EUGENE, Ore. – The Bushnell men's basketball team took a 12-point deficit with seven minutes remaining and climbed to within one point in the final minute, but Multnomah was able to hang on for an 87-82 victory in Cascade Collegiate Conference action on Friday night.
 
Multnomah (5-2, 1-1 CCC) shot 51% in the contest and held a 54-46 margin in the paint. Bushnell (2-4, 0-2) hit just 42% but out-rebounded the Lions, 43-42 including ten offensive rebounds.
 
The Lions led for 37 minutes of the game, and were ahead 77-65 with 7:06 remaining after a Taylor Peppinger layup. Bushnell's Cory Johnson completed a three-point play on the next possession and the Beacons proceeded to outscore the Lions 17-4 over the next six minute stretch.
 
A pair of free-throws by Kaden Sand with 47 seconds to play made it an 82-81 game, but the Beacons wouldn't complete the job as MU scored on their next possession and Bushnell missed a quick layup attempt down three points with 15 ticks on the clock. Multnomah put it on ice with three free-throws.
 
Bushnell was led by Spencer Hoffman, scoring 27 points on 12-for-15 shooting, adding nine rebounds. Stevie Schlabach added 23 points, along with seven rebounds and a team-high six assists while Luke Smith came off the Bench to score 13 points and four assists. Johnson finished with six points and eight rebounds, including three on the offensive glass.

Head Coach Eddie Alexander said, "We struggled defensively tonight to execute the scouting report. We are still learning to play together and be smooth on the offensive end. Spencer was excellent tonight in the post and Stevie was Stevie."
 
Multnomah had three players cross the 20-point plateau, led by 26 from Neyland Block. Tyrese Taylor and Charles Jones posted 21 points apiece with Taylor adding a game-high 13 rebounds.
 
Bushnell will return to action on Saturday evening, playing host to Warner Pacific at 5:00 pm. The Lions head to Salem, where they will take on Corban University at the same time.