Missionaries Hold WU to 30.8% Shooting, Defeat Bearcats 87-60

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- The Whitman College Missionaries held Willamette University to 30.8% field goal shooting (20 of 65), including 23.5% in the second half (8 of 34), to defeat the Bearcats, 87-60, Sunday, Jan. 3 at Cone Field House. Peter Clark led Whitman with 18 points, including four 3-pointers.

Willamette's Cameron Mitchell (Sr., Post, Portland, OR/Grant HS/U. of Redlands) almost recorded a triple-double, as he finished with 22 points, 17 rebounds and eight blocked shots. Mitchell is averaging 20.4 points and 12.5 rebounds per game. He leads WU with 19 blocked shots this season.

Whitman moved to 7-4, including 1-1 in the Northwest Conference. The Bearcats went to 3-8 overall, 0-2 in the NWC.

The Missionaries scored eight of the first 10 points and led 16-7 at the 13:48 mark. LuQuam Thompson scored seven of Whitman's first 16 points.

Mitchell hit two free throws to score the next two points for Willamette. His charity shots started a 10-4 run that cut the lead to 20-17 with 10:11 remaining in the half. Mitchell also scored on a jumper, assisted by Cody Pastorino (Fr., G, Glenn, Calif./Willows HS), to complete the run.

The teams exchanged several baskets before the Missionaries went on a 6-0 run to claim a 33-23 advantage with 3:22 on the clock. Whitman was in front 42-32 at halftime.

Taylor Mounts (So., Post, Kailua, HI/Iolani School) of Willamette scored the first basket of the second half, but Whitman responded with a 13-4 surge that increased the Missionaries' advantage to 55-38 with 16:38 to go. The Bearcats were unable to recover.

In addition to shooting just 30.8% during the game, Willamette also committed 30 turnovers and connected on only 17 of 33 free throws (51.5%). Whitman shot 40.0% from the field (28 of 70), made 21 of 32 free throws (65.6%) and had 19 turnovers.

The Missionaries also put in 10 of 26 three-pointers (38.5%), while Willamette was 3 of 16 from behind the arc. Willamette attained a 56-44 rebounding edge, including 22 offensive boards.

Mitchell was joined in double figures by Mounts, who collected 16 points and hauled down nine rebounds. Scott Schoettgen (So., Wing, Columbia, CA/Sonora HS) provided the Bearcats with nine points and five rebounds, while Ryan Meehan (So., Wing, Beaverton, OR/Beaverton HS/MSU-Billings) contributed eight points and five boards.

Robbie Kunke (Jr., Wing, Clackamas, OR/Clackamas HS) supplied eight assists and three steals. Pastorino earned four assists.

Whitman placed three players in double figures. Clark's 18 points led the way. He was 5 of 12 on field goals, including 4 of 10 on three-point shots.

Brandon Shaw finished with 16 points and five steals for the Missionaries. In the first half, he went 0 for 4 from the field and scored just two points. In the second half, he hit 4 of 5 field goals on his way to 14 points. Thompson scored 15 points for Whitman, to go with four assists and four steals.

The Bearcats will travel to Tacoma, Wash., to take on the University of Puget Sound on Friday, Jan. 8. Game time is set for 8 p.m. (PST). Willamette will return home to host nearby rival Linfield College on Saturday, Jan. 9, also at 8 p.m.