Frank Scores 23 Points, Dean Grabs 8 Boards, as WU Downs Pioneers, 77-66

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Josiah Frank (Jr., G, Turlock, CA/John H. Pitman HS) of Willamette University registered 23 points for his fifth 20-point effort in the past eight games, leading the Bearcats to a 77-66 win over Lewis & Clark College on Monday, Jan. 22. The Northwest Conference victory at the Pamplin Sports Center improved Willamette to 10-6 on the season, 5-3 in the NWC. The Pioneers dropped to 5-12 overall, 1-7 in the NWC.

"I'm proud of the team for finishing the first half of conference play with a winning record," Willamette Head Men's Basketball Coach Michael Lenahan said. "We've had different guys step up every game and tonight was no different. We are looking forward to a weekend at home against the first and second place teams in our conference in Whitman (6-2) on Friday and Whitworth (8-0) on Saturday. We hope fans can come support us and the women's team this weekend."

Frank was 10 of 16 from the field and hit 3 of 6 three-point shots. He is the Bearcats' top scorer this season with 16.4 points per game and leads Willamette with 38 three-point baskets.

Jack Boydell (Grad., W, Sonoma, CA/Sonoma Valley HS) added 14 points and Ryder Hsiung (Jr., G, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) scored 12 points against the Pioneers, as both players contributed two 3-pointers.

Boydell moved into a tie for second place all-time at WU with 172 career 3-point baskets. He is tied with Mike Hayter (1993-97).  Boydell is three 3-pointers away from tying Paul Scott (1988-92) for the Willamette career record of 175 three-point baskets. Boydell has scored 1,305 career points.

Also at L&C, D'Ante Dean (Jr., F, Nassau, Bahamas/British Columbia Christian Acad./Peninsula College) provided WU with 10 points and led the Bearcats with nine rebounds. Boydell and Kahiau Bruhn (So., W, Waimanalo, HI/Kamehameha Schools-Kapalama) each hauled down five boards, while Caleb Moore (So., G, Wadley, GA/Washington County HS/Bard College) registered four assists and two steals.

Top scorers for the Pioneers were Kody Uyesugi with 15 points, Griffin Datcher IV with 11 points, Isaac Ticeson with 10. Uyesugi was 3 of 6 on 3-point shots, while Datcher led all players with 13 rebounds. Sam Henderson tacked on nine points and Nate Berg was credited with eight rebounds.

Willamette led throughout the second half, but there were two ties and four lead changes in the first half. In the early minutes, L&C held a 4-2 lead and Willamette gained a 7-4 advantage on a 3-pointer by Boydell with 15:00 on the clock. The Pioneers tallied the next four points on a layup by Sebastian DePrez and a jumper by Berg to move in front 8-7. The Bearcats answered with four points of their own for an 11-8 lead.

TJ Muhammad hit 1 of 2 free throws 14 seconds later to cut the margin two points with 10:45 on the clock. Willamette put together a 10-3 run as the margin increased to 20-12 following a layup by Dean. The teams mostly exchanged baskets for the remainder of the half, but L&C moved within 33-28 with 1:35 left on a 3-pointer by Mikey Medlock Jr. The Bearcats went into the break with a 35-29 lead.

A 3-pointer by Hsiung and two free throws by Boydell gave the Bearcats a 40-29 advantage less than two minutes into the second half. Henderson scored next for the Pioneers, but Willamette countered with a 7-0 run to take a 47-31 lead with 14:25 to go. The run started with Boydell providing a layup and a 3-pointer and ended with a layup by Dean. The surge put WU in control, and the Bearcats remained in front by double digits until just over two minutes remained.

The Pioneers cut the lead to 67-59 with 2:19 to play when Berg sank a 3-point basket. Dean scored for the Bearcats on an offensive rebound and a layup at the 1:07 mark. Ticeson added a layup for L&C several seconds later, but Willamette sank 8 of 8 free throws in the final minute.

Willamette will host Whitman College at Cone Field House on Friday, Jan. 26. Game time is scheduled for 8 p.m. PST.