Willamette to Battle Concordia in Portland on Tuesday, Dec. 16

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

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University men's basketball team will take on Concordia University (Ore.) on Tuesday, Dec. 16 in Portland. Tipoff between the Bearcats and the Cavaliers is set for 7:30 p.m. (PST).

Willamette, which competes in NCAA Division III and the Northwest Conference, is 2-4 on the season. Concordia, a member of NAIA Division II and the Cascade Collegiate Conference, is 9-2 this year. The Cavaliers will be joining the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) and NCAA Division II next season.

Brandon Luedtke (Jr., F, Meridian, ID/Mt. View HS) tops the Willamette scoring chart with 15.7 points per game and also leads the Bearcats with 10.7 rebounds per contest. He is tied for fifth in the NWC in scoring and ranks first in the conference in rebounding. He is averaging three more rebounds per game than anyone else in the NWC.

Luedtke is shooting 50.0% from the field (34 of 68). He leads Willamette with 15 steals for an average of 2.5 steals per game.

Listed second in scoring for the Bearcats is freshman guard Brendon McCullough (San Antonio, TX/Home Schooled). McCullough has averaged 11.2 points per game and has connected on 80.6% of his free throw attempts (29 of 36). He is averaging 2.2 rebounds per game and ranks first for the Bearcats with 2.7 assists per game.

Nico Troplent (Fr., Wing, Los Angeles, CA/Cathedral HS) has added 8.5 points per game for Willamette, while Hayden Russell (So., G, Woodland, Ca/Da Vinci HS) has contributed 6.7 points per contest.

Willamette won its most recent game, a 71-64 victory over University of Northwestern (Minn.) in the third place game at the Colorado College Thanksgiving Classic. Luedtke and McCullough each scored 17 points against the Eagles, while Troplent provided 15 points.

Concordia has four players averaging in double figures. Tyler Velasquez (Sr., PG) has scored 16.4 points per game. He also leads the Cavaliers with 57 assists and 36 steals. He ranks first on the team with 23 three-point baskets.

Thomas Pierce (Sr., F) adds 12.9 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. He is shooting 54.5% on field goals. Justyn Searle (Sr., C, 6'10") follows with 12.4 points per game. Searle has grabbed 7.8 rebounds per contest. He has connected on 54.4% of his shots and has blocked 19 shots by opponents.

Anthony Holton (Sr., G) has also averaged in double digits with 11.9 points per game. He is shooting 75.8% at the free throw line (25 of 33). Esvan Middleton (Sr., F/C) tops the CU rebounding chart with 11.1 boars per game. He is shooting 59.4% from the field and is averaging 8.6 points per game.

The Cavaliers are shooting 47.2% on field goals and 68.6% on free throws. They are 4-2 at Cavalier Court so far this season.

Concordia defeated Oregon Institute of Technology in its last regular season game, 66-55, in Portland on Dec. 6. The Cavaliers downed Camosun University from British Columbia in an exhibition game, 79-71, on Dec. 12.

After playing Concordia, the Bearcats will be off until the D3hoops.com Classic on Dec. 29 and Dec. 30 in Las Vegas, Nev. The Bearcats will take on Wisconsin Lutheran College on Monday, Dec. 29 at 4 p.m. (PST). Willamette will play against Colorado College on Tuesday, Dec. 30 at 4 p.m. (PST).