Brown Leads Four Bearcats in Double Figures in Win Over Chapman, 77-71

Orange, Calif. - Kai Brown came off the bench to score 16 points and lead four Bearcats in double figures as the team downed previously unbeaten Chapman by a score of 77-71.  It was the second win for Willamette on their current road trip that finishes Monday at Caltech.

The teams traded baskets throughout the opening minutes until a Josiah Frank three-pointer and layup by Brown put the Bearcats up 15-10 with 14:32 to go in the half.  The Bearcats would go cold after that, only getting a layup by Caleb Moore, and the host Panthers took the lead back at 18-17 midway through the half.

The score stayed that way for several minutes before another layup by Brown off an assist by Brandin Dantzler and a three-pointer by Ryder Hsiung gave Willamette a lead of 22-18.  Chapman came back to tie the game at twenty-six and take a 29-27 lead before two free throws by Moore sent the teams to halftime deadlocked at twenty-nine.

After Willamette got the opening basket of the second half, the home team went on an 11-2 run to take a 40-33 lead just five minutes into the half.  A quick layup by Brown, another by Anujan Tennathur, and a couple more by Kahiau Bruhn helped keep the Bearcats close, but the Panthers were able to extend their lead back out to seven at 48-41 with ten minutes left to play.

A three-pointer and free throw by Frank and another layup by Bruhn cut the lead to one, then a three-point play by Deacon Perry and two Brown foul shots after a Chapman three found the teams tied 52-52.  Perry scored six of the next eight points for the Bearcats to give Willamette its first lead since the opening half and a layup by Brown put the Bearcats up 62-56 at the 4:50 mark.

The host Panthers got no closer than three points for the rest of the game as Willamette used a combination of timely rebounding, well-executed offense, and clutch foul shooting to take the game by the final of 77-71.

Bruhn (13), Frank (12), and Moore (10) joined Brown in double figures for Willamette. Perry added nine points off the bench, all during a four-minute stretch in the final ten minutes of the game.  Moore led the Bearcats in rebounds with seven, followed by Perry with five.  Frank dished out four assists to lead the team.

Men's Basketball will wrap up their three-game road trip when they face Caltech on Monday, November 25th, at 5:00 pm.