Coward Registers 24 Points, 11 Rebounds in 102-89 Loss at #16 Whitworth

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SPOKANE, Wash. -- Cedric Coward (Fy., F, Fresno, CA/Central HS) earned his 13th double-double of the season for Willamette University on Friday, Jan. 28, as he produced 24 points and 11 rebounds in a 102-89 loss at 16th-ranked Whitworth University. He scored more than 20 points for the eighth time this year, while earning his ninth consecutive double-double. Coward also earned two assists and blocked two shots.

Whitworth advanced its record to 16-2, including 9-1 in the Northwest Conference. The Pirates are listed at #16 in this week's D3hoops.com Top 25. Willamette slipped to 5-12 overall, 2-7 in the NWC.

The Pirates led by as many as 28 points in the first half and held a 57-33 lead at halftime, but the Bearcats went on a 39-25 run to pull within 10 points at 82-72 with 8:14 remaining. Whitworth put together an 11-5 run for a 93-77 margin with 3:51 left, and the Bearcats reduced the lead to 100-89 with 34 seconds to go. Willamette outscored the Pirates 56-45 in the second half.

"We have to find a way to be the team we were in the second half during EVERY half," Willamette Head Men's Basketball Coach Kip Ioane said. "I'm very proud of our fight, but we can't continue to get off to these starts in this league."

Coward scored his 24 points by hitting 9 of 10 field goals, including 4-for-4 on 3-point shots. He was joined in double figures by four teammates. Jonathan Watts (Sr., W, San Diego, CA/Rancho Bernardo HS) accumulated 15 points, while Josiah Frank (Fy., G, Turlock, CA/John H. Pitman HS) scored 14 points. Daniel Plumer (Jr., PG, North Las Vegas, NV/Democracy Preparatory Academy) and Jack Boydell (Jr., F, Sonoma, CA/Sonoma Valley HS) each tallied 13 points. Frank was 5 of 6 from the field. Boydell provided a team-high four assists.

Whitworth was led by Garrett Paxton, who scored 26 points. Miguel Lopez scored 23 points and sank 11 of 17 field goals for the Pirates. JT McDermott supplied 17 points, five boards, and five assists. Jerry Twenge added 15 points, while Jake Holtz was credited with 12 points, seven rebounds, two blocked shots, and two steals. Rowan Anderson topped all players with nine assists.

The Bearcats scored first on a layup by Plumer 44 seconds into the game. Whitworth moved in front 8-4 and later owned an 11-6 advantage following a 3-pointer by Paxton. Willamette scored next on a jumper by Plumer, before the Pirates went on a 14-4 offensive surge to grab a 27-12 lead with 13:18 left in the half. A 3-pointer by Boydell reduced the margin to 29-17 with 12:03 on the clock. The Pirates tacked on a 24-8 run to expand the lead to 53-25 at the 5:02 mark.

During the first half, Paxton scored 16 points for Whitworth and Coward tallied 12 points for the Bearcats.

Whitworth held a 72-44 advantage following a 3-pointer by Twenge with 16:29 remaining in the game. The Bearcats cut the margin to 78-61 with a 17-6 run that ended with a 3-pointer by Frank. Willamette was within 80-69 after Watts sank a 3-pointer with 8:52 to play. Anderson added a jumper for the Pirates, and then Frank of Willamette was fouled on a 3-point shot with 8:14 left. Frank sank all three free throws to reduce Whitworth's lead to 82-72.

The Bearcats were unable to get closer the rest of the way.

Whitworth, which shot 67.6% in the first half (25 of 37), fell off to 56.7% in the second half (17 of 30). Willamette recovered from 40.6% shooting in the first half (13 of 32) to connect on 20 of 33 shots (60.6%) in the second half. For the game, Whitworth was 12 of 23 (52.2%) on 3-point attempts while Willamette finished 10 of 31 from 3-point range (32.3%), including 8 of 17 (47.1%) over the final 20 minutes. The Bearcats converted 13 of 15 free throws (86.7%). The Pirates were 6 for 12 at the free throw line.

Willamette will host Pacific Lutheran University at Cone Field House in Salem, Oregon, on Friday, Feb. 4. Game time is scheduled for 8 p.m. (PST).