Bruhn Scores Career-High 23 in Last-Second Loss at Colorado College

Colorado Springs, Colo. - Kahiau Bruhn scored a career-high 23 points but it wasn't enough as Willamette fell to Colorado College 74-73 on a last-second put-back basket.  The offensive rebound was the 19th of the game for the Tigers and capped off a game that saw 26 lead changes and 18 ties.  

Willamette got off to a good start for the second game in a row as three-pointers by Josiah Frank, Bruh, and Anujan Tennathur put the Bearcats up 9-2 early in the contest.  The Tigers battled back to take a 10-9 lead, but Willamette responded with an 11-1 run to pull ahead 20-11 midway through the first half.  The game started to look like the Bearcat's previous win over Hardin-Simmons as the home team began another comeback to close the half.  Kai Brown made the lead 32-25 with six minutes left in the half and Colorado College outscored Willamette 12-3 in the final minutes to take a 37-35 lead into the locker room.

The Tiger lead grew to as many as six early in the second half, but after a jump shot by Bruhn tied the score at fifty-three, a three-pointer by Bruhn gave the Bearcats their first lead of the second half.  The teams traded baskets over the next several minutes and a three-pointer by Frank put Willamette up 66-62 with four minutes left in the game.  Colorado College quickly fought back to tie the game at sixty-six and set up a back-and-forth finish where each team held the lead in the final moments.

After two free throws by the Tigers put them up 72-70, another long jumper by Frank gave the Bearcats the lead back at 73-72 with just over 30 seconds to play.  Willamette was able to force a miss inside but the ball was deflected out of bounds by the Bearcats.  A replay review confirmed the call and set up the final possession for the Tigers.  Willamette once again forced the miss, but Asher Nofziger grabbed his own miss and made the put-back with five seconds on the clock.  A last-second shot from the corner by Anujan Tennathur fell just short and Colorado College had the 74-73 victory.

Bruhn was joined in double figures by Josiah Frank (20), Anujan Tennathur (11), and Kai Brown (10).  Brown led the Bearcats in rebounding with seven, followed by Frank and Tennathur with six.  Brown and Caleb Moore each dished out four assists for the game.  

Willamette's next game is Friday, January 3rd, at 6:00 p.m., when they travel to play George Fox University in a Northwest Conference matchup.