The Bruins scored the game’s first nine points 100 seconds into the game, took their first 10-point lead at 13-3 with 17:39 left, and Aaron Schmick nailed a 3-pointer to give the home team a 41-21 lead with 10:19 to go in the half. It was 57-34 at the break, with three Bruins already in double figures in points: Mark Gayman with 19, Schmick with 16, and Bryan Wadlow with 11.
The Ambassadors out-scored the Bruins 11-5 to start the second half, getting within 17 at 62-45 with 15:47 left on a 3-pointer by Adam Smith before the Bruins righted themselves and took off again. The Bruins twice led by as many as 36 in the final two minutes of the contest, the last at 97-61 with 1:08 left.
Gayman finished with a game-high 25 points, Schmick tallied 21, Wadlow had 16, and Ben Melvin chipped in with 13 as well as a game-high 7 assists, all in the first half. Gayman made it a double-double night, his 4th of the season and 12th of the junior’s career, with a game-high 12 rebounds, leading the Bruins to a 53-37 edge on the boards, and added 4 steals.
Smith scored 18 to lead the Ambassadors, with Samuel Duke adding 15 and David Carpenter 13. Seth Manthei was the top Multnomah rebounder with 8, while Duke had 5 assists.
George Fox snapped an 8-game losing streak with the victory and improved to 4-11 in its final non-league game of the year. Multnomah slipped to 5-19.
The Bruins return to Northwest Conference action with two games on Homecoming weekend, hosting Whitworth College Friday (Jan. 30) and Whitman College Saturday (Jan. 31). Games both nights are at 8:00 p.m., following women’s games at 6:00 p.m. The George Fox Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2004 will be introduced to the crowd at halftime of Friday’s game, with the 2004 Homecoming Court to be presented at halftime of Saturday’s game.
The Ambassadors host Columbia Bible College Friday (Jan. 30) at 7:00 p.m.