TACOMA, Wash. – Led by
Momo Stokes's 21-point performance, the George Fox Bruins men's basketball team beat the Pacific Lutheran Lutes, 88-83 to improve to 10-2 on the year.
How It Happened
GFU fell behind by 11 seven minutes into the first half and had only scored six points in those opening minutes.
Momo Stokes got a bucket in the paint to bring the lead within ten, and the Bruins then went on an 11-0 run over the next four minutes, tying the game at 19 with nine minutes left in the half. The Lutes would respond with a run of their own, breaking the tie and extending their lead to eight points with four minutes to go in the period. The Bruins and Lutes traded buckets for the rest of the half, and the frame ended with GFU behind by five, 38-33.
The second half would have much higher scoring totals, and the Bruins offense got on track very quickly this half compared to the first. Five minutes into the half they took their first lead of the game, after Stokes connected from three-point land to give Fox a 44-43 lead. The Bruins wouldn't have a lead larger than three points before the Lutes came right back and retook the lead themselves – the lead would change 13 times in the second half, after not changing once in the first.
This back-and-forth went on for the entirety of the half, before a turning point with just over three minutes left in the game,
James Moore hit a three-pointer to take the lead, the thirteenth and final lead change of the game. A minute later, with Fox up by two points, Moore hit another three to push the lead to five, which is where the score would stay. After a couple of key defensive stops, the Bruins closed out the win, 88-83.
Top Performances
Momo Stokes led all scorers with 21 points, hitting 10-11 from the free throw line for another stellar performance at the charity stripe.
James Moore hit three triples, and scored 18 points, doing most of his work with four fouls, while
Samuel Stewart IV chipped in with 10 points and three steals.
What It Means
The Bruins improve to 10-2 on the season, and an impressive 3-0 in NWC play. The Lutes fall to 8-4 (1-2 NWC).
What Comes Next
The Bruins play again tomorrow, at home against the Pacific Boxers at 6 p.m. at the Wheeler Sports Center in Newberg.
