Corban Downs Bearcats, 86-66, in Men's Basketball at Capital City Classic

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Corban University shot 57.4% from the field as the Warriors defeated Willamette University, 86-66, in the first round of the Capital City Classic in men's basketball, on Friday, Nov. 23 at the C.E. Jeffers Sports Center. Corban, which competes in NAIA Division II, evened its record at 2-2, while Willamette, which competes in NCAA Division III, fell to 1-2 on the season.

Jordan Carter scored 26 points on 8 of 11 shooting for Corban, while teammate Marcus Butler chipped in 22 points and hit 9 of 10 field goals. The Warriors connected on 31 of 54 shots during the game, including 15 of 25 attempts (60.0%) in the first half.

Willamette received 12 points each from senior post Sean Dart (Bend, OR/Mountain View HS/Eastern Oregon Univ.) and senior guard Terrell Malley (Portland, OR/Roosevelt HS). Dart also grabbed a team-high seven rebounds. Malley played 25 minutes in his first action since completing the season as a running back and receiver on the Willamette football team.

The score was close for much of the first half. There were three ties in the first 5:07 of the game, and Corban held a slim 15-12 lead after Avery Manu (Jr., Wing, Pocatello, Id/Highland HS) put in a layup for WU with 10:57 on the clock.

Corban's advantage moved between three and six points for the next several minutes. Willamette eventually cut the lead to a single point at 20-19 on a jumper by Noah Ripley (Jr., Post, Springfield, OR/Springfield HS) with 8:16 left in the half.

The Warriors put together a 9-2 run to claim a 29-21 advantage at the 6:22 mark. Carter scored all nine points during the run on a 3-pointer, a basket and foul shot, and another 3-pointer. He achieved 20 points in the first half.

WU trailed by just three points, 35-32, following a jumper by Kyle McNally (So., Post, Salem, OR/Sprague HS) with 3:56 remaining before the intermission. Corban led 47-35 at halftime after finishing the first period with a 12-3 run.

The Warriors surged out to a 58-39 lead with an 11-4 run in the first five minutes of the second half. Butler tallied four points during the run on a layup and a tip-in, while Carter completed the outburst with a 3-point shot.

After the Bearcats scored the next basket on a jumper by Ripley, Corban added a 12-5 run to increase the lead to 70-44 with 10:57 to go. Willamette answered with a 9-0 run of its own, including a traditional 3-point play by Malley, plus baskets by three other players. The run reduced the margin to 70-53 at the 7:33 mark, but the Bearcats couldn't get any closer.

Corban's success on field goals helped the Warriors overcome Willamette's 35-29 edge on the boards. The Warriors also hit 9 of 24 three-pointers (37.5%), while Willamette sank just 3 of 13 from behind the arc (23.1%). At the line, Corban went 15 of 22 (68.2%) and the Bearcats were 15 of 25 (60.0%).

WU shot 40.7% from the field (24 of 59). The Bearcats committed 16 turnovers and forced 14 turnovers by the Warriors.

Willamette will take on Carroll College (Mont.) in the third place game of the Capital City Classic on Saturday, Nov. 24 at 2:30 p.m. (PST). Corban will play Western Oregon University in the championship game on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Western Oregon edged Carroll, 72-67 in overtime, in the other first round game.