Coward Provides Bearcats with 25 Points and 16 Rebounds in Loss to Linfield

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Cedric Coward (Fy., F, Fresno, CA/Central HS) scored 25 points and grabbed 16 rebounds for Willamette University against Linfield University on Friday, Jan. 21 at Cone Field House, but the Wildcats defeated the Bearcats, 112-69. The NWC win improved Linfield to 10-5 overall, 5-2 in the NWC, while the Bearcats dropped to 5-10 on the season, 2-5 in the NWC.

Coward was 9 of 12 from the field and made 6 of 8 free throws, while providing WU with five steals, one assist, and one blocked shot. Ryder Hsiung (Fy., G, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) added 10 points for the Bearcats, while Jonathan Watts (Sr., W, San Diego, CA/Rancho Bernardo HS) totaled eight points. Josiah Frank (Fy., G, Turlock, CA/John H. Pitman HS) tallied six points and registered three steals.

On the season, Coward is averaging 18.3 points, 11.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 3.3 blocks, and 1.5 steals per game. He is shooting 60.2% (106 of 176) from the field.

Max Lommen of Linfield topped all players with 34 points, as he went 13 for 20 from the field, including 6 of 10 on 3-point shots. Lommen also was credited with five boards, four assists, and three steals. Dempsey Roggenbuck and Alex Jaczko accumulated 16 points each for the Wildcats. Josh Puccinelli scored 10 points. Trey Bryant led Linfield with eight rebounds, while Roggenbuck grabbed seven caroms. Jacob Hjort supplied five assists.

Willamette took an 11-7 lead with 13:59 left in the first half after back-to-back layups by Coward and Jack Boydell (Jr., F, Sonoma, CA/Sonoma Valley HS). Linfield scored the next 16 points, including eight by Jaczko, as the Wildcats surged out to a 23-11 margin with 9:27 on the clock. WU used a 5-2 run to pull within 25-16 on a 3-pointer by Watts with 8:28 to go.

The Wildcats gained a 32-18 lead on a 3-pointer from Hjort as the clock reached 6:26. Willamette moved as close as 43-34 at the 2:35 mark on a fast-break dunk by Coward, but Linfield ended the half with a 10-4 run to claim a 53-37 lead at the intermission. Coward and Lommen each had 18 points for their respective teams at the break.

Linfield gradually pulled away in the second half, with Lommen adding 16 points to his total. For the Bearcats, Coward scored seven points and hauled down nine rebounds in the second half.

During the game, Linfield hit 46 of 78 field goals (59.0%), including 12 of 24 three-pointers (48.0%). The Wildcats were 8 of 14 on free throws (57.1%). Linfield achieved a 45-35 rebounding edge. Willamette shot 35.4%% overall (23 of 54), while connecting on just 6 of 30 three-point attempts (20.0%). The Bearcats sank 17 of 23 free throws (73.9%).

Willamette will play at Pacific University on Saturday, Jan. 22. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. (PST) in Forest Grove, Oregon.