Loggers, Ranked #22, Hit Offensive Boards, Defeat Bearcats, 73-59

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University held the University of Puget Sound, ranked #22 in the D3Hoops Top 25, to 38% field goal shooting (30 of 79), but the Loggers earned 20 offensive rebounds, as UPS achieved a 73-59 victory at Cone Field House on Saturday, Dec. 3. Puget Sound remained undefeated as the Loggers moved to 7-0 overall, including 2-0 in the Northwest Conference.

Willamette shot just 36.2% from the field (21 of 58). The Bearcats fell to 1-5 overall, 0-2 in the NWC.

Taylor Mounts (Sr., Wing/Post, Kailua, HI/Iolani School) of Willamette led all players in scoring with 23 points. He also hauled down a game-high 12 rebounds with six in each half.

Terrell Malley (Jr., G, Portland, OR/Roosevelt HS) earned nine points and six rebounds for the Bearcats, while Trevor Bos (So., G, Lakewood, CA/St. John Bosco HS) achieved five points, five assists and two steals.

Anthony Gittens paced the Loggers with 17 points on 8 of 18 shooting. He earned five boards and blocked five shots.

Edric Egberuare tacked on 12 points and grabbed seven boards for UPS, while Julian Fernandez and Derek Jobe tallied 11 points apiece. Kaleb Shelton topped the Loggers with nine rebounds to go with seven points, four assists and three steals.

Willamette fell behind 17-7 in the first 7:26 of the game, but cut the lead in half with a 5-0 run. Puget Sound answered with an 8-2 run to take a 25-14 advantage when Egberuare sank a jumper at the 7:20 mark.

The Bearcats responded with five straight points by Bos to get within six points at 25-19 with 6:39 on the clock.

UPS built a 36-23 lead with just under two minutes remaining in the half. WU tallied the final four points of the period on a layup by Mounts with 1:43 to go and a jumper from Alex Hansen (So., Wing, Reno, NV/Galena HS) with 55 seconds left.

Puget Sound was in front, 36-27 at the break.

The Loggers maintained an 8-point to a 12-point lead through the early minutes of the second half, as neither team could sustain a scoring run. Willamette trailed 48-36 after Gittens made a layup, was fouled, and hit the free throw for UPS with 14:50 remaining.

Two foul shots by WU's Alex Brown (Fr., Wing/Post, Happy Valley, OR/Clackamas HS) started an 8-0 run by the Bearcats that cut the deficit to 48-44 with 11:42 on the clock. Malley contributed four points during the run.

It appeared Willamette might have the momentum for a game-changing offensive surge, but the Loggers prevented the comeback with an 11-2 run of their own. First, Jobe connected on a 3-pointer, and then Matt Geverola added a layup. Nick Holden produced a 3-point play with a basket and a foul shot, as the lead reached 56-44.

Brown made two free throws for Willamette to pull the Bearcats within 10 points, but Holden created another 3-point play when he was fouled on a successful shot with 9:16 left. He converted the free throw to complete the run.

UPS shot just 17.6% from 3-point range, as the Loggers hit 3 of 17 trifectas. The Loggers also made just 10 of 19 free throws (52.6%). Even so, Puget Sound gained an edge with its offensive rebounding, as the Loggers took 79 shots during the game, compared to 58 for Willamette.

The Bearcats connected on 5 of 16 three-pointers (31.3%) and made 12 of 19 free throws (63.2%). WU blocked a total of seven shots, with Ripley leading the team with four.

Puget Sound blocked five shots. Gittens, who is 6'9" tall, earned all five blocks.

Willamette will play three road games over the next week.

The Bearcats will battle St. Martin's University (NCAA Division II) in Tacoma, Wash., on Tuesday, Dec. 6 (7 p.m. PST) and will play at Montana State University (NCAA Division I) on Wednesday, Dec. 7 (7 p.m. MST/6 p.m. PST). WU will take on Northwest Christian University (NAIA) in Eugene, Ore., on Saturday, Dec. 10 (7:30 p.m. PST).