After a fast start with two wins against George Fox, the Pacific men’s basketball team has slowed down. The team has lost six in a row, most recently losing to George Fox.
Currently 2-6, the Boxers are looking for a spark to put themselves back in the win column. After losing by 27 points on Saturday, April 17, the Boxers lost by three Sunday night. With the game in its final seconds and George Fox down by two, senior guard Ryan Lacey sank three free throws followed by senior J.D. Ahlstrom making another two. Ultimately the Boxers fell 103-100. Over both games combined, senior Colin Rardin led the Boxers with 27 points. In the last game, Mario Mora, Ethan Moss, and Isiah Africano all had double digit points. Sunday night’s game was the first game the Boxers scored 100 points that they did not win.
Although head coach Justin Lunt’s fast style of play is supposed to lead to high scoring basketball, the Boxers have scored 100 points in just three games. In all but two games, the Boxers have given up at least 100 points. The recent games put them at 2-4 in conference with two more conference games to play. Their next conference game will be against Linfield.
So far this season, the Boxers are 0-2 against Linfield losing by at least ten points in both games. Senior, Brennan Mcnabb, led the Boxers with a combined 32 points that weekend. Currently, Linfield sits first in the Northwest Conference at 6-1. Due to the covid-19 pandemic, the NWC split into Washington and Oregon. This means Oregon schools are only allowed to play Oregon schools. On top of this, Lewis & Clark has opted out of the basketball season, limiting the teams the Boxers can play. After playing Linfield this weekend, the Boxers will close the season with a two game series against Eastern Oregon University.
Sitting in the bottom half of the conference, two wins against Linfield could move them up multiple places. With only four games left in the season and only two conference games, it is up to the players on the court to stop this losing streak.
Joey Balleweg
Photo: Julien Dagan
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