Four Starters Score in Double Figures in 106-70 Win Over Douglas from Canada

Salem, Ore. - Willamette men's basketball used a balanced attack on Thursday night to defeat the Douglas College Royals 106-70.  The Bearcats had five players in double figures, led by Caleb Moore and Ryder Hsiung each with 17.

The game was tied at nine early in the contest before a 10-0 run by the Bearcats gave them an early 19-9 advantage.  The run was highlighted by a DJ Jone and-one, a dunk by Deacon Perry off a nice feed from Kai Brown, and a three-pointer by Will Hurst off another assist by Brown.

Willamette extended their lead to seventeen thanks to a long-range jumper from Anujan Tennathur, but the Royals responded and cut the lead to single digits with just under four minutes to play in the half thanks to a pair of free throws by Hunter Thomson.  A made three-pointer by Kahiau Bruhn put the lead back to fourteen at 42-28 and Willamette took a 49-36 lead to the halftime break.

Ryder Hsiung scored the first basket of the second half to push the Bearcat lead to fifteen and a few minutes later a layup and-one for Caleb Moore pushed the lead to 57-40 to match Willamette's largest lead of the game.  The Royals cut the lead to twelve at 60-48, but the Bearcats responded with a 17-3 run to push the lead to 77-51 and Willamette would never look back on their way to a 106-70 win.

Eighteen different players saw action for Willamette, including five players who saw their first court time in Bearcat uniform.  Caleb Moore and Ryder Hsiung led five players in double figures for the Bearcats with 17, followed by Josiah Frank with 13, Anujan Tennathur with 11, and DJ Jones tossing in 10.  

Willamette outrebounded the Royals 52-47 and was led by Kahiau Bruhn with 7 and Jones and Tennathur with six each.  Kai Brown came off the bench and led the Bearcats with 5 assists.  

The game was full of fouls on both teams, with Douglas getting whistled for forty fouls and having four players disqualified from the game with five fouls.  Willamette committed 23 fouls of their own.  The fouls led to 52 free-throw attempts for the Bearcats, who converted on 32 or just over 61%.  Douglas had thirty attempts, connecting on less than half with fourteen.

Willamette will end their three-game homestand on Sunday, November 17th when they host North Central College for a 2:00 pm tipoff.