Visiting George Fox University scored 11 of the last 13 points and rallied to overcome a 15-point deficit to defeat the Pacific University men's basketball team, 67-65 on Saturday in Forest Grove.
The Boxers (9-9, 3-7 NWC) nine losses have come at an average of seven points a contest, including three by one point, two more two points and another by three points. Defensively, Pacific had a season-high seven blocked shots and held George Fox to 37.9% (22-for-58) shooting in the loss.
Pacific (9-9, 3-7 NWC) was led by senior
K.C. Harrison (Las Vegas, Nevada), who had 19 points to tie a career-high with five 3-pointers. Also, hitting five 3-pointers were junior
R.J. Collins (Hollister, Calif.) for 15 points and junior
Nate Olowo (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) had his fourth double double of the season with 10 points and a game-high 13 points to go along with four emphatic blocked shots.
With Collins and Harrison each making five 3-pointers, the last time that two Boxers hit five 3-pointers in a game was Nov. 28, 2006 against Multnomah when Thomas Bright hit 8 and Donnie Harrison-Davis hit five.
The Bruins (8-11, 6-4 NWC) were led by J.J. Lacey, who scored a team-high 19 – 15 of which came in the first half and Mason Green-Richards, who added 14 off the bench. Harrison put Pacific ahead seven, 63-56, with 5:18 to play before an 8-0 run by the Bruins, including three lay-ups by Willie Perkins put the visitors ahead for the first time since the 3:44 mark of the opening half.
The Boxers regained the lead when
J.B. Ewell (Portland, Ore.) made a lay-up with 2:56 to play. Later in the half, following a media timeout, the Bruins' Jonathan Doutt knocked in the 10th 3-pointer of the day to put the visitors back ahead with 1:32 to play. Then, both teams missed a 3-pointer that allowed the Boxers to set up for a chance to either force overtime or hit the game-winning shot.
A last-second 3-point attempt came up short for Pacific and a put-back attempt chance came after the buzzer.
The Boxers will remain home for their next three games including contests against nationally-ranked Whitman (Friday, Feb.3 at 8 p.m.) and Whitworth (Saturday, Feb. 4 at 6 p.m.).
