Nationally-Ranked Whitworth Outscores Bearcats, 90-83

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

SPOKANE, WASH. -- Willamette University battled nationally-ranked Whitworth University throughout their Northwest Conference men's basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 31, but couldn't catch the Pirates, who outscored the Bearcats, 90-83. Whitworth, ranked #21 in the D3hoops.com Top 25, upped its record to 17-2 overall, 10-0 in the NWC.

The Bearcats trailed by just six points, 79-73, with 4:54 remaining. Whitworth scored seven of the next nine points for an 86-75 lead, and the Pirates went on to hold off the Bearcats. Willamette moved to 6-13 overall, 4-6 in the NWC.

Brandon Luedtke (Jr., F, Meridian, ID/Mt. View HS) of Willamette topped all players with 22 points and 11 rebounds. He blocked three shots to go along with one assist and one steal. Bridger Harlington (Jr., Wing, Lake Tapps, WA/Auburn Riverside HS) added 19 points for the Bearcats, while converting 5 of 8 field goals.

Kyle McNally (Sr., F, Salem, OR/Sprague HS) chipped in 11 points for the Bearcats. Nico Troplent (Fr., Wing, Los Angeles, CA/Cathedral HS) registered nine pints and five rebounds, while Brendon McCullough (Fr., G, San Antonio, TX/Home Schooled) achieved eight points and provided six assists.

Four players reached double figures for Whitworth, led by George Valle with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Taylor Farnsworth scored 16 points, earned seven boards and blocked two shots. Christian Jurlina and Kenny Love each tallied 12 points.

The Pirates scored the game's first six points and held a 15-4 lead after Farnsworth sank two free throws with 16:24 on the clock. Willamette rallied with eight straight points on layups by Luedtke, Troplent and McCullough, followed by two free throws from Dylan Critchfield (Fr., Post, Broomfield, CO/Standley Lake HS). Whitworth led by just a 15-12 margin with 14:08 to go in the half.

Love added a 3-pointer for Whitworth, but the Bearcats countered with a 3-pointer by Hayden Russell (So., G, Woodland, CA/Da Vinci HS) and a jumper by McCullough to get within 18-17 at the 12:01 mark. The Pirates never lost the lead, but held a slim 26-22 edge with 7:50 on the clock.

Whitworth pulled away over the next four minutes with a 14-2 run for a 40-24 lead. The offensive surge included seven points from Valle. Willamette cut the lead to nine points with a 7-0 run featuring a 3-pointer and a layup by Troplent, plus a jumper by Joseph Jackson (Sr., Wing, Hillsboro, OR/Hillsboro HS) with 2:11 on the clock.

At halftime, the Pirates owned a 45-35 lead. Love and Valley recorded layups for Whitworth early in the second half, but the Bearcats eventually pulled within 57-49 following a layup by Luedtke. A bit later, Willamette reduced the deficit to 58-51 when Luetke hit a pair of free throws with 13:22 left.

The Pirates regained a double-digit lead, which reached 13 points at 70-57 with 9:19 remaining. Willamette trailed 79-68 at the 5:37 mark, but the Bearcats went on a 5-0 run. McNally scored the first three points on a basket and a foul shot, while McCullough earned the final two points on a layup with 4:54 to go.

Whitworth's 7-2 run followed, as the Pirates claimed an 86-75 lead with 2:55 left. The Bearcats battled to within 89-83 on two free throws by Luedtke with 19 seconds remaining.

A turnover gave Willamette a chance to reduce the margin, but McNally missed a jumper with 11 seconds to go. Adam Wilks scored the game's final point for Whitworth by hitting a free throw with 10 seconds left.

Whitworth shot 50.8% from the field (31 of 61) and made 6 of 17 three-pointers (35.3%). Willamette connected on 45.5% of its field goals (25 of 55), while sinking 5 of 10 three-point attempts.

Both teams excelled at the free throw line. Willamette converted 28 of 36 free throws (77.8%), with Luedtke making 10 of 13 and Harlington hitting 7 of 10. The Pirates went 22 of 31 (71.0%) at the line.

The Bearcats will play at George Fox University in Newberg, Ore., on Friday, Feb. 6 at 8 p.m. (PST). One day later, the Bearcats will host the University of Puget Sound at Cone Field House with tipoff set for 6 p.m.