Watts Scores 26 Points as Bearcats Outscore Columbia Bible, 98-86, in Canada

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

ABBOTSFORD, B.C., Canada -- Jonathan Watts (Sr., W, San Diego, CA/Rancho Bernardo HS) scored a game-high 26 points and Jack Boydell  (Sr., F, Sonoma, CA/Sonoma Valley HS) added 23 points to lead Willamette University to a 98-86 victory over Columbia Bible College on Friday, Oct. 14, in the first game of the Bearcats' international exhibition tour in Canada. The game was played in quarters, with the Bearcats in front 24-16 at the end of the first quarter before taking a 47-40 halftime lead. Willamette was in front, 67-56, after three quarters.

The nickname for Columbia Bible College also is Bearcats. Willamette will conclude its tour with a game against Langara College in Vancouver, B.C., Canada on Saturday, Oct. 15 at 1 p.m. (PDT).

Watts hit 9 of 14 field goals and made three shots from 3-point range. He converted 5 of 7 free throws. In addition, he grabbed 10 rebounds, earned three assists, and was credited with one steal. Boydell sank 9 of 15 field goals and chipped in with two 3-pointers. He led all players with 11 rebounds to go with two assists and one steal.

Also scoring in double figures for the WU Bearcats were Paul McSlarrow (Jr., W, Sandy, UT/The Waterford School) with 14 points and Ryder Hsiung (So., G, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) with 13 points. Mitch Lind (Fy., G, Midway, UT/Wasatch HS) tallied nine points, grabbed six rebounds, and had two steals. Meelad Doroodchi (Jr., F, Mooresville, NC/Pine Lake Preparatory) matched Lind with six boards and also blocked one shot.

Vincent Ubaldo paced Columbia Bible College with 21 points on 8-of-15 shooting and 5 for 8 at the free throw line. Ubaldo registered a game-high eight steals. Jonathan Dillon scored 14 points, Edrielle Asirit tallied 12 points, and Varshan Sri contributed 14 points. Keegan Schuurman led the CBC Bearcats with eight boards, while Dillon provided six rebounds and Ubaldo supplied five.

Willamette shot 46.7% from the field (35 of 75) and made eight 3-point shots. The WU Bearcats went 20 for 32 at the free throw line (62.5%). Columbia Bible shot 40.5% for the game (32 of 79) and made only three 3-pointers on 24 attempts (12.5%). The CBC Bearcats connected on 19 of 27 free throws (70.4%).

CBC pulled within eight points in the closing minutes, but the Bearcats finished the game strong for the 12-point win. A total of 15 Willamette players saw action during the contest, while 10 players entered the game for Columbia Bible.