Pacific Lutheran Fends Off Willamette's Rally to Defeat Bearcats 62-55

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

PARKLAND, WASH. -- Willamette University reduced an 18-point second-half deficit to four points twice in the final 2:14, but Pacific Lutheran University kept the Bearcats from completing the rally, as the Lutes earned a 62-55 victory on Saturday, Jan. 17.

The Lutes, who led 50-32 with 15:26 remaining had to hold off the Bearcats before improving to 5-9 on the season, 3-2 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette, which outscored PLU 23-12 in the final 15 minutes, fell to 4-11 overall, 2-4 in the NWC.

Dylan Foreman was the Lutes' top scorer with 18 points on 7 of 13 shooting. Brandon Lester followed with 11 points and five assists. Foreman and Lester each hit three 3-point baskets.

Willamette's Brandon Luedtke (Jr., F, Meridian, ID/Mt. View HS) put in 13 points and hit 6 of 10 field goals. He also grabbed seven rebounds, earned two steals and provided one assist. Brendon McCullough (Fr., G, San Antonio, TX/Home Schooled) scored 11 points for the Bearcats, while Nathan Sherfey (Fr., Wing, Chehalis, WA/W.F. West HS) achieved eight points.

Kyle McNally (Sr., F, Salem, OR/Sprague HS) led the Bearcats with 11 rebounds. He also contributed six points, two steals, one blocked shot and one assist.

The Lutes surged out to a 10-3 lead in the first four minutes aided by one 3-pointer each from Foreman and Lester. Willamette pulled within 17-14 when a 7-0 run by the Bearcats ended with a second consecutive layup by Luedtke with 11:08 remaining in the half. The run started with a 3-pointer by Nico Troplent (Fr., Wing, Los Angeles, CA/Cathedral HS).

Lester tacked on a 3-pointer for the game's next basket for a 20-14 lead, but Willamette tied the game at 23-23 when Sherfey connected on a 3-pointer at the 6:40 mark.

Just 36 seconds later, the Bearcats claimed a 26-24 advantage on another 3-pointer by Sherfey. PLU seized the lead with a trifecta by Erik Swartout with 5:14 on the clock, starting a 15-4 run by the Lutes to complete the half. Pacific Lutheran was in front 39-30 at the break.

The second half started with an 11-2 offensive surge by the Lutes for a 50-32 lead. Foreman scored the first five points before Austen Wilson added a jumper. Luedtke earned a layup for WU, and then Shane Jacob tallied the last four points of the run for PLU.

Pacific Lutheran's combined 26-6 scoring margin between the end of the first half and the start of the second have gave the Lutes command of the game. But it didn't keep Willamette from putting up a fierce rally that gave the Bearcats a shot at winning in the final minutes.

The Bearcats took 14 points off PLU's lead with a 19-5 run between the 14:27 mark and 2:14 remaining in the game. Willamette started the rally with nine consecutive points, cutting the lead to single digits at 50-41 on a pair of free throws by McNally with 11:38 left.

PLU built a 53-41 advantage on a layup by Wilson with 6:58 to go, but the next four points went to the Bearcats on layups by Luedtke and McNally.

A jumper by Seth Anderson gave the Lutes a 55-45 margin with 4:34 on the clock, before Willamette went on a 6-0 run. After McCullough sank two free throws with 2:14 left, the Bearcats were within 55-51.

Foreman put through a layup at the 1:56 mark to give PLU a six-point edge. McCullough reduced the lead to 57-53 on a jumper with 1:34 to go. Zacharias Wallin hit two free throws for the Lutes with 1:14 remaining, and Lester went 2 for 2 at the line with 53 seconds left, as Pacific Lutheran went up 61-53.

Luedtke made a layup on WU's next possession, but the Bearcats were unable to score again, as the Lutes earned the win.

Pacific Lutheran shot 48.9% for the game (23 of 47) and made 7 of 15 three-pointers (46.7%). The Bearcats hit 35.3% from the field (18 of 51) and converted 7 of 22 three-pointers (31.8%). WU gained a slight edge at the free throw line, where the Bearcats went 12 for 17 (70.6%) and the Lutes went 9 for 17 (52.9%).

Led by Wilson's 13 rebounds, the Lutes achieved a 40-24 advantage on the glass, including a 12-8 margin in offensive boards. The Lutes gained a 15-6 lead in second-chance points. The Bearcats caused PLU to commit 15 turnovers, while the Bearcats lost the ball nine times. WU outscored the Lutes 14-4 in points off turnovers.

Willamette will play at Pacific University on Friday, Jan. 23. Game time in Forest Grove, Ore., is set for 8 p.m. (PST).