Three Bearcats Score more than 20 Points, but Linfield Defeats Willamette

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Three Willamette University players contributed more than 20 points, but Linfield University shot 55.1% from the field and made 9 of 22 three-pointers, as the Wildcats defeated the Bearcats, 107-79, in a Northwest Conference men's basketball game on Friday, April 16 at Cone Field House. The Wildcats improved to 8-1 on the season, 6-1 in the NWC, while Willamette fell to 0-2 overall, 0-2 in the NWC.

Jack Boydell (So., F, Sonoma, CA/Sonoma Valley HS) led the Bearcats with 24 points on 11 of 22 shooting, including a pair of 3-point shots. Boydell also finished with eight rebounds, four assists, and a steal. Daniel Plumer (So., PG, North Las Vegas, NV/Democracy Preparatory Academy) added 22 points for Willamette to go along with three assists and one steal. Joshua Perez (So., W, Los Angeles, CA/John Marshall HS) contributed 21 points, while hitting 4 of 6 three-point shots.

Also for Willamette, Ryan Peterson (Sr., P, Edmonds, WA/Edmonds-Woodway HS) provided six rebounds and blocked two shots. Meelad Doroodchi (Fy., F, Mooresville, NC/Pine Lake Preparatory) registered six rebounds and a steal. DeMarco Reed (So., PG, San Antonio, TX/Harlan HS) earned five assists and a steal.

Dempsey Roggenbuck topped Linfield's scorers with 24 points on 6 of 8 shooting, 2 of 2 on 3-pointers, and 10 of 11 at the free throw line. Roggenbuck also supplied seven rebounds and three assists. Max Lommen produced 21 points, grabbed three rebounds, supplied four assists, and achieved three steals. Will Burghardt chipped in 11 points and six assists, while Matt Berger accumulated 10 points and six boards. Aaron Baune led the Wildcats with 10 rebounds.

Linfield made 38 of 69 field goals and went 22 for 29 at the free throw line. Willamette was 32 of 7 from the field (41.6%) and connected on just 6 of 24 three-point shots (25.0%). WU converted 9 of 14 free throws (64.3%). Linfield ended the game with a slim 43-42 rebounding margin. The Bearcats grabbed 14 offensive rebounds and 28 defensive boards.

The Wildcats surged out to a 12-2 lead. Lommen tallied five of the 12 points on a dunk and a 3-pointer. Willamette scored next on a traditional 3-point play by Plumer with 15:51 left in the half. Linfield countered with a 9-2 run that ended with a 3-pointer by Roggenbuck, giving the Wildcats a 21-7 advantage at the 12:29 mark.

A bit later, WU pulled within 23-12 on a 3-point basket by Perez, but Linfield tallied the next 11 points for a 34-12 lead with 8:00 to go in the half. The 11-0 run included 3-pointers by Burghardt, Kellen George, and Carson Bonine, plus a jumper from George. The Wildcats owned a 52-37 lead at halftime. Boydell of Willamette and Lomen of Linfield each scored 14 points in the first 20 minutes.

Linfield opened the second half with an 11-1 offensive outburst to increase the margin to 63-38 with 17:19 to play. Burghardt started the run with a 3-point basket, while Lommen and Berger each contributed a traditional three-point play.

Plumer of Willamette scored 15 of his 22 points in the second half, while Boydell supplied 10 points and Perez earned nine. For Linfield, Roggenbuck tallied 13 points in the second half, and Berger added eight points.

The Bearcats will play the Wildcats again on Saturday, April 17 in McMinnville, Oregon. Game time is set for 7 p.m. (PDT).