Bearcats to Battle Lutes in Northwest Conference Men's Basketball

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

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University men's basketball team plays just one game this weekend. The Bearcats will take on Pacific Lutheran University in a Northwest Conference road game on Saturday, Jan. 17 in Parkland, Wash. Game time is set for 6 p.m. (PST).

Willamette heads toward PLU with a 4-10 overall record, including 2-3 in the NWC. The Bearcats are 2-1 in their last three games. Pacific Lutheran, which hosts Linfield College on Friday, Jan. 16, enters the weekend at 3-9 overall, 1-2 in the NWC.

A Live Audio webcast courtesy of Willamette during the game will feature Mike Allegre as the announcer. You also can follow the action through Live Video and Live Stats provided by Pacific Lutheran.

Brandon Luedtke (Jr., F, Meridian, ID/Mt. View HS) is averaging a team-high 14.3 points per game for the Bearcats. He is shooting 50.0% after making 57 of 114 field goals. He leads the team with 9.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game. Luedtke has scored in double figures eight times, despite missing four games due to injury.

Also averaging in double figures is Brendon McCullough (Fr., G, San Antonio, TX/Home Schooled), who has contributed 11.6 points per game. He is tied for second on the team with 12 three-point baskets. He has converted 70 of 84 free throws for a stellar 83.3%. McCullough has averaged 2.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.4 steals per contest.

Nico Troplent (Fr., Wing, Los Angeles, CA/Cathedral HS) has added 9.8 points per game, while Bridger Harlington (Jr., Wing, Lake Tapps, WA/Auburn Riverside HS) has scored 9.7 points per game. Harlington leads the Bearcats with 23 three-point baskets on 36.5% accuracy from behind the arc. Troplent is tied with McCullough for second with 12 three-point baskets.

Troplent has grabbed 3.1 rebounds per game. He has shot 80.6% at the free throw line by making 29 of 36 attempts. Harlington has produced 2.9 rebounds per game and has hit 75% of his free throws (75.0%).

Kyle McNally (Sr., F, Salem, OR/Sprague HS) is a key player for the Bearcat in a variety of categories. He is earned 6.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. He leads the entire NWC with 39 blocked shots and 2.8 blocks per game. No one else in the conference has more than 18 blocks. McNally also has recorded 1.7 steals and 1.6 assists per game.

Willamette is shooting 69.6% at the free throw line (218 of 313). The Bearcats rank fourth in the NWC in free throw percentage, but are second in free throws made, trailing only Whitworth with 262 free throws.

Pacific Lutheran is eighth out of the nine teams in the NWC in scoring at 59.2 points per game, but the Lutes are third in scoring defense, allowing just 64.8 points per contest.

The top scorer for PLU is Brandon Lester (So., G) with 13.3 points per game. He ranks first for the Lutes in 3-pointers with 28 successful shots on 67 attempts (41.8%). He is shooting 80.0% at the free throw line (24 of 30).

Dylan Foreman (Fr., G) has scored 12.1 points per game to go along with 4.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.1 steals per night. Seth Anderson (Jr., G) ranks third for the Lutes in scoring with 8.6 points per game. Anderson also provides 4.0 rebounds per contest.

Bryce Miller (Jr, Post) leads Pacific Lutheran in rebounding with 7.9 boards per game. He also has supplied 8.3 points per game.

Last year, the Lutes won both meetings with the Bearcats. PLU led by 11 points at halftime in the first meeting on its way to a 76-56 victory in Parkland on Jan. 25, 2014. Willamette rallied from a 13-point lead in the final 8:56 of regulation in the rematch, before the Lutes defeated the Bearcats, 77-71 in overtime, on Feb. 21, 2014 in Salem.