Lewis & Clark Outpaces Willamette with Strong Finish, 99-77

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

PORTLAND, ORE. -- The Willamette University Bearcats and the Lewis & Clark College Pioneers played an exciting, up-tempo game at the Pamplin Sports Complex on Friday, Jan. 21. In the end, Lewis & Clark limited Willamette to 33.3% field goal shooting in the second half, as the Pioneers pull away for a 99-77 victory over the Bearcats in a Northwest Conference men's basketball game.

L&C improved to 13-3 overall, while moving to 6-1 in the NWC. Willamette fell to 4-12 overall, 1-6 in the NWC.

Willamette opened the second half with an 8-1 run to move in front 57-54 following a basket by Cory Lowe (Gr., Post, Beaverton, OR/Beaverton HS). L&C tied the game at 57-57 and 59-59, before taking the lead for good on a 3-pointer by Marcus Wells with 16:39 left.

The Pioneers held a modest 71-67 lead with 12:10 left in the game after Taylor Mounts (Jr., Wing/Post, Kailua, HI/Iolani School) scored on a layup for Willamette. Lewis & Clark bolted out to a 14-point lead however with a 13-3 run over the next 4:32.

Wells, who led all players with 30 points on the night, provided the final eight points of the run for L&C. After he hit two free throws with 7:30 left, the Pioneers were in front 84-70. Willamette tallied just seven points the rest of the game.

Wells was one of five Lewis & Clark players in double figures. Kelly Edwards and Donato Perconti each achieved 22 points, while Taylor contributed 14 and Kyle Meeuwsen chipped in 11. L&C went 25 for 30 at the free throw line (83.3%), led by Edwards (10 for 10) and Wells (8 for 8). The Pioneers were 14 of 35 on 3-point shots.

Mounts topped Willamette with 29 points on 10 of 14 field goals and 8 of 12 free throws. He also grabbed eight rebounds and blocked two shots. Terrell Malley (So., G, Portland, OR/Roosevelt HS) supplied 21 points and sank 5 of 7 three-pointers. Robbie Kunke (Sr., G, Clackamas, OR/Clackamas HS) supplied seven points, six boards, five assists and three steals.

WU shot 66.7% in the first half (18 of 27), before dropping of to 11 for 33 in the second half. For the game, the Bearcats connected on 12 of 19 free throws (63.2%) and made 7 of 16 three-pointers (43.8%).

Each team achieve a big run in the final eight minutes of the first half, as the Pioneers moved out to a 15-point lead, only to have the Bearcats pull back within four points at the break.

The Pioneers owned a slim 27-26 advantage after a layup by Taylor Mounts (Jr., Wing/Post, Kailua, HI/Iolani School) with 7:59 remaining in the half. Lewis & Clark put together a 22-8 run to surge out to a 49-34 lead at the 3:42 mark.

L&C's run included four 3-pointers, helping the Pioneers earn 10 three-pointers in the first half.

Willamette responded with its own offensive explosion to end the half. The 15-4 run started simply enough with another layup by Mounts with 3:09 on the clock.

Mount's basket started a 7-0 outburst that also included a 15-foot jumper by Ryan Meehan (Jr., Wing, Beaverton, OR/Beaverton HS/MSU-Billings) and a 3-pointer from the right elbow by Malley.

L&C scored four of the next six points, leaving the Pioneers with a 53-43 margin at the 1:32 mark. Willamette cut into the lead with a pair of 3-pointers before the intermission. Trevor Bos (Fr., G, Lakewood, CA/St. John Bosco HS) sank one of the trifectas with 1:12 left in the period. Malley converted the final 3-pointer of the half from about 37-feet out, after WU in-bounded the ball beneath the L&C basket with 3.9 seconds to go.

Malley's buzzer-beater gave him the scoring lead at the half with 18 points. He was 6 of 8 on field goals in the opening period, including 4 of 4 on 3-point shots. Mounts went into the locker room with 14 points for Willamette at the break. Halftime leaders for Lewis & Clark were Kelly Edwards with 16 points and Donato Perconti with 13.

WU point guard Robbie Kunke (Sr., G, Clackamas, OR/Clackamas HS) scored just three points in the first 20 minutes, but he achieved five rebounds, four assists and two steals during the period.

The Bearcats will be back in action on Saturday, Jan. 21, when they will host Pacific Lutheran University. Game time at Cone Field House is set for 8 p.m. (PST).