Frank Hits for 24 Points, Watts Makes Clinching 3-Point Play, in Win at La Verne

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

LA VERNE, Calif. -- Josiah Frank (So., G, Turlock, CA/John H. Pitman HS) scored a career-high 24 points and hit 8 of 14 field goals as Willamette University defeated the University of La Verne (Calif.), 86-81, on Wednesday, Nov. 23. Jonathan Watts (Sr., W, San Diego, CA/Rancho Bernardo HS) added 22 points, including a game-clinching traditional three-point play with 16.8 seconds left. Willamette advanced its record to 2-1 overall, while La Verne dropped to 1-3 on the season.

Frank's previous high was 15 points against West Coast Baptist College on Nov. 13, 2021. Against the Leopards on Wednesday, Frank was 4 for 5 on two-points shots and sank a game-high four 3-pointers on nine attempts. He grabbed four rebounds and supplied two assists. Watts was 6 for 11 from the field and 9 for 9 at the free throw line.

The Bearcats held a slim 81-79 lead before Watts took advantage of an isolation play from 30 feet and drove to the hoop. As he approached the basket, he shot a layup and was fouled. The basket was good, and Watts soon added the ensuing free throw for an 84-79 advantage. Tyler Matthews made a layup for La Verne with 12 seconds to go, and then the Leopards fouled Frank with nine seconds remaining. Frank put through both free throws for the 86-81 final score.

"We challenged our guys to embrace the grind of a close game and they delivered in the moments that mattered," Willamette Head Men's Basketball Coach Kip Ioane said. "Josiah and Jonathan obviously were great, but a big key to our success was that everyone who stepped in did their job."

Four WU players finished with double-figure scoring, as Jack Boydell (Sr., F, Sonoma, CA/Sonoma Valley HS) tacked on 12 points and Ryder Hsiung (So., G, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) added 11 points. Watts and Gavin Rippere (Jr., F, Vancouver, WA/Salinas HS/Clark College) topped the Bearcats with seven rebounds apiece. Meelad Doroodchi (Jr., F, Mooresville, NC/Pine Lake Preparatory) provided three assists.

La Verne's leading scorer in the game was Kyler Harvey with 23 points, as he hit 7 of 13 field goals and 8 of 10 free throws. Harvey also led all players with 13 rebounds. Tavares James scored 14 points for the Leopards, while John Malone II was credited with nine points, five boards, and three assists. Brian Adams earned eight points and seven rebounds. Matthews achieved a game-high four steals.

Willamette gained an edge in overall shooting for the game, 3-point shooting in the first half, and free throw shooting in the second half. The Bearcats used those shooting advantages to win even though the Leopards gained a 46-42 rebounding margin and made four more field goals.

The Bearcats finished 27 for 63 from the field (42.9%), while La Verne went 31 for 77 (40.3%). In the first half, WU connected on 7 of 15 three-pointers (46.7%) and held the Leopards to just 2 of 5 shooting (40.0%) from behind the arc. WU forced ULV into relatively early foul trouble in the second half and shot 11 more free throws than the Leopards. Willamette was 18 for 20 on free throws (90%) over the final 20 minutes, while La Verne went 8 for 9 (88.9%).

La Verne held a 55-48 lead after Harvey sank a pair of free throws with 15:12 to go. WU pulled within two points three times before a layup by Brandiin Ziegler with 11:17 left provided the Leopards with a 61-57 margin. The Bearcats tied the score on a 3-pointer from Frank at the 9:47 mark and claimed a 64-61 lead when Hsiung provided a 3-pointer with 8:43 remaining. Willamette kept the lead for the rest of the game and used a 12-2 run to grab a 79-68 advantage with 2:21 left. The run began with a jumper by Watts, continued with 8-for-8 free throw shooting by the Bearcats, and ended with a layup by Frank. Watts and Hsiung each went 4 for 4 at the line during the offensive surge.

The Leopards moved within five points at 81-76 on two free throws by James with 1:01 left, and a 3-pointer by Malone II at the 43-second mark reduced the margin to 81-79. Watts completed WU's next possession with his driving layup and foul shot to secure the win.

In the first half, the game was close, although the Bearcats held a 23-16 lead on a 3-pointer by Terry Sherman (So., F, Lake Charles, LA/St. Louis Catholic HS) with 9:25 on the clock. Later, ULV led 37-32 following a 3-point basket by Jonas Holt with 2:02 left. The Leopards were in front, 39-37, at halftime.

For the game, Willamette was 10 for 28 on 3-pointers (35.7%) and 22 for 26 at the line (84.6%). La Verne connected on 4 of 14 three-pointers (28.6) and was 15 for 19 on free throws (78.9%). Willamette will play at the University of Redlands (Calif.) on Friday, Nov. 25. Game time in Redlands, California, is set for 7 p.m. (PST).