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

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

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.

Tipoff between the Bearcats and the Pioneers is scheduled for 8 p.m. (PST). Willamette enters the game with an 8-13 overall record and a 6-6 record in the NWC. Lewis & Clark is 12-9 overall and 7-5 in the NWC. Pacific University is tied with Willamette for fourth in the NWC at 6-6. Puget Sound and Pacific Lutheran University are tied for sixth at 5-7.

Multimedia coverage of the Willamette versus Lewis & Clark game will be available through Live Video and Live Stats.

Against George Fox, Nico Troplent (Fr., Wing, Los Angeles, CA/Cathedral HS) led the Bearcats with a career-high 22 points. Bridger Harlington (Jr., Wing, Lake Tapps, WA/Auburn Riverside HS) tacked on 12 points. The Bearcats outscored the Bruins 43-31 in the second half.

In the win over Puget Sound, Brandon Luedtke (Jr., F, Meridian, ID/Mt. View HS) produced a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. he also earned three assists and four steals. It was his eighth double-double of the season. Tropent also reached double figures with 10 points.

Luedtke is the Bearcats' top scorer and is fifth in the NWC with 14.4 points per game. He leads the entire NWC with 9.2 rebounds per game and also ranks first with 2.4 steals per contest.

Brendon McCullough (Fr., G, San Antonio, TX/Home Schooled) follows on the WU scoring chart with 11.1 points per game. He has connected on 85 of 105 free throws (81.0%) and tops the Bearcats with 61 assists (2.8 avg.). Harlington ranks third for the Bearcats with 11.0 points per game and leads Willamette with 36 three-point baskets.

Troplent has contributed 9.1 points per game, while Kyle McNally (Sr., F, Salem, OR/Sprague HS) has supplied 7.2 points and 6.3 rebounds per night. McNally leads the NWC with 49 blocked shots and an average of 2.3 blocks per game. Troplent is shooting 80.0% at the free throw line (36 of 45).

Lewis & Clark defeated Pacific, 59-54, on Saturday, Feb. 7 to end a three-game losing streak. The Pioneers lost road games at Whitworth University, Whitman College and Pacific Lutheran prior to the win over the Boxers.

The Pioneers have achieved balanced scoring with four players averaging in double figures. Serg Ovchinnikov (Jr., G) leads L&C with 12.5 ponts per game. He also ranks first on the team with 51 three-point baskets, which places him second in the NWC.

Cannen Roberson (So., G) is averaging 10.9 points per game. He is followed by Carl Appleton with 10.4 points per game and Jason Luhnow with 10.3 points per contest.

Appleton is the Pioneer's leading rebounder and is third in the NWC with 8.6 boards per game. Luhnow ranks first on the team and second in the NWC with 3.6 assists per game. Luhnow is second for L&C with 39 three-point baskets and is second on the team with 6.0 rebounds per game.

Lewis & Clark has been strong on the glass, with the Pioneers earning at +10.5 rebound margin per game and 43.0 rebounds per night. The Pioneers is shooting 40.1% from the field and just 28.4% from 3-point range, while converting 286 of 439 free throws (65.1%).

Willamette will play at Cone Field House again on Friday, Feb. 13, when the Bearcats are scheduled to complete a three-game homestand by taking on Pacific Lutheran University. Game time is set for 8 p.m. (PST).