Clinging to a two-point lead, midway the first half, the Pacific University men's basketball team went on a 22-10 spurt to take control en route to an 82-44 win over visiting Cal Tech on Thursday evening in Forest Grove.
Pacific (5-2) made a season-high 10 3-points in the win that saw five-different Boxers hit a trifecta in the win. Four Boxers scored in double figures in the win including senior Michael Joseph (Anchorage, Alaska), who was one of three Pacific players with multiple 3-pointers in the win.
Joining Joseph in double digits were J.B. Ewell (Portland, Ore. / 13 pts.), K.C. Harrison (Las Vegas, Nev. / 11 pts.) and Shayne Rixie (Hillsboro, Ore. / 10 pts.). It is the second time in the young season that the Boxers have had four players in double figures in a game.
Cal Tech (0-6) was led by a nine-point effort from Nasser Al-Reyes, plus Ricky Gallianai added seven points and a team-high 11 rebounds in the defeat.
Pacific stretched a nine-point halftime lead to 20, 54-34, when the Boxers' Christopher Evans (Seaside, Calif.) hit a 3-pointer with a 14:17 left to go in the second 20 minutes. The Boxers added to its lead, shooting 44.4% from the field and holding Cal Tech to 26.9% in the second half. With a stronger presence on the defensive end of the ball, in the second half, the Boxers outscored Cal Tech, 14-0 on points off turnovers and held the Beavers without a 3-pointer in the second half. The Boxers scored 22 of the final 27 points in the game to seal the victory.
Next, Pacific will make a trip to California to face Whittier on Sunday, Dec. 18 at 3 p.m. and Redlands on Monday, Dec. 19 at 5 p.m. before coming home to host Ripon at 3 p.m. to close out 2016.