Box Score

FOREST GROVE – A tremendous first half performance for Pacific went unrewarded Friday night as Whitman roared back with a big second half to stun the upset-minded Boxers 78-71 in Northwest Conference men's basketball action at the Stoller Center.
 
The Boxers (9-13, 3-10 NWC) put together their best half of basketball of the season in the first 20 minutes, shooting 58.3 percent from the field and canning an amazing 8 of 13 from three-point range to go into the locker room with a 37-30 lead.  Whitman came back to score 20 points in the first 10 minutes of the second half and took the lead for good with 11:08 remaining.
 
The biggest difference in the game, though, came at the free throw line.  The Missionaries (16-6, 9-4 NWC) connected on 31 of 41 from the charity stripe, including 18 of 25 on the second half.  Pacific had their fair share of attempts, but netted just 13 of 21.
 
Colin Wester (Jr., Sherwood, Ore.) led three Pacific players in double figures with 19 points to go along with six rebounds, five assists and three steals.  David Berney (Jr., Eugene, Ore.) added 18 points and Coby Proctor (Fr., Sublimity, Ore.) scored 10.  Dustin Bowser (Jr., Bellingham, Wash.) fought through pain to score seven and grab a team-high eight rebounds.  Pacific finished shooting 44.2 percent from the field (19-43) and 9 of 21 from three-point range.
 
Whitman's David Michaels led all scorers with 22 points, connecting on 5 of 8 from the field and 9 of 13 from the free throw line.  Ben Eisenhardt came off the bench to score 14 points and grab eight rebounds while LuQuam Thompson added 12.
 
Pacific pulled away from an 11-10 deficit to take a 23-13 lead with 11:28 to go in the first half.  Proctor started the 13-2 run with his three-pointer at the 15:39 mark while Berney, Wester and Joey Burns (Fr., Hermiston, Ore.) closed the string with a series of treys.  Whitman came back to cut the lead to five on three different occasions and came within four on a pair of Drew Raher free throws with 39 seconds left.  Berney threw in his third three-pointer to close the stanza, giving Pacific a 37-30 halftime lead.
 
The Boxers seemed close to unstoppable in the opening half, connecting on 14 of 24 from the field.  Pacific also converted 14 Whitman turnovers into 23 points.
 
The Missionaries came out of the locker room with a renewed sense of urgency, tying the game at 40-40 with a pair of Thompson free throws two minutes into the period.  Pacific came back to score eight of the next 10 points and went back ahead six points, 48-42, on a Proctor three-pointer at the 13:37 mark.  Whitman charged back to score the next 10 points unanswered and took a 50-48 advantage on Brandon Shaw's jumper with 11:57 to go.
 
Wester tied the game at 50-50 to end the run, but Pacific never found themselves able to get back on top.  Michaels hit his third three-pointer of the night to put Whitman up seven, 63-56, with 6:26 left and appeared to have the same sewn up when a set of two technical fouls on the Boxers translated into four straight Matt Mounier free throws to give the Missionaries their biggest lead of the game, 74-64, with 46 seconds left.
 
Pacific, however, made the most of their possessions down the stretch to keep themselves in it.  Berney hit a lay-in with 22 seconds left to bring the Boxers within five and a pair of Wester free throws cut the lead to 75-71 with 15 ticks to go.  Thompson and Eisenhardt hit three free throws in the final seconds to secure the win.
 
Pacific will have no easier challenge tomorrow night as No. 9 Whitworth visits the Stoller Center.  Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m.  The game can be heard live via a live webcast at www.goboxers.com/webcasts.  Whitman plays at Linfield.