2014-15 Men's Basketball News

Season
Gibbs Named to NABC Honors Court in Recognition of Academic Success
Gibbs Named to NABC Honors Court in Recognition of Academic Success

SALEM, Ore. -- Robbie Gibbs (Sr., Wing, Aptos, CA/St. Francis Central Coast Catholic HS) from the Willamette University men's basketball team has been named to the 2014-15 National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Honors Court for his academic success as a student-athlete.

Willamette Men's Basketball Earns NABC Team Academic Excellence Award
Willamette Men's Basketball Earns NABC Team Academic Excellence Award

SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University men's basketball team has received the Team Academic Excellence Award from the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) for the 2014-15 season. More than 175 colleges and universities throughout the NCAA and the NAIA qualified for the award.

Bearcats Add Eight Freshmen to Men's Basketball for 2015-16
Bearcats Add Eight Freshmen to Men's Basketball for 2015-16

SALEM, ORE. -- Looking to build off a successful Northwest Conference season that led to an NWC Tournament berth this past spring, Willamette University men's basketball Head Coach Kip Ioane has announced the 2015-16 recruiting class for the Bearcats. A total of eight freshmen will be joining the Bearcats this fall.

Luedtke Chosen Second Team All-West Region by D3hoops.com
Luedtke Chosen Second Team All-West Region by D3hoops.com

SALEM, ORE. -- Brandon

Whitworth Pulls Away Late from Bearcats  for 89-64 Win in NWC Tournament
Whitworth Pulls Away Late from Bearcats for 89-64 Win in NWC Tournament

SALEM, ORE. -- Whitworth University ended the game with a 23-8 run, as the Pirates held off a comeback effort by Willamette University and defeated the Bearcats, 89-64, in a Northwest Conference Men's Basketball Tournament semifinal on Thursday, Feb. 26 at the Whitworth Fieldhouse. Willamette trailed by just 10 points with 7:45 remaining.

Luedtke Earns First Team All-Northwest Conference Recognition
Luedtke Earns First Team All-Northwest Conference Recognition

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University junior forward Brandon

Willamette to Take on Whitworth in NWC Semifinal on Thursday, Feb. 26
Willamette to Take on Whitworth in NWC Semifinal on Thursday, Feb. 26

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University and Whitworth University will meet in the semifinal round of the 2015 Northwest Conference Men's Basketball Tournament on Thursday, Feb. 26 at Whitworth Fieldhouse in Spokane, Wash. Game time for the postseason match-up is set for 7 p.m. (PST).

Bearcats Reach NWC Tournament with Win over Pacific, 70-63
Bearcats Reach NWC Tournament with Win over Pacific, 70-63

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University clinched the fourth and final Northwest Conference Tournament berth in men's basketball on the final day of the regular season, as the Bearcats outlasted Pacific University, 70-63, at Cone Field House on Saturday, Feb. 21. Brandon Luedtke (Jr., F, Meridian, ID/Mt. View HS) topped Willamette with 18 points and 11 rebounds.

Linfield Edges Willamette in Overtime, 84-79, in Men's Basketball
Linfield Edges Willamette in Overtime, 84-79, in Men's Basketball

McMINNVILLE, ORE. -- Ryan Potter scored a game-high 22 points including the game-tying basket with 26.9 seconds left in regulation, and Linfield College outlasted Willamette University, 84-79 in overtime, in a Northwest Conference men's basketball game on Friday, Feb. 20. The Wildcats outscored the Bearcats 19-14 in overtime.

Willamette Battles for NWC Tournament Berth against Linfield and Pacific
Willamette Battles for NWC Tournament Berth against Linfield and Pacific

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University is involved in the race for the Northwest Conference Tournament in men's basketball as the regular season comes to a close this weekend. The Bearcats will complete their regular season schedule with key games against archrival Linfield College and Pacific University.

Harlington Nets 15 Points, McNally Grabs 15 Boards, in 64-55 Win over PLU
Harlington Nets 15 Points, McNally Grabs 15 Boards, in 64-55 Win over PLU

SALEM, ORE. -- Bridger Harlington (Jr., Wing, Lake Tapps, WA/Auburn Riverside HS) scored 15 points and Kyle McNally (Sr., F, Salem, OR/Sprague HS) hauled down a career-high 15 rebounds, as Willamette University held off Pacific Lutheran University, 64-55, in a Northwest Conference game on Friday, Feb. 13 at Cone Field House.

Willamette to Take on Pacific Lutheran on Friday at Cone Field House
Willamette to Take on Pacific Lutheran on Friday at Cone Field House

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University men's basketball team will play at home on Friday, Feb. 13 when the Bearcats host Pacific Lutheran University at Cone Field House. Game time for the Northwest Conference match-up is scheduled for 8 p.m. (PST).

Poor Shooting Dooms Bearcats as Willamette Loses to Lewis & Clark
Poor Shooting Dooms Bearcats as Willamette Loses to Lewis & Clark

SALEM, ORE. -- Lewis & Clark College held Willamette to 20.8% field goal shooting, including just 15.2% in the first half, as the Pioneers downed the Bearcats, 67-39, in a Northwest Conference men's basketball game at Cone Field House on Tuesday, Feb. 10. L&C owned a 37-15 lead at halftime. The Pioneers improved to 13-9 overall, including 8-5 in the NWC. Willamette fell to 8-14 overall, 6-7 in the NWC.

Bearcats to Battle Lewis & Clark in Key NWC Game on Tuesday
Bearcats to Battle Lewis & Clark in Key NWC Game on Tuesday

SALEM, ORE. -- After winning games against George Fox University and University of Puget Sound this past weekend, the Willamette University men's basketball team has moved into a tie for fourth place in the Northwest Conference standings. The Bearcats will take on the third place team, Lewis & Clark College, on Tuesday, Feb. 10 at Cone Field House.

Willamette Holds Off Loggers for 60-58 Victory in NWC Men's Basketball
Willamette Holds Off Loggers for 60-58 Victory in NWC Men's Basketball

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University held a 14-point lead with 6:54 remaining, but had to fend off a rally by the visiting University of Puget Sound before defeating the Loggers 60-58 in a Northwest Conference men's basketball game on Saturday, Feb. 7. Puget Sound never caught the Bearcats, but had a chance to win the game on a last-second 3-point attempt.

Troplent Hits for 22 Points, as Bearcats Win at George Fox, 86-76
Troplent Hits for 22 Points, as Bearcats Win at George Fox, 86-76

NEWBERG, ORE. -- Nico Troplent (Fr., Wing, Los Angeles, CA/Cathedral HS) scored a career-high 22 points and the Bearcats placed five players in double figures, as Willamette University downed George Fox University, 86-76, on Friday, Feb. 6 at the Wheeler Sports Center. Troplent was 7 of 15 from the field and hit three 3-pointers.