Pacific Shoots 51.7% as Boxers Defeat Bearcats, 78-66

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Pacific University shot 51.7% and gained a 48-27 rebounding edge, as the Boxers defeated Willamette University, 78-66, in Northwest Conference action on Friday, Jan. 6 at Cone Field House. The Boxers upped their record to 8-4, including 2-1 in the NWC. Willamette dropped to 2-10 overall, 0-3 in the conference.

Colin Wester led Pacific in scoring with 23 points, while three of his teammates finished with double-doubles. Charles Mosley tallied 13 points to go with 13 rebounds. David Berney scored 12 points and hauled down 10 boards, while Dustin Bowser finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

The Boxers sank 31 of 60 field goals, including 14 of 25 (56.0%) in the second half. Pacific made 5 of 20 three-pointers and hit 11 of 20 free throws (55.0%).

Willamette's top scorer was Terrell Malley (Jr., G, Portland, OR/Roosevelt HS), who achieved 11 points. Malley also contributed two assists and two steals, while grabbing three rebounds. Taylor Mounts (Sr., Wing/Post, Kailua, HI/Iolani School) overcame a slow first half to nearly reach a double-double with 10 points and nine boards.

WU connected on 36.7% of its shots from the field (22 of 60) and made 9 of 23 three-pointers (39.1%). The Bearcats were successful on 10 of 14 free throws in the second half to finish 13 for 19 overall (68.4%).

Ryan Meehan (Sr., Win, Beaverton, OR/Beaverton HS/MSU-Billings) of Willamette scored on a 3-pointer just 11 seconds after the opening tip. Pacific countered with a free throw by Mosley, and a layup and foul shot by Bowser, to move in front, 4-3, at the 19:18 mark.

The Bearcats made 4 of 6 shots to begin the game, but couldn't match Pacific, as the Boxers hit their first six field goal attempts. Even so, Willamette trailed by just five points, 15-10, with 15:58 on clock.

Pacific tacked on a 10-2 run as the Boxers surged out to a 25-12 lead with 10:22 remaining in the half. The run included four points each from Berney and Wester.

The visitors eventually cooled down to 48.6% shooting for the half (17 of 35), but continued to hold the lead, as WU shot just 35.5% (11 of 31). WU gained a bit of momentum by closing the half with a 5-0 run on a 3-pointer by Joseph Jackson (Fr., g, Hillsboro, OR/Hillsboro HS) and a pair of free throws by Sean Dart (Jr., Post, Bend, OR/Mountain View HS)/Eastern Oregon Univ.). Pacific led 39-29 at the break.

Wester led all scorers at halftime with 15 points, while Bowser contributed 10. Meehan was WU's leading scorer at the intermission with eight points.

Mounts, who entered the game as WU's leading scorer, hit just 1 of 7 field goals in the first half and ended the period with two points and four rebounds. In the second half, he added eight points and five rebounds. He ended the night with season averages of 16.1 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.

WU pulled within seven points, 39-32, when Trevor Bos (So., G, Lakewood, CA/St. John Bosco HS) swished a 3-pointer with 18:04 remaining. Malley also moved Willamette within seven points when his free throw cut the margin to 40-33 at the 17:24 mark.

Pacific tallied 11 of the next 12 points to extend the lead to 51-34 with 13:40 left. The run by the Boxers featured six points by Mosley.

The Bearcats answered with an 8-0 run that included four points each by Mounts and Malley. Mounts concluded the offensive surge with a 3-point basket at the 10:55 mark, cutting the lead to 51-42.

Another run followed, this time by Pacific, as the Boxers went on a 10-2 spree that gave them their largest lead at 62-44 with 7:55 to go. WU eventually closed the margin to 12 points in the final minute.

Willamette will travel to nearby McMinnville, Ore., on Saturday, Jan. 7 to take on NWC rival Linfield College. Game time is scheduled for 8 p.m. (PST).