Bearcats Fall Short in Defensive Battle with North Central

Salem, Ore. - After scoring over 100 points in their first two games of the season, Men's Basketball was held to less than half their average in a 69-50 loss to the Cardinals of North Central College.  Josiah Frank (15) and Caleb Moore (10) were the lone players in double-figures for the Bearcats.  

North Central scored the opening basket of the game but a Josiah Frank tied it up moments later.  Another Frank basket tied the game at four and a Kahiau Bruhn layup put Willamette up 6-4 for what ended up being their only lead of the contest.  The Cardinals went on a 12-0 run over the next six minutes that was eventually broken up by a Caleb Moore made free throw.

Willamette cut the first-half lead to five on a three-pointer by Darrin Lum and eventually went into the halftime break trailing by six, 30-24.

The teams exchanged baskets for the first few minutes of the second half and a layup by Moore off the assist from Frank made the score 34-30 in favor of North Central.  A 14-3 run put the Cardinals up fifteen when a Gavin Weisweaver triple pulled the Bearcats within twelve at 48-36, the closest Willamette would get for the remainder of the game.  Free throws by Anujan Tennathur and several layups by Moore kept the game within reach, but the North Central defense proved too tough down the stretch for any Bearcat comeback.

The Cardinals outrebounded the Bearcats 43-35 on the afternoon.  Moore led Willamette with six boards, followed by Kahiau Bruhn and Ryder Hsiung each with five.  Six different players had one assist to tie for the team lead in that category.

After starting the year with three home games, the team will travel to Southern California for their next three contests, playing Whittier College on November 22nd, Chapman University on November 23rd, and Caltech on November 25th.