Boydell Leads Bearcats with 26 Points in Loss to Wildcats

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

McMINNVILLE, Ore. -- Willamette University forward Jack Boydell (So., Sonoma, CA/Sonoma Valley HS) scored 26 points for his third consecutive game with at least 20, but Linfield University outscored the Bearcats, 97-73, on Saturday, April 17 at Ted Wilson Gym. Linfield upped its record to 9-1, while Willamette fell to 0-3.

Boydell hit 10 of 20 field goals and was 5 for 8 on 3-point shots. He also grabbed four rebounds. Daniel Plumer (So., PG, North Las Vegas, NV/Democracy Preparatory Academy) contributed 16 points, six boards, and one steal. Joshua Perez (So., W, Los Angeles, CA/John Marshall HS) also scored 16 points, while going 5 for 10 on field goals. DeMarco Reed (So., PG, San Antonio, TX/Harlan HS) led all players on both teams with seven assists and four steals.

Dempsy Roggenbuck of Linfield earned a game-high 32 points on 12 of 20 shooting. He made two 3-pointers, provided four assists, and went 6 for 7 at the free throw line. Max Lommen registered a double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds. Lommen also recorded five assists, two blocks, and a steal. He was 7 of 11 on field goals.

Aaron Baune provided the Wildcats with 15 points, nine boards, and four assists. Will Burghardt added 12 points, six assists, and two steals.

Willamette scored the game's first eight points on a 3-pointer by Boydell, a jump shot from Reed, and another 3-pointer by Boydell. The Bearcats held a 10-2 advantage after Boydell added a layup with 16:32 left in the half. WU led 13-5 following Boydell's third 3-pointer at the 16:08 mark.

Linfield cut the margin to 16-10 on a tip-in by Lommen with 13:48 on the clock. Boydell scored next for WU on a jump shot, but Linfield countered with a 7-0 run to pull within 18-17 with 11:18 remaining. Perez stopped the run by sinking a layup 23 seconds later. The Wildcats eventually took a 22-21 lead on a layup by Roggenbuck with 9:37 to go.

A free throw from Meelad Doroodchi (Fy., F, Mooresville, NC/Pine Lake Preparatory) tied the score at 22-22 before Linfield tallied nine unanswered points for a 31-22 lead. The run by Linfield started with a tip-in by Baune and also included a 3-pointer from Lommen, and two jumpers by Burghardt.

WU reduced the margin 31-27 when Boydell hit a jumper at the 5:55 mark. The Wildcats countered with an 8-1 run to hold a 39-28 advantage with just under four minutes left in the opening half. Linfield was in front 46-34 at the break.

The Wildcats started the second half with an 8-2 run, ending with a 3-pointer by Roggenbuck, as they increased their advantage to 54-36 with 18:43 remaining. WU pulled within 58-44 on a 3-pointer from Boydell with 16:32 to play, and eventually moved as close as 61-48 on another 3-pointer by Boydell at the 14:54 mark. The Wildcats scored the next seven points to lead 68-48 with 13:58 to go.

Willamette will close out the season on Saturday, April 24 with a game against George Fox University. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. (PDT) at Cone Field House in Salem, Oregon.