Pacific Pulls Away in Final 15 Minutes of High-Scoring Game against Bearcats

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Jack Boydell (Sr., F, Sonoma, CA/Sonoma Valley HS) continued his strong play for Willamette University as he scored 24 points against Pacific University on Saturday, Jan. 14, but the Boxers pulled away in the final 15 minutes to defeat the Bearcats, 106-84, at Cone Field House. Boydell also earned four rebounds, five assists, and a steal. Jacob Bolger led Pacific with 21 points and nine rebounds.

Pacific was in front 65-61 with 14:48 left in the second half, but scored the next nine points to begin a 41-23 run to end the game. The Boxers advanced their record to 9-6 overall, including 4-2 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette moved to 5-9 on the season, 1-5 in the NWC.

Boydell has now scored at least 17 points in 10 consecutive games. He leads the NWC with 21.6 points per game. He has scored in double figures in 13 of 14 games this year.

Joining Boydell in double figures against the Boxers were Josiah Frank (So., G, Turlock, CA/John H. Pitman HS) with 15 points and Ryder Hsiung (So., G, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) with 14 points. Boydell hit three 3-point shots, while Frank, Hsiung, and Meelad Doroodchi (Jr., F, Mooresville, NC/Pine Lake Preparatory) each sank two trifectas. Doroodchi and Mitch Lind (Fy., G, Midway, UT/Wasatch HS) each scored eight points. Gavin Rippere (Jr., F, Vancouver, WA/Salinas HS/Clark College) grabbed seven rebounds.

For Pacific, Bolger was one of five players with double-digit scoring. Truman Young tallied 19 points, while Jared Cattell provided 15 and Ethan Chung earned 14. Lucas Winkler supplied the Boxers with 13 points, while leading all players with 13 rebounds and 11 assists to complete a triple-double. Winkler also registered three steals and one blocked shot.

Early in the NWC battle, Doroodchi pulled WU within 4-3 on the game's first 3-point basket. The teams combined for 23 three-pointers overall, as Pacific went 13 for 27 (48.1%) and Willamette was 10 for 26 (38.5%).

After Doroodchi's basket, the Boxers earned the next four points for an 8-3 lead, but Willamette moved in front 10-8 on a 3-pointer by Hsiung with 15:01 remaining. The lead swung back to Pacific at 12-10 just 22 seconds later, as Isaiah Africano and Winkler each made two free throws.

The score remained close for most of the first half, with each team holding no more than a four-point lead until a jumper by Bolger gave the Boxers a 37-32 edge at the 5:05 mark. Lind scored next for Willamette, but Pacific answered with an 11-4 run to grab a 48-38 lead with 3:08 on the clock.

WU responded with a 10-2 run, as the Bearcats reduced the margin to 50-48 at halftime. The closing run by the Bearcats began with a 3-pointer by Levi Basurto (Fy., W, Lahaina, HI/Maui Preparatory Academy) that was followed by a jumper from Africano of Pacific. The run ended with seven points in a row by Boydell, giving him 21 points during the half.

Eight of the first 10 points of the second half were scored by Pacific for a 58-50 advantage. Later, the Boxers claimed a 65-55 edge on a 3-point basket from Winkler. Willamette recorded the next three baskets, including two by Lind, to pull within 65-61.

Pacific's key 9-0 surge and game-ending run followed, starting with a jumper by Winkler with 14:35 on the clock. The lead reached 74-61 for the Boxers when Truman Young put through a layup with 13:02 to go. The teams then exchanged the next eight baskets, but the Bearcats were unable to get closer than 11 points. A bit later, Pacific used a 6-0 run to take a 90-71 lead with 8:09 remaining.

The Bearcats shot 50.0% (31 of 62) during the game, while Pacific finished at 50.7% (38 of 75). The Boxers were 17 for 21 at the free throw line (81.0%). Willamette sank 12 of 16 free throws (75.0%). Pacific achieved a 44-28 rebounding edge, including an 18-7 margin in offensive boards.

Willamette will host Whitworth University on Friday, Jan. 20. Game time at Cone Field House is set for 8 p.m. (PST).