NEWBERG, Ore. -- The George Fox men's basketball team pulled away in the second half with an impressive offensive display, securing a crucial victory over the Pacific Lutheran Lutes at home, 80-65. 

How It Happened 
Despite being down two contributors in Chris Nickelberry and Nick Greenwood, the Bruins got on the board first with a pull-up jumper from Samuel Stewart IV; Pacific Lutheran responded with a quick run to take an early lead, 6-2. Sharp shooting from Momo Stokes and Stewart IV kept Fox within striking distance — the pair combining for several key buckets to help Fox keep pace. 

Much of the half was a tight contest, featuring eight ties as both teams traded momentum with scoring runs. With five minutes to play the Lutes made a push, stringing together an eight-point run to build a five-point advantage.

However, Fox took over in the final two minutes, closing the half with a dominant 9-0 run. Stokes delivered yet again from beyond the arc, while a dunk from Vanndon Heard ignited the Bruin bench and gave them the lead headed into halftime, 36-32. 

The second half proved just as intense as the first, with momentum swinging rapidly in the opening minutes. Stokes continued to be a difference maker, opening the scoring for Fox, before Jake Centner drilled a trey and Corey Schramm knocked down a jumper to give Fox an eight-point buffer – their largest of the game up to that point. Minutes later, Stokes, Schramm and Stewart IV combined for a seven-point run, extending that gap to 12 points. 

The Lutes responded with a quick points flurry of their own to pull within five and force Fox to continue bringing the heat — which they did. Aiden Price stopped their run with a big time dunk, before Jett Briceno knocked down two triples to rebuild Fox's firm lead.

From there, the Bruins caught fire from deep, with Jake Bishop, Trey McDonald III and Momo Stokes all burying clutch triples in the final eight minutes. Though Pacific Lutheran continued to put points on the board, they were unable to keep pace with the Bruins' offensive firepower. Fox also put together strong defensive play down the stretch, eventually pulling away with the emphatic win, 80-65.

Top Performers
Momo Stokes led the way for the Bruins with another strong individual performance, ending the night with 22 points, seven assists, four steals and three rebounds. Aiden Price finished the game with 14 points and three steals, while Samuel Stewart IV also had another double-digit night — putting up 12 points while collecting six rebounds at each end of the court.

Corey Schramm was crucial defensively, collecting six defensive rebounds while leading the team with two blocks. 

Coach's Thoughts
"We had several dudes step up tonight in place of a couple of key guys missing," Bruin head coach Maco Hamilton said, "It shows the depth we possess and the growth these men have made.  Great team effort!"

What It Means 
The Bruins improve to 10-11 (6-6 NWC) while the Lutes fall to 9-11 overall (6-5 NWC).

What Comes Next
The George Fox men's basketball team will look to build on this momentum when they travel to Walla Walla for another conference matchup against the Whitman Blues (8-11, 6-4 NWC). The game is scheduled for Friday, February 14, in Walla Walla, Wash. and tip off is set for 6:00 p.m.