Redlands Limits Willamette's Offense as Bulldogs Win in California

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

REDLANDS, Calif. -- The Willamette University men's basketball team averaged 83.7 points in its first three games of the season, but the defense at the University of Redlands held the Bearcats to fewer than 60 points on Friday, Nov. 25, as the Bulldogs won the non-conference game 110-58. Redlands advanced its record to 3-1 overall. Willamette slipped to 2-2 on the season.

Terry Sherman (So., F, Lake Charles, LA/St. Louis Catholic HS) topped Willamette with nine points, while Jack Boydell (Sr., F, Sonoma, CA/Sonoma Valley HS) and Joshua Perez (Sr., W, Los Angeles, CA/John Marshall HS) contributed eight points each. Josiah Frank (So., G, Turlock, CA/John H. Pitman HS) added seven points. Jonathan Watts (Sr., W, San Diego, CA/Rancho Bernardo HS) provided six rebounds, while Boydell and Paul McSlarrow (Jr., W, Sandy, UT/The Waterford School) both hauled down four boards. Boydell also blocked two shots and Frank distributed four assists.

Leading scorers for the Bulldogs were Robert Power with 14 points and Nathaniel Johnson with 11 points to go along with a game-high 10 rebounds. Neil Owens and Lucas Gordon each chipped in 10 points for Redlands. Nathan Anderson registered three blocked shots and Kylie Armstead led all players with five steals.

Redlands zoomed out to an 11-2 lead with 16:07 left in the first half. Johnson scored four of the Bulldogs' early points. The Bearcats answered with a layup by Gavin Rippere (Jr., F, Vancouver, WA/Salinas HS/Clark College) that started an 8-5 run, as Willamette pulled within 16-10 at the 12:19 mark. Sherman completed the run with a 3-point basket. A bit later, Sherman added another 3-pointer to cut the margin to 19-13. The Bulldogs extended their lead by scoring 17 consecutive points for a 36-13 advantage with 7:47 to go in the half.

Boydell stopped the Redlands run with a 3-pointer for WU 21 seconds later, but the Bulldogs continued to pull away. Redlands was in front 56-29 at halftime.

For the game, Willamette was limited to 27.1% shooting by the Bulldogs, as the Bearcats hit 19 of 70 field goals. WU shot 24.3% from 3-point range (9 for 37) and sank 11 of 17 free throws (64.7%). Redlands connected on 46.4% of its field goal attempts (39 of 84), while converting 12 of 23 three-point attempts for 52.2%. The Bulldogs were 20 of 34 at the free throw line (58.8%).

Redlands excelled on the boards, recording a 65-31 margin that included 25 offensive rebounds. Willamette committed 24 turnovers, while UR lost the ball 15 times. The Bulldogs scored 33 points off turnovers and finished with 18 second-chance points.

Willamette will play at Whittier College on Saturday, Nov. 26. Game time in Whittier, California, is set for 2 p.m. (PST).