Willamette Seeks to Keep Momentum as Bearcats Take on Pioneers

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University won both of its men's basketball games this past weekend, slipping past University of Puget Sound, 84-77 in overtime, on Friday, Jan. 9, and holding off George Fox University, 75-72, on Saturday, Jan. 10. The Bearcats hope to keep momentum rolling when they take on Lewis & Clark College on Tuesday, Jan. 12 in Portland, Ore.

Game time between the Bearcats and the Pioneers is scheduled for 8 p.m. (PST). Willamette enters the game with a 4-9 overall record and a 2-2 mark in the Northwest Conference. Lewis & Clark is 7-6 overall and 2-2 in the NWC.

You can follow Live Video and Live Stats from the game courtesy of Lewis & Clark.

The return of Brandon Luedtke (Jr., F, Meridian, ID/Mt. View HS) to the lineup made a difference after he missed four games due to injury. He achieved a double-double against both Puget Sound and George Fox. He scored 13 points and hauled down 11 boards against UPS, and then earned 15 points and 11 rebounds against GFU.

For the season, Luedtke tops the Willamette scoring chart with 14.9 points per game. He also leads the Bearcats with 10.4 rebounds per game and 2.0 steals per game. He is on target to be among the NWC leaders in several categories once he meets the participation minimum by playing in 75% of Willamette's games.

Luedtke has scored in double figures in eight of his nine appearances this season. He has recorded more than 10 rebounds in six games.

Freshmen Brendon McCullough (Fr., G, San Antonio, TX/Home Schooled) and Nico Troplent (Fr., Wing, Los Angeles, CA/Cathedral HS) also have provided Willamette with double-digit scoring averages.

McCullough has averaged 11.2 ponts per game and ranks first on the team with 33 assists (2.5 avg.). He has been solid at the free throw line, where has converted 83.3% of his attempts (65 of 78). He hit two free throws with 25 seconds left against GFU to give the Bearcats a four-point lead.

Troplent ranks third for WU with 10.3 points per game. He scored 19 points against University of La Verne in the second game of the regular season and matched that total against George Fox on Saturday. He has converted 29 of 36 free throws (80.6%).

Two other key contributors for the Bearcats are Bridger Harlington (Jr., Wing, Lake Tapps, WA/Auburn Riverside HS) and Kyle McNally (Sr., F, Salem, OR/Sprague HS).

Harlington, who scored seven points in overtime in the win over Puget Sound, leads the Bearcats with 22 three-point baskets and is shooting 37.9% from 3-point range. He has scored 9.6 ponts per game.

McNally set a WU record with nine blocked shots against George Fox and now has 37 blocked shots for the season. No one else in the NWC has more than 18 blocks.

During his career, McNally has blocked a total of 116 shots for Willamette's defense. This year, his well-rounded play has included 6.1 ponts, 6.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.8 steals per game. He is shooting 52.5% from the field (53 of 101).

The Bearcats have played solid defense this season and have held 11 of 13 opponents to fewer than 78 points, including five opponents with fewer than 70 points. Willamette also has been strong at the free throw line, where the team has converted 69.1% of its attempts (208 of 301).

Lewis & Clark has three players averaging in double figures. They are Serg Ovchinnikov (Jr., G), Carl Appleton (Jr., F) and Jason Luhnow (Jr., G). Ovchinnikov ranks first with 12.7 points per game, but is shooting just 29.8% from the floor (51 of 171). He has converted 70.% at the free throw line (34 of 48) and tops L&C with 29 three-pointers.

Appleton has contributed 11.2 points per contest, and leads the Pioneers with 8.3 rebounds per game. He also ranks first on the team with 54.4% accuracy on field goals (56 of 103). Luhnow has scored 10.4 points per game. He ranks first on the roster with 51 assists (3.9 avg.) and 15 steals (1.2 avg.), and is second with 6.2 rebounds per game.

Cannen Roberson is the team's fourth-leading scorer with 9.4 points per game. He is listed third in rebounding with 5.2 boards per contest.

After taking on the Pioneers, Willamette will play again on Saturday, Jan. 17 against Pacific Lutheran University in Parkland, Wash. Tipoff for the NWC contest is set for 6 p.m. (PST).