Whitman Wins Up-Tempo Game over Bearcats, 103-82

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

WALLA WALLA, WASH. -- Brandon Shaw scored 25 points for Whitman College at the Sherwood Center on Saturday, Jan. 30, leading the Missionaries to a 103-82 victory over Willamette University in Northwest Conference action. Justin Artis added 24 points for the Missionaries.

Cameron Mitchell (Sr., Post, Portland, OR/Grant HS/Univ. of Redlands) topped Willamette with 28 points to match his season high, set at Portland State on Dec. 28, 2009. Mitchell led all players on both teams with 11 rebounds.

It was Mitchell's 15th double-double this season. He has scored in double figures in all 19 games.

Whitman moved above the .500 mark for the season at 10-9. The Missionaries upped their NWC record to 4-6. Willamette slipped to 4-15 overall, 1-9 in the NWC.

For Willamette, Taylor Mounts (So., Post, Kailua, HI/Iolani School) added 16 points and nine rebounds. Sophomore wing Ryan Meehan (Beaverton, OR/Beaverton HS/MSU-Billings) chipped in 13 points for the Bearcats, while Robbie Kunke (Jr., Wing, Clackamas, OR/Clackamas HS) finished with five points, six assists and four steals.

Whitman (31 of 67, 46.3%) made just two more field goals than Willamette (29 of 57, 50.9%), but the Missionaries hit 13 of 33 three-point shots (39.4%), while the Bearcats went 4 of 16 (25.0%) from 3-point range.

Both teams shot well at the free throw line, as Whitman sank 28 of 36 attempts (77.8%) and Willamette made 20 of 25 charity shots (80.0%). Each team grabbed 37 rebounds.

Whitman led 8-3 after two minutes of play, but Willamette moved in front 12-10 on a 3-pointer by Terrell Malley (Fr., G, Portland, OR/Roosevelt HS) at the 15:13 mark. The Missionaries tallied six consecutive points for a 16-12 lead with 12:01 left in the half.

The Bearcats tied the score twice in the next 1:05, but didn't regain the lead until Mitchell scored on a layup for a 32-31 advantage with 6:25 on the clock. Mitchell added a jumper, and then Whitman scored four unanswered points for a 35-34 lead.

Two more ties and two leads changes occurred before Whitman closed the half with a 9-2 run for a 49-42 edge on the Bearcats. The first half featured a total of five ties and seven lead changes.

Willamette pulled within three points twice in the early going of the second half, including 55-52 with 15:59 remaining on two free throws by Marcus Holmes (Jr., G, Seattle, WA/Garfield HS). The Missionaries answered with a 13-4 run and maintained a double-digit lead the rest of the night.

The Bearcats will return home to play their next game at Cone Field House on Friday, Feb. 5 against the University of Puget Sound. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. (PST).