Appleton's Double-Double Leads Lewis & Clark to 68-59 Win over Willamette

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

PORTLAND, ORE. -- Carl Appleton achieved a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds to help Lewis & Clark College defeat Willamette University, 68-59, in a Northwest Conference men's basketball game on Tuesday, Jan. 13. Serg Ovchinnikov recorded a game-high 18 points for the Pioneers.

L&C, which led 34-23 at halftime and remained in front throughout the second half, improved to 8-6 overall, 3-2 in the NWC. Willamette dropped to 4-10 on the season, including 2-3 in the NWC.

The Pioneers gained a 51-28 rebounding margin and shot 29 free throws compared to 12 free throw attempts for the Bearcats. L&C was 19 for 29 at the free throw line (65.5%), while Willamette went 10 for 12 (83.3%).

Brendon McCullough (Fr., G, San Antonio, TX/Home Schooled) topped Willamette in scoring with 16 points and finished with three assists. He connected on 5 of 10 field goals and made 5 of 6 free throws. Bridger Harlington (Jr., Wing, Lake Tapps, WA/Auburn Riverside HS) registered 11 points for the Bearcats.

McCullough has scored in double figures in 11 of Willamette's 14 games. Harlington has reached double digits nine times, including eight of the last nine games.

The Bearcats received nine points from Brandon Luedtke (Jr., F, Meridian, ID/Mt. View HS), who also contributed four rebounds and two assists. Kyle McNally (F, Salem, OR/Sprague HS) earned six points and blocked two shots, giving him 39 blocks for the season.

Ovchinnikov and Appleton were joined by two more Lewis & Clark players in double figures. Jason Luhnow tallied 12 points, while Justin Leathers chipped in 10 points.

The teams exchanged the lead five times in the first four minutes, ending with the Pioneers taking a 7-6 advantage on a layup by Appleton with 16:05 on the clock. Appleton's basket started an 11-0 run for L&C, which took a 16-6 lead at the 10:07 mark on a jumper by Cannen Roberson.

McCullough countered with a 3-pointer on WU's next possession to pull the Bearcats with in seven points. Lewis & Clark tacked on nine points in a row, including a jumper and a 3-pointer by Ovchinnikov, to claim a 25-9 lead with 6:25 remaining in the half.

Willamette cut the margin to 32-21 on a jumper by McCullough with 1:48 left. After Leathers scored on a jumper with 1:12 remaining, McCullough earned the final two points of the half on free throw with 29 seconds on the clock.

The Bearcats mounted a challenge several minutes into the second half. L&C was in front 41-30 with 14:26 to go, but the Bearcats scored seven consecutive points on a 3-pointer by Nico Troplent (Fr., Wing, Los Angeles, CA/Cathedral HS), a jumper by McCullough and a jumper by McNally to get within 41-37 with 12:59 remaining.

L&C answered with a 7-0 run to increase the lead to 46-37 with 11:46 left. Leathers began the run with a 3-pointer and added the final two points with a layup. Willamette trailed by just seven points, 52-45, after McCullough scored on a layup and a foul shot with 8:39 still to be played.

Appleton tacked on a layup and a foul shot for the Pioneers 25 seconds later. Lewis & Clark eventually took a 64-51 lead with 1:53 left, before Willamette went on an 8-2 run. A 3-pointer by Joseph Jackson (Sr., Wing, Hillsboro, OR/Hillsboro HS) with 37 seconds to go brought the Bearcats to within 66-59.

Luhnow of L&C missed two free throws at the 32-second mark, but he was successful on two charity shots with 17 seconds left to complete the scoring.

Lewis & Clark was 22 of 52 from the field (42.3%). WU matched the Pioneers on field goals, but hit 22 of 59 for 37.3%. Each team made five 3-pointers, with the Bearcats hitting 5 of 18 and the Pioneers converting 5 of 22.

Willamette returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 17 at Pacific Lutheran University in Parkland, Wash. Game time for the NWC match-up is 6 p.m. (PST).