Willamette Outlasts Loggers for 84-77 Win in Overtime

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

TACOMA, WASH. -- Willamette University outscored the University of Puget Sound 19-12 in overtime, as the Bearcats outlasted the Loggers for an 84-77 victory in a Northwest Conference men's basketball game on Friday, Jan. 9 at Memorial Fieldhouse. The team were tied 65-65 at the end of regulation.

The Bearcats upped their record to 3-9 overall, 1-2 in the NWC, while Puget Sound slipped to 6-4 overall, 1-1 in the NWC.

It was Willamette's first win over Puget Sound since a 90-75 triumph at Cone Field House on Feb. 5, 2010. It was the first road win for the Bearcats against Puget Sound since Jan. 31, 2003, when Willamette edged the Loggers, 61-58.

Willamette placed six players in double figures, led by Bridger Harlington (Jr., Wing, Lake Tapps, WA/Auburn Riverside HS) and Nathan Sherfey (Fr., Wing, Chehalis, WA/W.F. West HS), each with 14 points. Brandon Luedtke (Jr., F, Meridian, ID/Mt. View HS), who missed the previous four games due to a back injury, registered a double-double with 13 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.

Nico Troplent (Fr., Wing, Los Angeles, CA/Cathedral HS) tallied 12 points for the Bearcats. Kyle McNally (Sr., F, Salem, OR/Sprague HS) and Brendon McCullough (Fr., G, San Antonio, TX/Home Schooled) provided 10 points apiece.

Nick Holden led Puget Sound with 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Kohl Meyer scored 17 points for the Loggers, while Erin Barber earned 16 points. James Osorio finished with 12 points and 10 boards.

Holden forced overtime when he grabbed an offensive rebound and scored on a layup with 22 seconds left. Troplent missed a jumper for the Bearcats as time expired.

Puget Sound took a 68-65 lead just 17 seconds into the overtime period when Meyer hit a 3-pointer. Harlington answered with a 3-pointer for Willamette 14 seconds later on an assist from McCullough. Harlington added a layup at the 4:12 mark, giving WU a 70-68 advantage.

Osorio scored on a layup and was fouled with 3:49 to go. He sank the free throw to put Puget Sound in front, 71-70. Luedtke scored on a layup during the Bearcats' next possession to give Willamette the lead for good with 3:36 left.

Neither team scored again until Luedtke drove for a layup with 2:07 remaining, as WU took a 74-71 lead. Meyer responded with a layup for the Loggers to cut the lead to one point, but Troplent scored with 1:47 on the clock and Luedtke hit a basket at the 1:03 mark, as WU claimed a 78-73 margin.

The Loggers pulled within four points twice the rest of the way, but never got closer. Harlington scored seven points and Luedtke chipped in six points for the Bearcats during the overtime.

Willamette connected on 46.3% of its field goals (25 of 54), including 7 for 8 in overtime. The Bearcats converted a solid 10 of 25 three-pointers (40.0%) and sank 24 of 28 free throws (85.7%).

Puget Sound shot 44.4% from the field (28 of 63). The Loggers made three more field goals than the Bearcats, but hit only 3 of 15 three-pointers (20.0%) and went 18 for 28 at the free throw line (64.3%).

UPS gained a 44-24 rebounding edge. Willamette won the turnover battle, forcing 15 miscues by the Loggers, while the Bearcats lost the ball 10 times.

The first half may have foreshadowed the possibility of overtime, as there were four ties and five lead changes in the first 10 minutes. Willamette's last lead of the half was at 12-11 with 11:09 on the clock following a 3-pointer by Joseph Jackson (Sr., Wing, Hillsboro, OR/Hillsboro HS).

Puget Sound moved back in front on a layup by Osorio. The basket started an 8-0 run that resulted in the Loggers taking a 19-12 lead. UPS extended the margin to eight points, 23-15, on a pair of free throws by Matt Bergland at the 6:55 mark.

WU battled back with a 15-8 run that started and ended with 3-pointers by Sherfey. The Loggers owned a 31-30 halftime lead.

Puget Sound used six consecutive points to take a 43-36 lead at the 14:06 mark of the second half. Meyer scored the last three points with a layup and a foul shot.

Later, the Loggers held a 53-45 margin after Barber put through a jumper with 7:17 remaining. Willamette trailed 55-50 as the clock reached 6:16, but the Bearcats surged into the lead with a 7-0 run, ending with a 3-pointer by McCullough at the 4:36 mark.

UPS tied the score before another 3-pointer by McCullough, plus a pair of free throws by Troplent, gave the Bearcats a 52-37 lead with 3:15 to go. Puget Sound rallied, pulling within two points twice, including 65-63 on two free throws by Barber with 1:57 remaining.

Harlington took an open 3-pointer for WU eight seconds later, but the ball hit the rim and bounced out. Neither team scored until Holden's tying free throws with 22 seconds on the clock.

Willamette will host George Fox University at Cone Field House on Saturday, Jan. 10. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. (PST). George Fox defeated Pacific Lutheran University in Newberg, Ore., on Friday, 73-72, winning on a basket by Eli Graham with four seconds left.