NEWBERG, Ore. -- The George Fox men's basketball team was down by as many as 16 points in the first half before they mounted a comeback to take the lead. The comeback gave way in the final seconds, as the Lewis & Clark Pioneers pulled out a win with seven seconds left, 72-76. 

How It Happened
The Bruins were down two starters, once again giving Sean Quanico and Charlie Powers a chance in the starting five. The retooled group fell behind 11 early, as they collectively struggled from the field shooting. Fox found themselves down, 33-17, after a 10-2 Pioneer run with five minutes left in the half. Coach Marco Hamilton turned to his bench, swapping in a new five, who immediately went to work at chipping the Pio lead away. The new group provided an instant spark, and Fox would end the half on a 14-3 run to bring the lead down to just five.

In the first, the Bruins shot just under 38% from the field, while the Pioneers scorched the field, shooting 50% from the field and the three-point line. Fox had the lead for just 49 seconds in the half, but Fox came into the second half on a massive run, and shots soon started to fall.

Austin Clark opened the scoring up in the second with a quick triple to bring Fox within a score. After stretches of back-and-forth basketball for the next five minutes, Jaron Henson hit a three to tie the game at 43, completing the comeback. A Sorenson three minutes later would give the Bruins the lead for the first time since early in the first half. 

With 11 minutes left in the game. GFU would extend their lead to six points before the Pios started to pull back in. Lewis & Clark got an and-one bucket from Khalil Glover-Dodson to put them up, 64-63, with 5:30 remaining.  

The frenetic final minutes of the game continued, with the lead seesawing back and forth. Fox recaptured the lead with two minutes left off an Adam Damian three before Lewis & Clark responded with a triple of their own. The two teams traded two-point possessions, and with a minute left, the teams were tied 72-72. 

After Chris Nickelberry missed a tough layup, the Pioneers' Brendan Patrick sank a two-point jumper to put themselves up with seven seconds left in the contest. The Bruins had one last chance at a bucket as Nickelberry drew a foul to send him to the line with a chance to tie the game. The sophomore missed both free throws, forcing the Bruins to foul with just seconds left. Patrick hit both free throws to stretch the lead to its final, 76-72.

Fox outscored the Pios in the second half, 41-40, while shooting at an improved 45% clip in the frame. Ultimately, a 10-17 night from the foul line compared to an 11-13 performance from Lewis & Clark free throw shooters was the difference. 

Top Performers
In a group effort offensively, Austin Clark had 16 points, and Adam Damien had 13 to lead Fox in point totals. Charlie Powers had three steals, while also adding eight points. Nickelberry led the team with eight rebounds.

What It Means
The Bruins fall to 4-12 on the year and are 3-5 in conference play. Lewis & Clark is now 10-7 and an even 5-5 record in NWC play.

What Comes Next
The Bruins return to the Wheeler Sports Center for a nonconference matchup, playing Illinois Wesleyan on Tuesday in a game that was originally scheduled for Dec. 30. Tip-off is at 4:30 pm.