Concordia Pulls Away in Final 10 Minutes to Win Exhibition over Bearcats, 84-63

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Jarrett Gray scored a game-high 21 points and 10 rebounds to lead Concordia University (Ore.) to an 84-63 win over Willamette University in an exhibition game at Cone Field House on Tuesday, Nov. 7. Cody Starr added 18 points and eight assists for the Cavaliers, while Christopher Edward scored 16 points and hauled down 8 rebounds.

The game was played to raise funds for the American Red Cross Oregon Wildfire Fund.

Willamette placed four players in double figures, led by Dylan Critchfield (Sr., P, Broomfield, CO/Standley Lake HS), who battled foul trouble to score 13 points on 6 of 8 shooting. Brendon McCullough (Sr., G, San Antonio, TX/Home Schooled) provided the Bearcats with 11 points. Trent Callan (Jr., G, Portland, OR/Lincoln HS) and Jameson Willems (So., F, Billings, MT/Skyview HS) scored 10 points apiece.

Jordan Jenkins (So., F, Placentia, CA/Valencia HS) tallied seven points for Willamette and led the Bearcats with nine rebounds. The Bearcats trailed 37-30 at halftime and pulled within two points twice in the first three minutes of the second half.

A jumper from McCullough and a 3-pointer by Jenkins allowed Willamette to pull within 37-35 with 19:19 remaining in the game. After Starr added a jumper for the Cavaliers, Callan recorded a steal and a layup to get WU back within two points at 39-37. The next eight points were scored by Concordia for a 47-37 lead with 15:22 on the clock, but Willamette reduced the margin to 53-50 on a jumper by McCullough with 10:47 left. The Cavaliers led by just five points after Taylor Harris hit a jumper for CU with 10:35 to go. Concordia outscored the Bearcats 29-13 in the final 10 minutes.

CU shot 47.0% for the game (31 of 66), including 55.2% (16 of 29) in the second half, while Willamette shot 35.5% from the field (22 of 62). The Bearcats were just 9 of 31 (29.0%) on field goals in the second half. Concordia finished the game a 44-37 rebounding edge.

From 3-point range, Concordia connected on just 4 of 16 shots (25.0%). Willamette hit 7 of 23 three-pointers (30.4%). The Cavaliers went 18 for 25 at the free throw line (72.0%). The Bearcats sank 12 of 16 free throws (75.0%).

The Cavaliers built a 12-7 lead in the first 4:10 of the game, including eight points by Starr. Willamette eventually cut the margin to a single point at 20-19 on a 3-pointer by Caleb Roberts (Jr., W, Salem, OR/North HS) with 7:57 remaining in the half. Concordia responded with a 9-0 run which ended with a 3-pointer from Gray for a 29-19 advantage at the 5:19 mark. The Cavaliers held a 37-26 lead following a jumper by Gray with 1:52 on the clock, but WU ended the half with a jumper by Critchfield and a layup by McCullough.

Willamette will take on Portland State University in an exhibition game on Tuesday, Nov. 14 at Lewis & Clark College. Game time in Portland, Oregon, is scheduled for 8 p.m. (PST).