By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

NEWBERG, Ore. -- Jack Boydell (So., F, Sonoma, CA/Sonoma Valley HS) from Willamette University scored a game-high 20 points, and teammate Daniel Plumer (So., PG, North Las Vegas, NV/Democracy Prep Academy) added 18 points, but George Fox University defeated the Bearcats, 78-58, in a Northwest Conference game on Thursday, April 1. It was the season opener for the Bearcats. George Fox improved to 2-7 overall, 2-7 in the NWC.

Boydell also led all players on both teams with 11 rebounds. He blocked two shots and had two assists. Plumer finished with five rebounds and two assists. Paul McSlarrow (Fy., W, Sandy, UT/The Waterford School) scored nine points. DeMarco Reed (So., PG, San Antonio, TX/Harlan HS) was credited with five steals.

The top scorer for the Bruins was Ryan Lacey with 17 points. He made just 3 of 11 field goals, but hit 11 of 12 free throws. GFU was 22 of 24 at the line, while Willamette went 6 of 8 on free throw attempts.

Kalu Stricklin and J.D. Ahlstrom each provided George Fox with 12 points. Stricklin and Brendan Ritschard hauled down seven rebounds apiece. Ritschard also earned six assists. Yoshi Kobayashi supplied four steals.

Willamette surged out to an 11-3 lead, as McSlarrow tallied all nine of his points during the run. GFU scored the first basket of the game on a jumper by Stricklin, but McSlarrow registered the next seven points to give WU a 7-3 advantage. Ryan hit a free throw for the Bruins and then Boydell added a fast-break layup for the Bearcats. McSlarrow completed the run with a layup at the 15:44 mark.

The Bruins countered with a 19-2 run, including five 3-pointers, for a 22-13 advantage. Zac Schmerbrer tied the score at 13-13 with his second 3-pointer of the scoring outburst with 12:24 on the clock. Donny Santana tacked on a 3-pointer 46 seconds later to give GFU the lead, and Darien Meyers hit a pair of 3-pointers to end the run with 10:42 to go in the half.

WU pulled within 22-19 less than two minutes later after Boydell scored on a layup and a jumper. An 8-0 surge gave GFU a 30-19 lead following Stricklin's fast-break layup at 5:39. Willamette cut the lead to 30-25 on a 3-pointer by Boydell with 4:35 left. The Bruins closed the half with a 13-4 run to grab a 43-29 edge at the break.

A jumper by Reed reduced the Bruins' margin to 45-36 with 17:12 remaining in the game. WU moved within 50-42 at the 14:34 mark on a layup by Plumer. The Bearcats also pulled as close as eight points at 52-44 on another layup by Plumer with 14:06 on the clock and at 54-46 on a layup from Jordan Pearce (Fy., P, Meridian, ID/Meridian HS) with 12:55 to go.

George Fox held a 61-48 advantage on a pair of free throws by Lacey with 9:41 left, but Willamette responded with a 6-0 run to cut the deficit to 61-54 on a layup by Plumer as the clock reached 7:39.

The Bruins led by a 67-58 margin with 5:18 to play after Boydell scored for Willamette. George Fox pulled away with an 11-0 run to end the game.

Willamette will play an exhibition game at Lane Community College on Saturday, April 10. Game time in Eugene, Oregon, is set for 3 p.m. (PDT).