Harlington Scores Career-High 21 Points, as Bearcats Down Wildcats, 67-53

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Bridger Harlington (Jr., Wing, Lake Tapps, WA/Auburn Riverside HS) scored a career-high 21 points and Talanoa Smith (Sr., G, Pago Pago, American Samoa/Tafuna HS) registered a career-high seven assists, as Willamette University earned a 67-53 win over visiting Linfield College on Saturday, Jan. 24.

The Bearcats pulled even in Northwest Conference play at 4-4, while improving to 6-11 on the season. WU holds fourth place in the NWC, one-half game in front of Pacific Lutheran University (3-4) and University of Puget Sound (3-4), and one game in front of Pacific University (3-5). Linfield slipped to 2-15 overall, 0-8 in the NWC.

Willamette trailed 30-28 at halftime, but shot 57.9% from the field in the second half (11 of 19) and outscored the Wildcats 39-23 over the final 20 minutes.

Harlington's previous high was 15 points against Whitworth University a few weeks ago on Jan. 2. Prior to Saturday's game, Smith's high for assists was six against George Fox University exactly one year ago on Jan. 24, 2014.

WU placed four players in double figures. Harlington was followed by Brandon Luedtke (Jr., F, Meridian, ID/Mt. View HS), who hit the nets for 17 points and made 8 of 13 field goals. Luedtke also contributed six rebounds, four steals, two assists and one blocked shot.

Kyle McNally (Sr., F, Salem, OR/Sprague HS) tacked on 12 points for the Bearcats. He went 4 for 5 from the field, grabbed five boards, and was credited with an assist, a steal and a blocked shot. Joseph Jackson (Sr., Wing, Hillsboro, OR/Hillsboro HS) earned 10 points and two steals.

The Wildcats were led in scoring by Ryan Potter, who finished with 13 points. Austin Murray scored nine points and Howard added eight. Murray topped LC with six rebounds.

Luedtke scored five straight points in the second half to turn a 55-48 lead into a 60-48 advantage with 4:39 left. First, he scored on a short jumper and was fouled with 5:04 remaining. He converted the free throw. After Trevor Howard of Linfield missed a 3-pointer at the 4:54 mark, Luedtke grabbed the rebound. Fifteen seconds later, Luedtke put in a layup.

Linfield tallied the next three points to cut the margin to 60-51, but the Wildcats never got closer. Willamette led 64-51 after Jackson hit a 3-pointer with 2:23 to go and McNally added a free throw with 1:46 left.

Willamette took an 11-3 lead at the start of the game behind seven points from Harlington. He scored on a jumper 27 seconds after the tipoff. He hit a 3-pointer for a 9-2 lead at the 16:36 mark and added two free throws with 15:41 on the clock.

The Wildcats countered with a 9-0 run to move in front 12-11. Potter started the surge with a traditional three-point play. Murray completed the run with a jumper at the 11:01 mark.

After WU rallied for a 16-12 advantage, Linfield put together a 7-2 run for a 21-18 lead. The Wildcats eventually led 26-20 on a 3-pointer by Howard with 2:53 remaining in the half.

A bit later Linfield's lead was 30-24, but the Bearcats earned the last four points of the period on a pair of layups by Luedtke with 1:28 and 42 seconds left.

Linfield scored on a layup by Matt Woods for the first two points of the second half. Willamette recorded 10 of the next 12 points, with Harlington providing a go-ahead 3-pointer as WU moved in front 35-34, and Jackson adding another 3-pointer for a 38-34 margin with 16:07 on the clock.

Five consecutive points for the Wildcats -- ending with a 3-pointer by Potter -- moved Linfield in front, 39-38. Hayden Russell (So., G, Woodland, CA/Da Vinci HS) answered with a 3-pointer, giving the Bearcats the lead for good with 13:26 remaining.

Willamette's strong shooting in the second half put the Bearcats at 45.7% for the game (21 of 46). WU hit 8 of 21 three-pointers (38.1%) and made 17 of 26 free throws (65.4%).

Linfield shot 52.6% from the field in the first half (10 of 19), but shot 34.6% in the second half (9 of 26) to finish at 42.2% overall. The Wildcats were 4 of 20 on 3-point shots and converted 11 of 19 free throws (57.9%).

The rebounding battle was close, with Linfield holding a 31-30 edge. Linfield committed 15 turnovers and WU lost the ball 13 times. The Bearcats registered 10 steals.

Willamette will play at Whitman College on Friday, Jan. 30. Game time in Walla Walla, Wash., is set for 8 p.m. (PST).