Bruins are 3-11 in conference play and 6-17 overall.

What Comes Next:
On Tuesday, the Bruins return home to host Willamette.