Junior Riley Welch scored 19 points and sophomore Greg Rowson added 17 points to lead the University of Mary Washington men's basketball team past George Fox University on Thursday evening in Newberg, Ore. The Eagles improve to 8-4 overall on the season.

George Fox started out the game hot as they went up 10-7 just 3:11 into the game. The Eagles then got hot and cooled the Bruins down as they went on an 18-2 run to take a 25-12 advantage. In the run, Welch accounted for eight points, Anias Saunders had two points, Rowson had five points, and Drew Johnson had three points. 

Rowson then added eight straight points on his own to extend the Eagles' lead to 19, 33-14, with 6:22 to play in the half. George Fox came back with an 8-0 run of their own to get within 11. The game of runs continued and the Eagles closed out the first half with eight straight points. Welch had five points and Rowson had three points, two at the end of the half to put UMW up 41-22 at the break.

The Bruins cut their deficit to 15, 45-30, in the first few minutes of the second half. UMW upped their lead to 19, 51-32, on a dunk from Colin Coyne with 15:54 remaining. George Fox kept playing hard to stay in the game and they cut the Eagles' lead to 13, 57-44, with 11:30 to play. 

Da'Shawn Cook made a key three-pointer with 8:20 left on an assist from Johnson to put the Eagles up 67-50. The Eagles kept fending off mini-runs from the Bruins and made sure to keep them at a distance. Saunders put the game away as he scooped home a layup with 1:31 left to put UMW up 78-61. The Eagles closed the game out and won 80-65.

Cook pitched in 13 points, five rebounds, and three assists. Saunders added six points, nine assists, and four rebounds. Trey Barber had seven points and 10 rebounds.

The Eagles shot 32-76 (42.1%) from the field, 11-33 (33.3%) from three-point range, and 5-10 (50.0%) from the free throw line.

UMW will square off next with Susquehanna on 12/29 at 1 p.m. as part of the F&M Holiday Tournament.