Portland State Defeats Willamette in Exhibition Game for Bearcats

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Portland State University placed seven players in double figures as the Vikings defeated Willamette University, 111-60, on Tuesday, Nov. 14, in an exhibition game for the Bearcats at the Pamplin Sports Center on the Lewis & Clark College campus. The home game for the Vikings was played at Lewis & Clark because Portland State's new arena is under construction.

The game counted as a regular season game for PSU, which upped its record to 2-0. For Willamette, the exhibition game did not count toward its regular season record. The Bearcats will open the regular season at Northwest Christian University in Eugene, Oregon, on Saturday, Nov. 18. Tipoff against the Beacons is set for 8 p.m. (PST).

Willamette was led by Jameson Willems (Jr./So., F, Billings, MT/Skyview HS) with 10 points. He was 3 of 6 from the field, including 3 of 5 on 3-point shots. Willems also grabbed five rebounds. Nico Troplent (Jr., W, Los Angeles, CA/Cathedral HS) supplied nine points, while Jordan Jenkins (Jr., F, Placentia, CA/Valencia HS) contributed eight points, five rebounds and four assists. Conin Oishi (Sr., G, Lake Forest Park, WA/Shorecrest HS) scored seven points.

The Bearcats connected on 32.8% of their field goals (19 of 58) and hit 10 of 26 shots from 3-point range (38.5%). Willamette sank 12 of 16 free throws.

Deontae North topped the PSU scoring chart with a game-high 19 points on 7 of 11 shooting. Bryce Canda and Deante Strickland each added 15 points for the Vikings, while Brandon Hollins, Ryan Edwards and Brendan Rumel scored 12 points apiece. Holland Woods finished with 11 points. Canda was 7 of 10 from the field.

The Vikings shot 57.3% for the game (47 of 82) and made 11 of 29 three-pointers (37.9%). PSU went 6 for 10 at the free throw line. Hollins grabbed 14 rebounds and Canda hauled down nine boards to help the Vikings gain a 44-35 rebounding edge.

Portland State competes in NCAA Division I and the Big Sky Conference, while Willamette is a member of NCAA Division III and the Northwest Conference. The Vikings used full-court pressure to force the Bearcats into 30 turnovers, which led to 40 points for PSU. Canda registered a game-high six steals. North and Woods each supplied the Vikings with seven assists, while Strickland earned six assists.

The first six points of the game were scored by the Vikings, and then Troplent hit two free throws for the Bearcats at the 18:08 mark. Portland State surged out to a 24-2 lead with 14:19 on the clock by scoring 18 consecutive points. Strickland scored eight points for PSU in the first six minutes.

Nathan Sherfey (Jr., F, Chehalis, WA/W.F. West HS) of Willamette cut the margin to 24-5 on a 3-pointer, but the Vikings tallied the next seven points for a 31-5 advantage with 12:11 left in the half. A 7-2 run by the Bearcats, featuring a jumper by Trent Callan (So., G, Portland, OR/Lincoln HS), a layup by Troplent and a 3-pointer by Oishi, pulled WU within 33-12.

Portland State countered with a 9-2 run for a 42-14 lead. The Vikings were in front 58-30 at halftime.

Jenkins hit a 3-pointer for Willamette to open the second half. Portland State earned the next seven points and continued to pull away. Ryan Edwards of PSU scored 10 of his 12 points in the second half.