Bearcats Build Lead in First Half, Defeat Douglas College (Canada), 89-60

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University opened the game with a 17-0 run, shot 51.3% from the field in the first half, and went on to defeat visiting Douglas College (Canada) 89-60 at Cone Field House on Saturday, Dec. 9. Willamette hit five 3-point shots in the first half and led 53-19 at halftime. Jack Boydell (Grad., W, Sonoma, CA/Sonoma Valley HS) scored a game-high 19 points for the Bearcats, while grabbing nine rebounds.

Boydell leads Willamette this season with 16.3 points per game. He has scored 1,184 career points in 84 games played. After sinking two 3-pointers against the Regals on Saturday, he has connected on 150 three-point shots in his career.

Willamette accumulated 24 steals during the game to set a school record, breaking the previous high of 21 steals against Portland Bible College on Nov. 12, 2021. WU caused the Regals to commit 29 turnovers on Saturday.

The Bearcats advanced their record to 4-4. The game did not count for Douglas. Willamette was the fifth opponent for the Regals in a nine-game exhibition schedule on the road against seven NCAA and two junior college opponents from Nov. 25 to Dec. 30. Douglas is in New Westminster, British Columbia, about 12 miles southeast of Vancouver, B.C.

Joining Boydell in double figures against the Regals were Josiah Frank (Jr., G, Turlock, CA/John H. Pitman HS) with 14 points, and Ryder Hsiung (Jr., G, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School), who tallied 10 points and four steals. Caleb Moore (So., G, Wadley, GA/Washington County HS/Bard College) and Gavin Weisweaver (Jr., G, Boise, ID/Vallivue HS/Treasure Valley CC) each produced nine points.

Moore also contributed five assists and six steals. It was the 13th time a WU player registered six steals in a game to share fifth place all-time. Boydell previously earned six steals against the University of Chicago on Nov. 20, 2021. Willamette's school record for steals in a game is eight by Ross Sovde against Pacific Lutheran University on Jan. 12, 1990.

Also for the Bearcats on Saturday against Douglas, D'Ante Dean (Jr., F, Nassau, Bahamas/British Columbia Christian Acad./Peninsula College) hauled down 10 rebounds. Will Hurst (Fy., G, Washington, D.C./Episcopal HS) supplied six points, seven rebounds, and three steals. 

Lorenzo Bonamin provided the Regals with 18 points and 10 rebounds. He was 8 for 12 from the field. Andre Verchez scored 11 points to go with five rebounds and three steals. Jeevan Sidhu and Gurek Sran both scored eight points.

Willamette's 17-0 surge to open the game included seven points by Boydell and six points by Moore. WU led 9-0 just 2:20 into the game and concluded the big run with 15:06 on the clock. Douglas pulled within 20-8 on a basket by Sran with 12:42 remaining in the half. The Bearcats regained a 17-point lead at 27-10 on a 3-pointer by Weisweaver with 9:38 to play. WU's lead reached 31-10 when Kahiau Bruhn (So., W, Waimanalo, HI/Kamehameha Schools-Kapalama) provided an offensive rebound and layup at the 6:58 mark.

The Bearcats continued to gradually increase their lead. WU reached the 53-19 halftime margin for its largest lead of the half after Dylan Green (Jr., F, Lakewood, CO/Green Mountain HS) scored on a put-back with one second left. At halftime, Boydell had 12 points and six rebounds. The Bearcats hit 20 of 39 shots in the first half, while sinking 5 of 14 three-point attempts. Douglas shot just 25.0% in the first half (7 of 28), while making only 1 of 7 three-point tries.

A 13-10 run by Willamette to start the second half increased the lead to 66-29 following a 3-pointer by Hsiung with 15:40 left in the game. The Bearcats were up 70-40 at the midway point of the second half and led by at least 23 points during the remainder of the game.

WU shot 43.8% for the game (32 of 73) and finished 8 for 30 on 3-pointers (26.7%). The Bearcats hit 17 of 24 free throws for 70.8%. The Regals improved to 51.9% shooting in the second half (14 of 27) to end the game at 38.2% overall (21 of 55). The Bearcats gained a 46-38 rebounding margin. A total of 15 players saw action for Willamette.

The Bearcats will play their next game on Tuesday, Dec. 19 at Cone Field House against Misericordia University (Pa.). Game time is set for 2 p.m. PST.