SALEM, Ore. – Taylor Mounts hit eight of his last nine shots, including the game-winner with six seconds left, as the Willamette University Bearcats handed the George Fox University Bruins a 77-75 loss in Northwest Conference men's basketball Saturday night here at the Cone Field House that left the Bruins clinging tenuously to fourth place in the NWC standings.
George Fox slipped to 11-12 overall and 8-6 in the conference, while Willamette, with its third win in the last four games, improved to 5-18 overall and 3-11 in the league. With Lewis & Clark College defeating Pacific Lutheran University 63-53 Saturday, L&C and PLU trail the Bruins by a game, both at 7-7, with two games to play as the trio of teams chases the fourth and final spot in the post-season NWC Tournament. On the final weekend, George Fox hosts Linfield and goes to PLU, L&C hosts the University of Puget Sound and goes to Pacific University, and PLU hosts Pacific and George Fox.
Saturday's game was everything that might have been expected after the Bruins defeated the Bearcats 89-87 in overtime back on Jan. 13 in Newberg. This time, there were 12 ties, 10 lead changes, and neither team ever had a double-digit lead. Willamette maintained a slim lead for most of the first 12 minutes, its largest advantage coming on two free throws by Alex Brown that made it 15-11 with 12:16 to play in the first half.
Anthony Sanchez hit a three-pointer to tie it for the Bruins 16-16 at 11:29, and Spencer Bolte gave the visitors an 18-16 lead with a layup with 11 minutes left. Over the next seven minutes, there were six ties and five lead changes until the Bruins broke a 28-28 deadlock with 3:46 to go on a layup by Sean Atkins. From there, the Bruins extended the lead until a Bolte basket gave them a 39-31 halftime lead.
George Fox remained ahead for most of the second half, building its lead to nine points at 50-41 with 15:44 left on a layup by Atkins. The Bruins were still ahead by eight a 55-47 following a three by Cam Rier with 12:12 to play, and then Mounts, who until that point had made only three of 11 shots, caught fire.
Over a seven-minute stretch, Mounts sank five jumpers to keep the 'Cats in the game, pulling his team within two at 66-64 with 4:52 left. Atkins hit two free throws for a four-point Bruin lead, but a three by Terrell Malley and a jumper by Trevor Bos gave Willamette its first lead of the half with 3:17 to go. A three by Jon Adrian put the Bruins back in front, but they failed to capitalize further by making only two of six free throw tries in a one-minute span that might have clinched it, giving Mounts another chance.
Down 73-71, Mounts hit a jumper to tie it with 1:35 left, then put the Bearcats ahead with another basket with 49 seconds to go. Atkins kept the Bruins alive with a jumper with 32 ticks left, setting up Mounts' winner from just inside the three-point line near the left corner while closely guarded. Sanchez' three-point try for the win from the left wing at the buzzer hit the far rim and bounced off.
Atkins led the Bruins with 20 points, 14 in the first half, while Sanchez added 16, Bolte 12, and Mike Taylor 11. Taylor also had a double-double with 11 rebounds, and Corey Clark handed out six assists.
Mounts finished with 24 points, 17 in the second half, with Malley scoring 14 and Sean Dart 11. Dart had eight rebounds as the Bearcats controlled the glass 47-37.
NEXT: George Fox plays its final home game Friday against Linfield College at 8:00 p.m., and will be honoring its graduating seniors before the game. There will also be "Pink Zone" activities to promote breast cancer awareness, a celebration of "National Girls and Women in Sports", and recognition of George Fox's three 2010-11 conference championships in women's basketball, golf, and track and field ... Willamette goes to Whitman College Friday, also at 8:00 p.m. ... Both games will be parts of NWC doubleheaders, with women's games preceding the men at 6:00 p.m.