George Fox knocked down 14 3-pointers and came away with a steal with two seconds to go to outlast the Pacific University men's basketball team in an 87-86 win on Friday night to begin Northwest Conference play in Newberg.

The Boxers (3-2, 0-1 NWC) found themselves behind as much as 17, 54-37, but there was no quit on the Pacific roster. Pacific scored 12 of the final 17 points, including five-straight points by senior Michael Joseph (Anchorage, Alaska) that tied the game at 83 and for the first time in the game.

After the Boxers tied the game, George Fox regained the lead and scored four unanswered points for an 87-83 lead. After Joseph made one of two free throws with :29 left to cut the deficit to three, 87-84. The Boxers' Nate Olowo (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) swiped the inbounds pass and made a lay-up to cut the deficit to one, 87-86. Next, Olowo came up with another steal to give Pacific the ball with 14 seconds to play.

Following a Pacific timeout, the Bruins' Thomas Rico stole the ball from a driving Boxer to keep Pacific from getting off a game-winning shot.
 
Five-different Bruins (2-3, 1-0 NWC) were in double figures, including JJ Lacey, who scored a game-high 25 on the strength of six 3-pointers. He was joined by Rico, who added 16 on four 3-pointers; Mason Green-Richards (12 pts); Ryan Thistlewood (11 pts.) and Dylan Hamlett (10 pts.).
 
For the Boxers, Olowo and J.B. Ewell (Portland, Ore.) each had their first double doubles of the season. Olowo led Pacific with 18 points and 12 rebounds to go along with four blocked shots to lead Pacific; plus, Ewell had 16 points and 10 rebounds. R.J. Collins (Hollister, Calif.) scored 17 points – all in the second half - on five 3-pointers to help bring Pacific back in the final 20 minutes, plus Joseph had 14 points in the defeat.

Next, Pacific will host Pacific Lutheran on Saturday at 6 p.m. at the Stoller Center. Earlier on Friday, the Lutes dropped an 84-62 decision to Lewis & Clark.