Whitworth Rallies Past Willamette, 64-56, in NWC Opener

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University held a one-point lead with 3:19 remaining, but Whitworth University ended the game with a 9-0 run, as the Pirates moved past the Bearcats, 64-56, in Northwest Conference men's basketball action on Friday, Jan. 2 at Cone Field House. Whitworth improved to 8-2 on the season, 1-0 in the NWC. Willamette fell to 2-8, 0-1 in the NWC.

Bridger Harlington (Jr., Wing, Lake Tapps, WA/Auburn Riverside HS) of Willamette sank a 3-pointer with 3:46 left and Nico Troplent (Fr., Wing, Los Angeles, CA/Cathedral HS) hit two free throws 27 seconds later to give the Bearcats a 56-55 advantage. Whitworth surged in front on a layup by George Valle with 2:16 left.

Taylor Farnsworth scored for the Pirates on a put-back with 1:21 remaining for a 59-56 lead. Harlington missed a 3-pointer for Willamette with 1:06 on the clock. Kenny Love of Whitworth scored on a 3-pointer with 31 seconds remaining, and Christian Jurlina added two free throws for the Pirates with 15 seconds to go.

Jurlina led Whitworth with 17 points. Love chipped in 15 points for the Pirates. Farnsworth scored 14 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Valle finished with 12 points and game-high 12 boards.

Harlington and Troplent each scored 15 points for Willamette, as both players netted a trio of 3-point shots. Kyle McNally (Sr., F, Salem, OR/Sprague HS) grabbed 11 rebounds, blocked five shots, scored four points and earned four rebounds for the Bearcats. Brandon Luedtke (Jr., F, Meridian, ID/Mt. View HS) missed his third consecutive game due to injury.

Willamette battled with the defending NWC champions throughout the night.

The Bearcats held a 5-2 lead after Troplent opened the scoring with a 3-pointer and added a jumper after Farnsworth scored for the Pirates. Whitworth registered the next six points on a layup by Jurlina and two more baskets by Farnsworth to take an 8-5 advantage with 17:01 left in the half.

Whitworth owned a 13-7 advantage after Valle sank two free throws with 12:46 on the clock. The Bearcats responded with a 13-0 run to seize a 20-13 lead.

Harlington started the run with a 3-pointer at the 12:12 mark. The Bearcats tied the game, 13-13, just over a minute later, when Nathan Sherfey (Fr., Wing, Chehalis, WA/W.F. West HS) added another 3-pointer.

A layup by Harlington move Willamette in front, 15-13. Troplent tacked on a 3-pointer and Conin Oishi (Fr., G, Lake Forest Park, WA/Shorecrest HS) hit a jump shot to finish the run. Later, the Bearcats led 22-16 with 6:44 left in the half, but the Pirates scored the next nine points to take a 25-22 lead.

Willamette claimed a 28-27 advantage on a jumper by McNally with 2:32 on the clock. Whitworth scored the next four points on a 3-pointer and foul shot by Love, only to have the Bearcats earn five consecutive points, ending with a layup and foul shot by Brendon McCullough (Fr., G, San Antonio, TX/Home Schooled), as Willamette took a 33-31 lead.

The Pirates tallied the next six points, but Jared Baumgartner (So., Wing, Albany, OR/Crescent Valley HS) sank a 3-pointer with two second left to pull Willamette within 37-36 at halftime.

Whitworth scored the first four points of the second half, but Willamette eventually tied the game, 42-42, on a layup by Troplent with 10:36 left. The Bearcats were in front 48-44 at the 8:47 mark following a 3-pointer by Harlington. The Pirates answered with a free throw by Love and a 3-pointer by Jurlina to tie the score.

Later, Whitworth owned a 55-51 lead after Jurlina sank a jump shot with 4:15 left. Willamette tallied the next five points for a 56-55 lead, before Whitworth's 9-0 run to end the game.

The Pirates shot 33.9% from the field (19 of 56) and went 7 for 25 from 3-point range (28.0%). Willamette connected on 32.3% of its field goals (20 of 62), including 9 of 21 on 3-point shots (42.9%). Whitworth gained an edge at the free throw line by hitting 19 of 24 attempts (79.2%), while Willamette sank 7 of 10 free throws.

During the game, Willamette and Whitworth were tied five times. There were 11 lead changes.

The Bearcats will host Whitman College on Saturday, Jan. 3. Game time is scheduled for 6 p.m. (PST).