by Jared Beilby, Student Intern
NEWBERG, Ore. – In a game crucial for determining Northwest Conference playoff positions, senior Sean Atkins scored 30 points, directing the George Fox University Bruins past the Lewis & Clark College Pioneers 81-78 in men's basketball action here at the Miller Gym inside of the Wheeler Sports Center on Tuesday night.
By avenging a 79-78 loss earlier in the season, the Bruins (15-8, NWC 8-6) move into a tie for fourth place with Lewis & Clark with two games left but hang onto the final conference playoff spot over the Pioneers (15-8, NWC 8-6) via tiebreakers. The first tiebreaker is head-to-head results, but since the two teams split their two games, the next determiner is record versus conference teams in descending order. The Bruins are currently the only team to defeat conference-leading Whitworth University, giving them the advantage over the Pioneers.
Senior Spencer Bolte hit his first four shots while scoring nine points in the first five minutes as George Fox took an early 15-3 lead. The Bruins continued the torrent, going up 29-12 at the 9:50 mark after Bolte and Atkins both drained three-pointers. Lewis & Clark eventually snuck closer but George Fox took a 40-33 advantage into the locker room. Atkins paced all scorers halfway through with 15 points.
Atkins scored 11 points in the opening eight minutes of the second period as the Bruins steamed ahead 59-46. However, the Bruins weren't out of the woods yet as Pioneer senior Quentin Sims hit a trey with 52.4 seconds remaining, trimming the Bruin lead to 78-76. On the ensuing possession, Bolte was fouled but made the basket and the free throw to put the Bruins up 81-76 with 22.1 seconds left. The Pioneers edged to within three on two Kurt Parker free throws with 15 seconds and had a chance to tie after a Bruin turnover, but junior Jonny Howard blocked senior Ben Neves' deep-range attempt at the buzzer.
Atkins, who had his highest scoring effort ever in conference play on 11-13 (84.6%) shooting, was aided by Bolte's 17 points and Howard's 10. Atkins also nabbed up a game-high eight rebounds. As a team, the Bruins shot 30-56 (53.6%) from the field, 16-20 (80.0%) from the charity stripe and out-rebounded the Pioneers 36-31.
Senior Connor Freeberg was the high scorer for Lewis & Clark with 17 points.
NEXT: George Fox voyages north to Tacoma, Wash. for an 8 p.m. game at the University of Puget Sound on Friday… Lewis & Clark hosts Whitworth in Portland, Ore., with a Friday tip off at 8 p.m. Both games start after women's contests which begin at 6 p.m.