By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University led 37-31 at halftime and held a 68-67 advantage with 7:14 remaining in the game, but George Fox University answered with an 11-0 run on its way to an 86-76 win over the Bearcats in Northwest Conference action on Saturday, Feb. 1. The outcome of the game hinged -- at least in part -- on GFU's success from 3-point range in the second half (9 of 19), after the Bruins hit just 5 of 20 three-point shots in the first half. The Bruins' key string of 11 unanswered points included three baskets from behind the 3-point arc.
The run by GFU gave the Bruins a 78-68 lead with 5:58 left. Willamette scored the next four points on layups by Ben Sutton (Jr., F, Seattle, WA/Ingraham HS) and Jack Boydell (Fy., F, Sonoma, CA/Sonoma Valley HS) to pull within six points, but the Bearcats never got closer during the closing minutes.
George Fox upped its record to 8-1 on the season, 4-6 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette dropped to 1-18 overall, 0-10 in the NWC.
Willamette was led by Cade Whicker (Fy., F, Fruit Heights, UT/Davis HS), who registered a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds, while providing four assists and four steals. Daniel Plumer (Fy., PG, North Las Vegas, NV/Democracy Preparatory Academy) added 17 points for the Bearcats. Justus Eaglesmith (Jr., G, Sparks NV/Spanish Springs HS) contributed 12 points. Boydell finished with 11 points and six boards, while Sutton supplied 10 points and six rebounds.
Ryan Lacey paced the Bruins with 23 points, 12 rebounds and three assists. Emilio Mancol and Michael Mercado-Smith each scored 12 points. Quinn Lacey added 10 points. Kalu Stricklin grabbed seven rebounds.
The Bearcats trailed 2-0, but went on an 11-0 run to surge into an 11-2 lead with 15:40 remaining in the half. WU's early run included four points from Eaglesmith. Mancol hit a 3-pointer for GFu to stop the run, but Whicker responded with two 3-pointers for the Bearcats, as Willamette's lead reached 12 points at 17-5 with 14:34 on the clock. A bit later, the Bearcats held a 19-10 advantage following a jumper by Eaglesmith with 12:08 to go.
GFU scored next on a 3-pointer by Jackson Januik to get within six points, but the Bearcats tacked on four points for a 23-13 lead at the 8:21 mark. The margin shifted between seven points and 10 points until a jumper by Sutton gave the Bearcats a 33-23 lead with 1:44 to play in the half. George Fox followed with an 8-0 run on a 3-pointer by JD Ahlstrom, a jump shot by Januik, and a 3-pointer from Mancol to pull as close as 33-31 with 39 seconds left.
Willamette added the last four points of the half for a 37-31 advantage. Dylan Streett (Fr., G, Santa Barbara, CA/Bishop Diego HS) scored on a jumper with 16 seconds to go, and then Plumer stole the ball several seconds later. Plumer completed the play by putting through a short shot with four seconds remaining.
The Bearcats opened the second half with an 8-2 run, including four points by Plumer, to secure a 45-33 lead with 17:18 on the clock. The Bearcats kept the lead near 10 points over the next two and a half minutes, including a 52-42 margin following a layup from Boydell with 14:53 to play.
George Fox went on a 20-6 run to take a 62-58 lead at the 10:07 mark. The Bruins sank four 3-pointers during the run, including two by Lacey. Willamette recovered to tie the score at 62-62 with 9:21 left on two free throws by Plumer. A bit later, Mancol made a basket in the paint for GFU, was fouled, and hit the free throw to give the Bruins a 67-63 advantage. The Bearcats responded with a 3-pointer basket by Whicker with 7:53 on the clock and a pair of free throws by Plumer with 7:14 remaining to take a 68-67 lead.
The key 11-0 run by George Fox followed, starting with a dunk by Lacey. The final nine points of the run were scored on a 3-pointer by Mancol and two 3-pointers by Marcado-Smith.
Strong shooting in the second half by the Bruins -- 20 of 38 from the field (52.6%) and 9 for 19 (47.4%) on 3-pointers -- helped George Fox finish at 44.8% overall (30 of 67) and 35.9% from 3-point range (14 of 39). The Bruins converted 12 of 14 free throws (85.7%). Willamette hit 39.4% of its field goals (28 of 71) and made 3 of 17 shots from behind the arc (17.6%). The Bearcats sank 17 of 25 free throws (68.0%). GFU gained a 43-42 rebounding margin.
The Bearcats will play the second game in a four-game homestand on Friday, Feb. 7 against Whitman College. Game time at Cone Field House is slated for 8 p.m. (PST).
