George Fox 72, Concordia 62: Bruins Pull Away Late to Conquer Cavaliers

Neither team held more than a four-point lead through the first 17 minutes of the second half.

Salem-News.com Sports

PORTLAND, Ore. - Evan Atwater and Travis Toedtemeier combined for 11 points in the final 3:14 as the visiting George Fox University Bruins pulled away late in the game for a 72-62 non-conference men’s basketball win over the Concordia University- Portland Cavaliers Thursday night here at the Cavalier Gym.

Both teams came out with guns blazing. Concordia hit its first three shots, including three-pointers by Dustin Hiebert and Alex Tiefenthaler, for an 8-5 lead only a minute-and-a-half into the game. George Fox countered by hitting its first five shots and six of seven, including a pair of threes by Jack Martin and two baskets each by Alex Stockner and Travis Toedtemeier, and used a 9-0 run to build a 14-8 lead with 16:39 left in the first half.

Hiebert and Tiefenthaler hit two threes apiece to spark a 17-2 run that puts the Cavs in front 25-16 with 11:44 to go. The Bruins fought back as Joe Ahn came off the bench to hit all four of his shots in the half for eight points, including consecutive jumpers that tied the game 26-26 with 8:22 remaining. The teams stayed close the rest of the half, a three by Hiebert making it 43-39 Cavs with 35 seconds left before Atwater nailed a three from the right corner with two seconds left to cut the gap to 43-42.

Hiebert had 15 points at the break, all on three-pointers, and Tiefenthaler had 12, while Stockner and Ahn had eight each for the Bruins. Tiefenthaler scored only six in the second half, however, and Hiebert was held to no points and only one shot as the Cavs connected on only 6-23 (.261) in the final 20 minutes.

Neither team held more than a four-point lead through the first 17 minutes of the second half. The final tie came at 54-54 with 9:03 left on a layup by the Cavs’ Jason Yecny, but Atwater broke the deadlock with a jumper at 8:44 and the Bruins never trailed again. With the Bruins only up a pair at 61-59 late in the game, Toedtemeier canned a three from the left wing to give the Bruins a bit of breathing room with 3:14 left. After a Tiefenthaler basket, Atwater hit another three and Toedtemeier sank a shot from the right to make it 69-61 with 1:28 to go. Atwater sealed the win for the Bruins with three free throws in the final minute.

Atwater topped the Bruins with 17 points and six rebounds, while Stockner and Ahn had 12 each and Toedtemeier finished with nine. Ahn hit his first six shots before finally missing one. Martin, the Bruins’ leading scorer, was held to seven points but chipped in with eight assists and four steals, and Bryan O’Connell had three blocked shots. The Bruins shot .483 for the game (29-60), including seven threes, and committed only eight turnovers, three off their single-game record of five.

Tiefenthaler had 18 points and a double-double with 13 rebounds, leading the Cavs to a 39-33 edge on the boards. Hiebert totaled 15 points, all in the first half, and Gage Aker added 11. The Cavaliers were 20-55 for the game (.364) and made eight threes, but all came in the first half.

The Bruins evened the season series with the Cavs after falling at home to them 72-58 on Nov. 22. George Fox is now 3-4 with three straight wins, while Concordia is 5-5.

George Fox returns to action Saturday, hosting Northwest University at 7:30 PM following a Bruin women’s game at 5:00 PM against Chapman University. Concordia next hosts Pacific University Tuesday at 7:30 PM.

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