SPOKANE, Wash. -- Lightning nearly struck twice for the George Fox men's basketball team, who came close to recording their second upset win over the No. 15 Whitworth Pirates; the Bruins were within one point in the final seconds, but dropped the game, 87-92.

How It Happened
The Bruins roared out of the gates with five quick points from Momo Stokes and Samuel Stewart IV, jumping out to a 7-3 lead. The two teams traded points for much of the first half, but it was the Bruins who controlled the first 10 minutes — after an and-one from Stokes, Fox held a 25-19 lead over the No. 15 team in the nation.

Whitworth quickly bounced back, however, flexing their strength with a 12-4 run to grab the lead away. Thanks to this run, the tables turned, with the two teams trading points again; this time, though, it was the Pirates who had the lead. Stewart IV knocked down a triple in the closing minutes to keep the Bruins within shouting distance, but Whitworth led at the half, 50-43.

The second half started similarly to the first, with the Bruins taking advantage in the opening minutes thanks to shots from Stewart IV, Stokes, and Jake Bishop. Fox started the second on a 9-2 run and kept the momentum going — a step-through layup from Aiden Price gave the Bruins their first lead since the opening moments, 64-63. Immediately following this, it was the Pirates who fought back, embarking on a 14-2 run to take a 12-point lead.

Fox never gave up, instead battling adversity to rally back again. Much like he did the previous night against Whitman, Stokes took over, scoring eight points in quick succession. Cory Schramm hit his free throws, Noah Marte knocked in a triple, and Stokes made another jumper, and just like that, the game was tied, 85-85, thanks to a 10-0 run. 

The teams traded buckets, with a Whitworth free throw the difference in the game, 87-88. With 42 seconds left, Nick Greenwood had a chance to take the lead, but barely missed both free throws; Whitworth responded immediately, nailing a triple that shot through the heart of the Bruin faithful and handed the No. 15 Pirates the victory, 92-87.

Top Performances
Momo Stokes was exceptional in the game, recording 28 points on 10-19 shooting, including a 5-7 clip from deep. Samuel Stewart IV (15), Nick Greenwood (14), Aiden Price (12), and Jake Bishop (11) made up the other five players who scored in double digits for the Bruins. Cory Schramm and Stewart IV led the team with six rebounds, with Stewart IV recording a team-high four assists.

What It Means
Fox falls to 11-12 (7-7 NWC) on the season, while the No. 15 Pirates improve to 21-2 (12-2 NWC).

What It Means
The Bruins will be back home one last time, hosting the Lewis & Clark Pioneers (12-11, 8-6 NWC) in a crucial game to decide qualification for the NWC Tournament. Senior Day festivities will precede a 6:00 tip-off.