HONOLULU, Hawai'i – Sean Atkins scored 20 points and A.J. Grant added 16 on 6-of-8 shooting from the field, including 3-of-3 from three-point range, as the George Fox University Bruins pulled away from the California Lutheran University Kingsmen for a 73-59 win in the Surf's Up Men's Basketball Classic Friday afternoon here at Kalani High School.
The game was one of streaks as both teams put together long runs at various times. Jayvaughhn Nettles hit back-to-back three-point field goals that ignited a 10-0 run as the Kingsmen built an early 12-5 lead, and they extended that margin to nine points on a three by Guy Lynott that made it 22-13 with 6:56 left in the first half. Unfortunately for Cal Lutheran, however, Nettles injured his ankle shortly after making a third three-pointer midway through the period and did not return.
The Bruins took advantage of the Kingsmen's loss of firepower by creating their own hot streak, reeling off 10 unanswered points of their own to take a 24-22 lead with 4:36 left. Jason Martin started the run with a three and Anthony Sanchez capped it with four straight free throws. Cal Lutheran regained the lead for the last time on a trey by Lynott that made it 29-27 with 2:15 to go, but the Bruins scored the final seven points of the period to take a 34-29 lead into the intermission. Jon Adrian had a bucket and two free throws and Grant nailed a three at the buzzer to boost the Bruins ahead.
A jumper by Jeremy Sulker-Hall and a trey by Michael Palmer enabled the Kingsmen to tie it 34-34 a minute into the second half, and the game remained tight over the next seven minutes. Though Cal Lutheran was never able to retake the lead, they did manage five more ties, but the Bruins answered with a score every time. A jumper by Atkins broke the final knot with 12:28 left to make it 50-48 Bruins, and his basket at the 11:49 mark started a 10-0 Bruin run that put them comfortably ahead.
Spencer Bolte followed Atkins with a layup, Sanchez hit two more free throws, Bolte canned a jumper, and Grant hit a layup to make it 61-50 with 7:40 to play. The Kingsmen got not closer than eight the rest of the way. Maintaining a double-digit lead most of the remainder of the game, the Bruins took their largest lead at 73-57 on a pair of Bolte free throws with seven ticks to go, offsetting a final basket by Dan Wade.
Atkins, as he has in all four of the Bruins' games this season, was the leading scorer. Joining him and Grant in double-digit points were Bolte and Seth Brent with 10 apiece. Brent had eight rebounds and three blocked shots, Adrian handed out four assists, and Atkins made five steals as the Bruins forced 17 Kingsmen turnovers while giving up only nine of their own.
Lynott paced the Kingsmen with 18 points off the bench and Sulker-Hall added 12. Lynott also had three blocks and eight rebounds as Cal Lutheran held a 43-41 edge on the boards. Steven Davis passed out eight assists and had a pair of steals.
NEXT: George Fox (2-2) takes on Whittier College Saturday at 5:00 p.m. Pacific time (3:00 p.m. in Hawai'i) on the second day of the Surf's Up Classic ... Cal Lutheran (1-2) meets Pacific University in the tournament Saturday at 3:00 p.m. Pacific (1:00 p.m. Hawai') ... Whittier and Pacific met in Friday's second game ... Fans who wish to follow the games in the Surf's Up Classic via live stats provided by Cal Lutheran may find them at http://www.clusports.com/pages/tournaments/2012mbbSurfsUpClassic.php.