Bearcats Reach NWC Tournament with Win over Pacific, 70-63

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University clinched the fourth and final Northwest Conference Tournament berth in men's basketball on the final day of the regular season, as the Bearcats outlasted Pacific University, 70-63, at Cone Field House on Saturday, Feb. 21. Brandon Luedtke (Jr., F, Meridian, ID/Mt. View HS) topped Willamette with 18 points and 11 rebounds.

It was Luedtke's 10th double-double of the season. He also registered seven steals in Saturday's win. Nico Troplent (Fr., Wing, Los Angeles, CA/Cathedral HS) added 14 points, and Kyle McNally (Sr., F, Salem, OR/Sprague HS) earned five points, 10 rebounds, four assists, four blocked shots and two steals.

The Bearcats, 10-15 overall and 8-8 in the NWC, will play at top-seed and regular season NWC champion Whitworth University on Thursday, Feb. 26 in a semifinal game. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. (PST) in Spokane, Wash. Lewis & Clark College, seeded #3 will play at #2-seeded Whitman College in the other semifinal game on Thursday at 7 p.m.

Mitch Wettig led Pacific with 17 points, while Skyler Burgess scored 13. DeVon Pouncey provided the Boxers with a double-double, as he scored 12 points and hauled down 10 boards. Pacific ended the season at 12-13 overall, 7-9 in the NWC.

Willamette led from start to finish, but was never able to pull away from the Boxers. Pacific got as close as 64-61 with 36 seconds left, but three Bearcats combined to hit 6 of 6 free throws the rest of the way to close out the win.

The Bearcats started strong, building a 15-3 lead in the first 5:09. Bridger Harlington (Jr., Wing, Lake Tapps, WA/Auburn Riverside HS) completed the opening run with a 3-pointer and free throw for a four-point play. Later, the Bearcats held a 22-12 advantage following a free throw by Luedtke with 10:29 left in the half.

Pacific cut the margin to 26-22 with 7:05 on the clock following a jumper by Burgess and pulled within 35-33 on two free throws by Michael Garcia with 44 seconds remaining before halftime. Troplent hit a jump shot 11 seconds later and WU took a 37-33 lead into the break.

Luedtke was well on hit way to a double-double at halftime, as he scored 10 points and grabbed five boards during the first 20 minutes.

The Boxers began the second half with a jumper by Wettig to reduce Willamette answered with a 7-2 run for a 44-37 edge with 16:04 left. Troplent started the run with a 3-pointer. After Wettig scored for Pacific, Luedtke completed the urn with a layup and a pair of free throws.

Willamette and Pacific exchange baskets for several minutes before the Boxers cut the lead to 50-47 on a layup by Burgess with 10:45 to go. The Bearcats scored next at 8:51 after Luedtke stole an in-bounds pass at the defensive end and scored on a fast-break layup. McNally tacked on a free throw at the 8:31 mark for a 53-57 lead.

The Bearcats increased the margin to 58-49 on a 3-pointer by Troplent with 6:20 remaining. WU also led by nine points, 60-51, following a jumper by Brendon McCullough (Fr., G, San Antonio, TX/Home Schooled) as the clock reached 5:45.

Pacific scored the next five points, but didn't get closer until Burgess hit 1 of 2 free throws with 36 seconds to go. Troplent sank two free throws nine second later, but Burgess put in a layup with 15 seconds left. Joseph Jackson (Sr., Wing, Hillsboro, OR/Hillsboro HS) and Harlington each went 2 for 2 at the line in the final 14 seconds.

Willamette shot 45.8% for the game (24 of 53), including 53.6% (15 of 28) in the first half. The Bearcats were 5 of 16 from 3-point range and made 17 of 22 free throws (77.3%). The Boxers converted 41.8% of their field goals (23 of 55), including 6 for 23 on 3-pointers. Pacific made 11 of 17 free throws (64.7%).

Prior to the game, Willamette honored seniors McNally, Jackson, Talanoa Smith (Sr., G, Pago Pago, American Samoa/Tafuna HS) and Robbie Gibbs (Sr., Wing, Aptos, CA/St. Francis Central Coast Catholic HS). All four seniors scored during the game.