Bruins Rally to Stun Wildcats

Khaatim Smith led all scorers with 17 points.

Salem-News.com SPORTS

McMINNVILLE - Down by 14 points with eight minutes left, the George Fox University Bruins used the three-point field goal and a pair of free throws by Brady Strutz with 2.5 seconds left to stun the Linfield College Wildcats 65-64 in a Northwest Conference men’s basketball game Tuesday night at Ted Wilson Gym.

After early ties at 2-2 and 4-4, Khaatim Smith took over for Linfield, scoring nine points on three shots in the lane and a three-pointer in a 16-5 spurt that put the Wildcats up by 11 at 20-9 with 11:57 remaining in the period.

Not to be outdone, the Bruins responded with a 15-0 run of their own, capped by a driving layup by Brent Satern, to take a 24-20 lead with 5:37 to go.

Andy Baldwin hit a pair of threes in the final two minutes as Linfield took a 33-31 lead with 31 seconds left, but Strutz hit a jumper in the lane with 10 seconds left to send the teams into the locker rooms at halftime knotted at 33-33.

Smith broke the tie with a jumper from the right wing 21 seconds into the second half and the Wildcats held the Bruins without a field goal for almost seven minutes while taking a 43-35 lead.

Grant Vahalla finally canned a jumper with 13:13 left for the Bruins’ first basket, but Linfield continued to stretch the margin, taking its largest lead of 14 points at 58-44 on a dunk by Smith with 8:32 to play.

George Fox then went to the long ball to get back in the game.

Treys by Satern and Strutz and a pair by Evan Atwater keyed a 14-2 run that brought the Bruins within a pair at 60-58 with 5:38 to go.

The teams traded baskets over the next four possessions before Smith missed the front end of a one-and-one with 48.6 seconds left and Strutz rebounded, giving the Bruins a chance.

Fouled with 16.1 seconds left, Strutz made only the second of a two-shot foul, leaving the Bruins down 63-64.

Resorting to a full-court trap, the Bruins’ pressure forced Linfield into a 10-second backcourt violation, giving them the ball back with 4.1 ticks left.

Strutz received the inbound pass and was fouled again with 2.5 seconds left on a drive to the goal, then calmly sank both free throws for the win.

Smith’s half-court try for the winner bounced off the backboard and the rim.

Strutz and Satern led the Bruins with 16 points each and Atwater added 12.

Leading scorer Chris Parker was held to only eight points, half his average, and all on free throws, as the Wildcats double and triple-teamed him every time he got the ball and limited him to two shots.

The Bruins were also without number two scorer Phil Heu-Weller, who is sidelined indefinitely with a foot injury.

Strutz had eight rebounds, and Satern passed out five assists.

Smith led all scorers with 17 points for the Wildcats and Jeremy Goodman chipped in with 15.

Linfield’s leading scorer, Evan Timperly, managed only four points, 14 below his average, but led all rebounders with 10 as Linfield controlled the boards 35-28. Smith had four assists.

George Fox (9-8, NWC 5-4), with a four-game NWC road stretch over, returns home Saturday to host the University of Puget Sound at 8:00 PM.

Linfield (6-12, NWC 1-8) hosts Pacific Lutheran University Friday at 8:00 PM.

Both games will follow women’s NWC games at 6:00 PM.

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