Bearcats' Rally Falls Short in 78-70 Loss at Whitman

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

WALLA WALLA, WASH. -- Willamette University reduced a 14-point lead with 7:03 remaining to just four points with 1:45 left, but Whitman College held on to defeat the Bearcats, 78-70, at the Sherwood Center on Friday, Jan. 30. Whitman advanced its record to 13-5 on the season, 7-2 in the Northwest Conference, while Willamette dropped to 6-12 overall, 4-5 in the NWC.

Whitman led 39-31 at halftime and held a double-digit lead for much of the second half. The Missionaries were in front 68-54 following a 3-pointer by Jackson Clough with just over seven minutes remaining before Willamette started its final rally.

The Bearcats cut the margin to 68-59 in less than a minute, as Nico Troplent (Fr., Wing, Los Angeles, CA/Cathedral HS) hit a basket and a foul shot with 6:52 to go, and Brandon Luedtke (Jr., F, Meridian, ID/Mt. View HS) made a layup at the 6:18 mark. The lead slipped to 68-61 when Troplent added a layup with 5:12 to go.

Whitman earned the next three points, but WU followed up with a 9-3 run that started with five unanswered points. Bridger Harlington's layup with 2:50 remaining pulled the Bearcats within 71-66. Matt Mounier responded with a 3-pointer for the Missionaries, but the next four points went to Willamette.

When Luedtke (Jr., F, Meridian, ID/Mt. View HS) scored on a layup with 1:45 left, the Bearcats were within 74-70.

The Missionaries, who made 26 of 33 free throws (78.8%) during the game, sank 4 of 6 free throws in the final 52 seconds to clinch the win. Clough hit two free throws to give Whitman a 76-70 lead. Dominic Lippi made 1 of 2 charity shots at the 25-second mark and Christian McDonald went 1 for 2 with 18 seconds remaining.

Willamette connected on seven more field goals than Whitman (28 to 21), but shot 18 fewer free throws, with the Bearcats finishing 9 for 15 at the line. In addition to gaining an edge at the line, the Missionaries hit 10 of 25 shots from 3-point range. The Bearcats went 5 for 17 on long-range shots.

Five Whitman players reached double figures, led by Evan Martin, who scored 18 points and grabbed six rebounds. Clough contributed 16 points and made 10 of 12 free throws, while Mounier finished with 14 points and a game-high four 3-pointers. McDonald earned 11 points and Philip Chircu scored 10.

Harlington achieved 18 points to lead four Bearcats with double-digit scoring. He was 6 for 9 on field goals and 5 for 7 at the free throw line. Kyle McNally (Sr., F, Salem, OR/Sprague HS) put together a double-double with 10 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.

Brendon McCullough (Fr., G, San Antonio, TX/Home Schooled) tallied 16 points and Luedtke produced 11 points and seven boards.

Willamette was in front 13-5 just over five minutes into the game, on the strength of one 3-pointer each from McCullough and Joseph Jackson (Sr., Wing, Hillsboro, OR/Hillsboro HS). The Missionaries tied the game 13-13 on a layup by Lippi with 12:32 on the clock. Whitman led 17-13 when Chircu completed a 12-0 run with a 3-pointer at the 11:48 mark.

A jumper by Rolaun Dunham gave Whitman its largest lead of the opening half at 27-15 with 7:42 left. WU trailed by 10 points, 32-22, with 4:21 remaining, but scored seven unanswered points to reduce the lead to 32-29 on a fast-break layup by Luedtke with 2:29 to go. Whitman ended the half with a 7-2 run.

Willamette completed the game with a 38-34 rebounding margin and a 40-16 scoring advantage in the paint. Whitman outscored the Bearcats 26-14 in points off turnovers, with Willamette losing possession 27 times, while the Missionaries committed 20 turnovers.

The Bearcats will play at Whitworth University in Spokane, Wash., on Saturday, Jan. 31 at 6 p.m. (PST). The Pirates defeated Lewis & Clark College on Friday, 68-60 in overtime. Whitworth is ranked #21 in the D3hoops.com Top 25.