Willamette Leads at Halftime, but Lutes Hit 12 Threes in 2nd Half for 90-75 Win

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

TACOMA, Wash. -- Willamette University built a 37-31 halftime lead, but Pacific Lutheran University connected on 12 of 19 three-points shots (63.2%) in the second half, as the Lutes stormed back to defeat the Bearcats, 90-75, on Saturday, Feb. 15. Even with PLU's exceptional outside shooting in the second half, the Bearcats led 48-40 with 16:58 remaining, and the teams were tied at 55-55 with 12:38 to go. PLU closed the game with a 35-20 run to improve to 12-11 on the season, 8-6 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette fell to 1-22 overall, 0-14 in the NWC.

The Lutes made 4 of 12 three-pointers in the first half (33.3%), but exploded from 3-point range in the second half. For the game, PLU was 16 of 31 (51.6%) on 3-points shots, which helped the Lutes shoot 55.6% overall (30 of 54).

Jack Boydell (Fy., F, Sonoma, CA/Sonoma Valley HS) scored 25 points for the Bearcats by converting 9 of 16 field goals. It was his second game with more than 20 points this season. Boydell scored a career-high 32 points versus Pacific University on Jan. 24.

Daniel Plumer (Fy., PG, North Las Vegas, NV/Democracy Preparatory Academy) tacked on a double-double for the Bearcats against the Lutes on Saturday. He scored 16 points and secured 10 rebounds. He also earned three assists. Also reaching double figures in scoring for Willamette were Cade Whicker (Fy., F, Fruit Heights, UT/Davis HS) with 11 points and Justus Eaglesmith (Jr., G, Sparks NV/Spanish Springs HS) with 10 points. Whicker was credited with six rebounds. DeMarco Reed (Fy., PG, San Antonio, TX/Harlan HS) put together a strong night with nine points and four rebounds, plus team highs with five steals and five assists.

For Pacific Lutheran, Seth Hall led the way with 26 points on 9-of-14 shooting. He made 5 of 9 three-point attempts. Conor Geiger scored 16 points, grabbed a team-high seven rebounds and registered four assists. Jacob Bingham produced 15 points and five boards, while going 5 for 6 from the field -- all from behind the 3-point arc. Leighton Kingma contributed 12 points. Kelton Williams supplied five steals and five assists.

The teams were tied at 8-8 with 15:17 left in the first half before Willamette scored five unanswered points on a 3-pointer by Plumer and a layup from Ben Sutton (Jr., F, Seattle, WA/Ingraham HS). Willamette never trailed again during the half, although the Lutes forced a tie at 21-21 on a layup by Geiger with 9:20 on the clock. Ater Geiger's basket, the Bearcats went on a 12-2 run for a 33-23 lead at the 3:53 mark. The offensive surge began with eight unanswered points on a jumper by Reed, a 3-pointer by Eaglesmith and a 3-pointer by Whicker. WU eventually led 37-26 following a pair of free throws by Boydell with 1:41 to play. PLU scored the final five points of the half.

Pacific Lutheran pulled within 41-37 early in the second half, and the Lutes were within three points at 49-46 on a jumper by Hall with 14:59 remaining. Hall tacked on a 3-pointer 39 seconds later to tied the game, 49-49. The Lutes led 52-49 after two free throws by Kingma with 14:02 on the clock, but the Bearcats answered with a 6-1 run to take a 55-52 lead with 12:57 left.

Hall created the sixth tie of the game when he scored next on a 3-point basket. Geiger added two free throws with 12:13 to go, as PLU moved in front, 57-55. The Lutes expanded their lead to 62-55 on a 3-pointer by Kingma just over a minute later, but Willamette pulled within 62-60 on a layup from Boydell at the 9:48 mark. Pacific Lutheran scored 13 of the next 18 points to secure a double-digit lead at 75-65 with 5:25 left in the game.

Whicker sank a 3-pointer for the Bearcats on their next possession to reduce the margin to seven points. Blake Uyehara responded with a 3-pointer for the Lutes to start a 13-2 run that prevented Willamette from mounting a rally.

The Bearcats shot 42.2% (27 of 64) from the field during the game, while hitting 8 of 23 three-point attempts (34.8%). WU sank 13 of 17 free throws (76.5%). PLU outrebounded the Bearcats, 37-32, but committed 21 turnovers -- four more than Willamette. The Bearcats recorded a 30-22 advantage on points in the paint.

Willamette will play at the University of Puget sound on Friday, Feb. 21. Game time is set for 8 p.m. (PDT). The Bearcats will host Pacific University on Saturday, Feb. 12 during Willamette's Senior Night, with tipoff scheduled for 6 p.m.