SPOKANE, Wash. -- After a competitive first half, the George Fox men's basketball team battled back from down 13 at one point in the second half to put some closing pressure on the Whitworth Pirates in their close 78-74 loss.
How It Happened
The first half was defined by lead changes and swings of momentum. The Bruins got the game started by jumping out to a quick eight-point lead, but the Pirates quickly responded with a 10-2 run over the span of the next four minutes. From there, it was back and forth for the rest of the half. Whitworth extended their lead to 33-22 with 4:33 remaining, but the Bruins responded with a 9-4 run of their own – including six straight from
Charlie Powers — to narrow the lead to four going into the second half.
The Pirates came out hot in the second half, scoring eight before the Bruins found the basket. Whitworth kept the pressure on, putting the Bruins down by 13 five minutes into the half. Fox still trailed by 13 with four minutes remaining before the Bruins ramped up the intensity. Quick buckets from Powers,
Davon Walker, and
Austin Clark cut the lead to six. With 29 seconds left, Nickelberry scored to cut the lead to three. That would be the closest Fox got in the second half, as a free throw from Whitworth in the final seconds gave the Pirates a two-possession lead. The Bruins got three chances at the end to cut the lead even closer but missed all to end the game with a 74-78 loss.
Top Performances
Chris Nickelberry led the Bruins in the scoring category, scoring 16 on 6-12 from the field, with
Austin Clark close behind with 12 points. Clark went a perfect 6-6 at the free throw line on the night. Defensively, Nickelberry snatched three steals to keep the ball in the hands of the offense, while
Adam Damian had two blocks to keep the Pirates away from the basket.
What It Means
The Bruins move to 2-4 in conference play, while the Pirates improve to 5-1.
What Comes Next
The Bruins hit the court next on Friday, Jan. 20 at 8:00 p.m. against Pacific in Forest Grove, Ore.
