Bearcats Pull Away from West Coast Baptist, 87-62

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

REDLANDS, CALIF. -- Cameron Mitchell (Sr., Post, Portland, OR/Grant HS/U. of Redlands) played an exceptional game, scoring 27 points and grabbing 23 rebounds to lead Willamette University to an 87-62 victory over West Coast Baptist College on Saturday, Dec. 5 on the final day of the Lee Fulmer Tournament. Willamette, which led 54-50 with 15:39 remaining, pulled away to rout the Eagles.

The Bearcats closed the game with a 33-12 run. Willamette improved to 2-5 on the season. West Coast Baptist fell to 2-7.

Mitchell's 23 rebounds tied for the third highest single game total in Willamette history. Mitchell also tied the record last season when he grabbed 23 rebounds in an overtime loss at Whitman College.

Mitchell was joined in double figures by Terrell Malley (Fr., G, Portland, OR/Roosevelt HS), Robbie Kunke (Jr., Wing, Clackamas, OR/Clackamas HS) and Taylor Mounts (So., Post, Kailua, HI/Iolani School). Malley scored 15 points, Kunke tallied 11 points and Mounts contributed 10 points

Mounts also hauled down 14 rebounds to join Mitchell with a double-double. Marcus Holmes (Jr., G, Seattle, WA/Garfield HS) provided the Bearcats with seven assists.

WCBC was paced by Danny Galdamez, who scored 17 points. Creed Miller added 12 points and Cody Mainous tacked on 11.

The Bearcats led by as many as eight points and the Eagles led by as many as six during a first half that featured seven ties and 10 lead changes. WU was in front 29-21 following a layup by Mounts at the 10:36 mark. West Coast Baptist countered with a 14-0 run that gave the Eagles a 35-29 advantage with 6:07 remaining in the half.

Willamette eventually tied the score at 37-37 on another layup by Mounts. T.J. Tibbs scored the next basket for the Eagles, but the Bearcats tallied the final seven points of the half, with Malley supplying a 3-pointer and a layup during the run. WU led 46-39 at the break.

WCBC was unable to rally in the second half. The Eagles outscored WU, 11-8, in the first 6:21 of the period to cut the lead to 54-50, but the 'Cats scored 10 unanswered points for a 64-50 advantage at the 11:51 mark.

WU's lead reached 21 points, 73-52, when Mitchell dunked, assisted by Mounts, with 8:11 to go. The Bearcats' largest lead was 84-55 with 4:25 remaining.

Willamette limited the Eagles to 29.7% shooting (22 of 74), including just 16.7% in the second half (6 of 36). The Bearcats connected on 42.9% of their shots (36 of 84). Both teams struggled on 3-pointers, with WU hitting 5 of 20 and WCBC making 3 of 25.

Led by Mitchell and Mounts, the Bearcats pounded the Eagles on the boards, 68-42. Miller topped West Coast Baptist with seven rebounds.

Willamette's next game is on Friday, Dec. 11 at Corban College. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. (PST).