Bearcats Lose to Corban in Men's Basketball Exhibition Game

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University's Jack Boydell (Sr., F, Sonoma, CA/Sonoma Valley HS) earned 11 points, hit a trio of 3-point shots, and grabbed seven rebounds against crosstown rival Corban University in an exhibition game for the Bearcats on Monday, Oct. 31, but the Warriors won 88-43 at the Jeffers Sports Center. The game counted as the season opener for Corban, which ended the game with a 1-0 record.

Boydell's 11 points led the Bearcats, while Paul McSlarrow (Jr., W, Sandy, UT/The Waterford School), Ryder Hsiung (So., G, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School), and Mitch Lind (Fy., G, Midway, UT/Wasatch HS) each scored six points for Willamette. Joshua Perez (Sr., W, Los Angeles, CA/John Marshall HS) finished with five points. Hsiung was 2 of 4 on 3-pointers and blocked three shots on defense.

Corban achieved a slim 43-40 rebounding margin. For Willamette, Jonathan Watts (Sr., W, San Diego, CA/Rancho Bernardo HS) tied Boydell with a team-high seven boards. Three players -- Andrew Stafford, Collin Warmouth, and Jared Franklin -- topped Corban with five rebounds apiece.

Darius Henderson was the Warriors' scoring leader with 12 points. Stafford and Masie Mohammadi each registered 11 points, while Mateo Escheik produced 10 points and sank 5 of 6 field goals.

Taylor Anderson supplied Corban with six assists. Dirk Helaire II was credited with five steals. Stafford and Elijah Mitchell each contributed three steals.

Willamette took a 6-5 lead when Perez sank two free throws with 15:17 left in the first half. The Warriors answered with a 10-0 surge for a 15-6 advantage.

Corban's lead reached 20-8 when Franklin scored a basket at the 11:34 mark. WU pulled within 26-16 on a traditional three-point play by Watts with 6:58 on the clock, and cut the margin to 26-20 on a jumper by Lind with 6:09 left in the half. The Warriors tacked on the next five points and went on to claim a 38-25 edge at halftime. The Warriors gradually pulled away in the second half.

The Bearcats are scheduled to complete the exhibition part of their schedule on Saturday, Nov. 5 at Bushnell University in Eugene, Oregon. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. (PDT). Willamette will open the regular season at Cone Field House on Friday, Nov. 11 against Portland Bible College at 8 p.m. (PST).