Willamette Edges GFU 78-77 on Free Throw by Bruhn with 0.3 Seconds Left

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University sophomore wing Kahiau Bruhn (Waimanalo, HI/Kamehameha Schools-Kapalama) hit the first of two free throws with 0.3 seconds on the clock to provide the Bearcats with a 78-77 victory over George Fox University on Saturday, Jan. 20 at Cone Field House. Bruhn grabbed a defensive rebound and was fouled by Momo Stokes of GFU just before the final buzzer sounded. After sinking the first free throw, Bruhn missed the second attempt off the right side of the rim. The Bruins didn't have time to create a shot.

Bruhn's last-second heroics completed a comeback by the Bearcats from a 77-70 deficit after Samuel Stewart IV sank two free throws for the Bruins with 4:51 remaining. WU reduced the margin to 77-72 on a layup by Caleb Moore (So., G, Wadley, GA/Washington County HS/Bard College) at the 3:33 mark. The Bearcats moved within 77-75 when Ryder Hsiung (Jr., G, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) hit his fifth 3-pointer of the game with 2:43 to play. Willamette went on to tie the score after D'Ante Dean (Jr., F, Nassau, Bahamas/British Columbia Christian Acad./Peninsula College) sank both ends of a 1-and-1 free throw with 1:18 on the clock.

Neither team scored again until Bruhn's game-winning free throw. In between, James Moore  of George Fox missed a 3-point shot with 56 seconds left, Hsiung had a driving layup roll out with 28 seconds to go, and Austin Clark of the Bruins missed on a 3-pointer that led to the last-second rebound by Bruhn.

The win upped Willamette's record to 9-6 overall, including 4-3 in the NWC. George Fox fell to 12-5 on the season and to 5-3 in the NWC.

Hsiung led all players in scoring as he recorded 25 points for the Bearcats. He was 8 for 15 from the field, grabbed seven rebounds, earned three steals, and blocked two shots.

Bruhn tallied 10 points to go along with seven rebounds. Caleb Moore and Josiah Frank (Jr., G, Turlock, CA/John H. Pitman HS) each scored nine points, while Dean and Jack Boydell (Grad., W, Sonoma, CA/Sonoma Valley HS) each achieved eight points. WU held a 47-40 rebounding margin, as Hsiung and Bruhn were matched by Boydell and Gavin Rippere (Sr., F, Salinas, CA/Salinas HS/Clark College) with seven boards apiece.

James Moore topped the Bruins with 18 points, including five 3-point baskets. Moore and Stewart IV tied for the GFU lead with eight rebounds. Stokes accumulated 15 points and three boards, while Stewart IV scored 14 points. Clark grabbed five rebounds for GFU.

The first half featured seven ties and six lead changes. Many of the ties and lead changes were early in the half. Even so, WU owned a 17-13 lead on a layup by Hsiung with 12:08 left. The Bearcats also led by four points, 21-17, following a driving layup by Dean at the 9:01 mark.

Later, Willamette grabbed a 28-22 margin on two free throws by Bruhn with 4:38 to go. The Bruins eventually took a 35-34 lead on a dunk by Aiden Price as the clock reached 1:56, but the Bearcats ended the half with a 6-0 run for a 40-35 halftime advantage.

WU increased its lead to 48-38 on a steal and fast-break layup by Caleb Moore with just over 19 minutes left. George Fox earned the next six points, but the Bearcats led 52-44 after a layup by Dean with 16:00 remaining. Eventually, Willamette claimed a 65-52 lead on a 3-pointer by Boydell at the 11:50 mark. The teams each added two points and then GFU went on a 23-3 run to move in front 77-70 with less than five minutes to play. James Moore and Stokes each scored six points during the run.

As the one-point margin would indicate, the field goal shooting statistics were close. Willamette connected on 26 of 39 field goals (37.7%), while GFU went 21 of 58 (36.2%). The Bearcats outscored the Bruins 32-22 in the paint.

On 3-pointers, the Bearcats were 8 of 24 (33.3%) and the Bruins were 9 of 21 (42.9%). WU sank 18 of 24 free throws (75.0%) and George Fox was 26 for 30 at the line (86.7%).

Willamette is set to play at Lewis & Clark College on Monday, Jan. 22 in a game that was postponed on Friday, Jan. 19 due to the weather. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. PST.