Three Of A Kind Scoring Performances Send Boxers Out Winners
Box Score
TACOMA, Wash. – A trio of 14-point scoring performances by
Dustin Bowser (Sr., Bellingham, Wash.), Budwesier Hawkins (Jr., Las Vegas, Nev.) and
Daniel Zitani (Jr., Oakland, Calif.) sent Pacific out on a winning note Friday night as the Boxers took a 66-61 victory over Puget Sound in Northwest Conference men's basketball action at Memorial Field House.
Bowser put together a big night on his final night in a Pacific uniform, connecting on 7 of 9 from the field while pulling down nine rebounds. Hawkins finished the night 5 of 6 from the field while Zitani went 6 of 10 from the field and pulled down 14 rebounds for his first double-double of the season.
Charles Mosley (Sr., Hillsboro, Ore.) finished out his career with 10 points to round out four Boxers in double figures.
With the win, Pacific wraps up their first winning overall since the 1999-2000 season with a 15-10 record. The Boxers' 9-7 NWC record is their first winning conference mark since the 2007-08 season and assures the Boxers no worse than a fifth place finish.
Pacific finished the night shooting 45 percent from the field (27-60) and 10 of 15 from the free throw line. The Boxers made up for 22 turnovers by outrebounding the Loggers 47-27 and were whistled for just six fouls.
Derek Jobe led Puget Sound with 16 points, connecting on 7 of 19 from the field. Erin Barber came off the bench to score 12. The Loggers (8-14, 3-10 NWC) shot 40.3 percent from the field (27-67) and were limited to just 2 of 4 from the free throw line.
Pacific took early advantage in the contest, jumping out to a 17-10 lead on Bowser's lay-up at the 13:17 mark and extended it to 23-13 on Hawkins' lay-in midway through the period. The Loggers stormed back, however, outscoring the Boxers 21-16 the rest of the period. Gabe Borboa tied the contest at 27-27 with his lay-in with 2:50 left and Barber's lay-in with 10 seconds yto go gave the Loggers a 34-29 halftime lead.
Pugrt Sound appeared to have the Boxers' number early in the second period, opening up their own 10-point lead on Borboa's lay-in two minutes into the period and took their largest lead of 12 points, 45-33, on Jobe's lay-in with 15:59 to go.
The Loggers still held a 10-point lead, 52-42, at the 12:03 mark when the Boxers went on a 24-9 run to close the game. Zitani gave Pacific their first lead of the stanza on a pair of free throws with 6:55 to go. A.J. Maw gave Puget Sound the lead back with his lay-in with 5:55 left before the teams spent two minutes trading baskets. Zitani gave the Boxers the lead for good with his lay-up with 2:13 to go and free throws by Hawkins and
Andrew Beatty (Sr., Lynnwood, Wash.) closed the game. Puget Sound went without a basket in the final three minutes.
The game was the final contest for four Pacific seniors, including Bowser, Mosley and Beatty.
Colin Wester (Sr., Sherwood, Ore.) made the trip to Tacoma, but missed the final two games of the season with an ankle injury.
