By Josh Nutter

NEWBERG, Ore. — The George Fox men's basketball team hosted NWC foe Willamette on Thursday night at Taylor Court in a conference tilt. The Bruins weren't messing around with the Bearcats in this one, however, as George Fox overcame early hiccups and went on to run away with a 78-58 victory. 

How It Happened

The Bruins coughed up five turnovers in the opening five minutes and the Bearcats looked primed to run away with the game as they jumped out to a 13-4 lead before a George Fox timeout with fifteen minutes left in the half. The Bruins came out scorching after the timeout and went on a 19-4 run to take a 22-17 lead just inside the ten-minute mark.  George Fox continued to keep the pressure on throughout the half, playing true to its "Just Sprint" mentality, taking fast offensive possessions that led to quick shots and open looks, and lots of free throws en route to a 43-29 lead at halftime to carry into the locker room. Ryan Lacey led the Bruins with nine points in the first half, seven of which came from the charity stripe as he attacked the paint and got to the line early and often. Zac Schmerber went 3-for-5 from the field in the first half to add eight for the Bruins.

The Bruins didn't let up after the break. George Fox's lead hovered in and out of double digits for much of the second half as Willamette tried to close the gap but the Bearcats never came closer than an eight-point margin. The Bruins put things away for good in the final five minutes, stretching the lead all the way out to 20 points for the 78-58 win. JD Ahlstrom was key for George Fox in the second half as he got hot from the field and scored ten points in the final period while Lacey added eight more to finish with 17.

Top Performers

Lacey continued his run as the Bruins' most reliable scorer with 17, Ahlstrom added 12 points and Kalu Stricklin also scored in double-figures with 12 points. Brendan Ritschard had a game-high six assists and played a strong 26-minute performance off the bench.

What It Means

The Bruins improve to 2-7 on the year and in NWC play and the Bearcats fall to 0-1 after losing their first and only game thus far.

What Happens Next

The Bruins visit the Lions of Multnomah University on Friday at 7:00 pm.