Bearcats to Battle Western Oregon Tonight, Corban on Friday, at Capital City Classic

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

MONMOUTH, ORE. -- The Willamette University men's basketball team will battle with two of its closest non-conference rivals this week when the Bearcats take on Western Oregon University and Corban University in the Capital City Classic.

All of the action will take place at Physical Education Building on the Western Oregon campus. The Bearcats will play the WOU Wolves on Wednesday, Nov. 27 at 7 p.m. (PST) and will compete against the Corban Warriors on Friday, Nov. 29 at 4:15 p.m.

Western Oregon and Corban will complete the round robin when they play each other on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 4:15 p.m.

Live Stats and a Webcast will be available for the games involving Western Oregon. Live Stats will be available for the Willamette versus Corban game.

Willamette enters the tournament at 0-3 on the season, but the three losses were by a combined 11 points. Western Oregon is 2-3 overall, while Corban brings in a record of 3-3.

The Bearcats have three players who are averaging in double figures. Avery Manu (Sr., Wing, Pocatello, ID/Highland HS) tops the scoring chart with 14.3 points per game. He has connected on 45.9% of his field goals (17 of 37) and 3 of 7 three-pointers (42.9%), while grabbing 4.0 rebounds per game.

Brandon Luedtke (So., F, Meridian, ID/Mt. View HS) follows with 12.3 points per contest. He has connected on an impressive 57.1% of his field goals attempts (16 of 38). Luedtke leads Willamette with 6.7 rebounds per game, split evenly between offensive boards (10) and defensive boards (10).

Alex Brown (Jr., F, Happy Valley, OR/Clackamas HS) has contributed 10.7 points per game. He is 12 of 14 (85.7%) at the free throw line.

The Bearcats have limited opponents to just 63.7 points per game and only 43.8% field goal shooting. It's on the offensive end of the court where Willamette has struggled a bit as a new starting lineup works to develop its own personality.

Four of Willamette's starters at the end of the 2012-13 season completed their eligibility this past spring. Several returning players have now moved into starting roles. Willamette is averaging 60.0 points per game, with the Bearcats shooting 39.5% from the field (66 of 167), while hitting 75.5% at the free throw line (40 of 53).

WU has blocked a total of nine shots this season. Kyle McNally (Jr., Post, Salem, OR/Sprague HS) leads the way with four blocked shots, while Talanoa Smith (Jr., G, Pago Pago, American Samoa/Tafuna HS) has blocked two shots.

The Bearcats have forced 60 turnovers (20.0 avg.) and have earned 24 steals. Luedtke has earned five steals, while Manu and Hayden Russell (Fr., G, Woodland, Ca/Da Vinci HS) each have registered four.

Western Oregon also has three players averaging in double figures. Marwan Sarhan (Jr., F) has scored 12.4 points per game. Rodney Webster (Sr., G) had added 11.8 points per contest. Adam Hasting (Jr., F) has provided 10.0 points per game.

The Wolves are averaging 70.4 points per game, while allowing 73.6 points per contest. WOU is shooting 42.5% from the floor (131 of 308).

Corban features four players averaging in double figures who have played in at least five games. The top scorers are Jordan Carter (Jr., G), Caleb Herzberg (Fr., G), Toby Roth (Fr., G) and Josiah Sebens (Sr., F).

Carter ranks first with 19.5 points per game. Herzberg has earned 15.8 points per night, while Roth has recorded 11.0 points per game. Sebens has achieved 10.2 points per game. Cyrus Ward (So., F) scored 17 points in his only appearance this season.

The Warriors are averaging 80.5 points per game and allowing 74.5 points per game. Corban is connecting on 50.6% of its field goals (168 of 332).