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

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

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.

Willamette improved to 7-13 overall, 5-6 in the Northwest Conference. The Bruins dropped to 5-15, 3-8 in the NWC.

The Bearcats outscored George Fox, 43-31 in the second half. Willamette held a slim 68-66 lead with 8:19 left, but went on a 13-6 run for an 82-71 advantange with 3:13 to go.

Troplent was joined in double digits by Bridger Harlington (Jr., Wing, Lake Tapps, WA/Auburn Riverside HS) with 12 points and by a trio of Bearcats with 10 points each.

Kyle McNally (Sr., F, Salem, OR/Sprague HS) scored eight of his 10 points during Willamette's decisive run. He also finished the game with six rebounds, four assists, four blocked shots and two steals. Joseph Jackson (Sr., Wing, Hillsboro, OR/Hillsboro HS) and Hayden Russell (So., G, Woodland, CA/Da Vinci HS) also earned 10 points.

JJ Lacey and Johnathan Doutt led George Fox with 15 points apiece. Doutt also supplied a game-high six assists. Jonny Howard tacked on 13 points and Eli Graham finished with 12.

After GFU shot 61.3% in the first half (19 of 31), the Bearcats slowed down the Bruins' offense to 39.3% accuracy (11 of 28) in the second half.

WU took a 5-2 lead on a pair of free throws by Harlington and a 3-pointer by Troplent. The Bearcats also led 10-7 before the teams were tied three times between 10-10 and 14-14.

The Bruins went on a 6-0 run, including baskets by Lacey, Steven Stone and Graham for a 20-14 advantage with 11:02 remaining in the half. Willamette tied the scored at 22-22 on a basket by Casey Thornton (Fr., Wing, Santa Rosa, CA/Maria Carrillo HS) with 9:24 to go.

GFU claimed a 27-24 advantage on a 3-pointer by Doutt with less than eight minutes on the clock. The Bruins owned a 37-29 lead at the 5:40 mark after Doutt sank a 3-pointer.

Howard scored on a 3-pointer with 2:38 left in the half and added a 16-foot jumper 26 seconds later to give GFU a 44-35 lead.

The Bearcats closed the half with an 8-1 run, starting with a 3-pointer by Russell with 1:32 to go. After Eli Graham hit 1 of 2 free throws for the Bruins, Brendon McCullough (Fr., G, San Antonio, TX/Home Schooled) put through a 3-pointer for WU with just under a minute left.

In the closing seconds, Jackson stole the ball on defense and scored on a layup with two seconds on the clock, cutting GFU's lead to 45-43.

Willamette moved in front 46-45 on a 3-pointer by Harlington less than a minute into the second half. There were three lead changes and two ties before Troplent supplied the Bearcats with a 55-52 lead with a 3-pointer from the left elbow with 16:51 remaining.

A bit later, Jackson hit a 3-pointer for Willamette to break a 57-57 tie with 12:49 left. Jackson added another 3-pointer 30 seconds later and Brandon Luedtke (Jr., F, Meridian, ID/Mt. View HS) put in a layup at the 11:56 mark, as WU took a 65-57 lead.

The Bruins cut the margin to 68-66 on two free throws by Brendin Quinn with 8:19 to go, but McNally scored on a tip-in with 8:06 left. Troplent scored on a 3-pointer as the shot clock expired with 7:13 left to increase WU's lead to 73-66.

Willamette kept the lead the rest of the way and led by as many as 12 points at 84-72 following two free throws by Troplent with 1:25 remaining.

The Bearcats shot 41.1% for the game (30 of 73) and made 12 of 31 three-point attempts (38.7%). GFU went 8 for 22 from 3-point range (36.4%). Willamette outrebounded the Bruins, 41-38, led by Luedtke with nine boards. Lacey hauled down seven rebounds for GFU.

WU recorded 19 steals while forcing George Fox into 23 turnovers. The Bearcats lost the ball 15 times.

Up next for Willamette is a home game against University of Puget Sound on Saturday, Feb. 7. Game time at Cone Field House is set for 6 p.m. (PST). Earlier this season, the Bearcats defeated the Loggers in Tacoma, Wash., 84-77 in overtime.