Willamette Men's Basketball Downs Corban, 104-97, at WOU Capital City Classic

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

MONMOUTH, ORE. -- Willamette University reached the century mark on its way to a 104-97 victory over Corban University on Friday, Nov. 26 in opening round action of the Capital City Classic in men's basketball, hosted by Western Oregon University. The Bearcats improved their record to 2-2 on the season. Corban, which entered the game undefeated, fell to 6-1 overall.

Willamette will take on host Western Oregon University in the second round of the Capital City Classic on Saturday, Nov. 27. Game time is set for 7 p.m. (PST). WOU routed Pacifica College, 102-76, in the other first round game. Corban and Pacifica will play at 5 p.m. on Saturday.

The Bearcats were led by Taylor Mounts (Jr., Wing/Post, Kailua, HI/Iolani School), who scored a career-high 33 points. He hit 11 of 23 field goals and sank 9 of 11 free throws. He registered 19 points in the first half.

Robbie Kunke (Sr., G, Clackamas, OR/Clackamas HS) tacked on 19 points for Willamette. Kunke also earned eight assists, five steals and four rebounds.

Ryan Meehan (Jr., Wing, Beaverton, OR/Beaverton HS/MSU-Billings) of WU added 20 points, while Sean Dart (So., Post, Bend, OR/Mountain View HS/Eastern Oregon Univ.) achieve a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds. Dart was 6 of 7 on field goals. Marcus Holmes (Sr., G, Seattle, WA/Garfield HS) also reached double figures for the Bearcats, as he finished with 11 points.

Corban was led by Jordan Carter with 19 points. Erik Cronrath, Jonathan Ramirez and Josiah Sebens each provided the Warriors with 16 points.

Two other Warriors finished in double figures, as Nash Keene recorded 15 points and Jacob Kopra scored 11. Kopra and Ian Logan tied for the team lead with five rebounds apiece.

Willamette held a 12-6 lead after Mounts sank a 3-pointer with 17:24 left in the first half. The 3-pointer by Mounts opened a 7-0 run that gave WU a 16-6 advantage.

The Warriors battled back within four points at 25-21 with 11:04 on the clock. The Bearcats put together another 7-point surge to claim a 32-21 advantage following a jumper by Mounts at the 9:44 mark. WU was in front 56-45 at halftime.

Mounts, Dart and Kunke each scored a basket in the first minute of the second half to increase Willamette's lead to 62-45. Corban answered with a 24-7 run that tied the game at 69-69 on a layup and foul shot by Jonathan Ramirez with 14:42 left.

The Bearcats regained the lead 34 seconds later, 72-69, on a 3-pointer by Meehan. WU continued to hold a slim lead until the Warriors edged in front, 78-76, with a 3-pointer from Ramirez at the 12:00 mark.

Avery Manu (Fr., Wing, Pocatello, ID/Highland HS) put in a jumper for Willamette to tie the game, 78-78. After a turnover by Corban, the Bearcats moved back into the lead on a 3-pointer from Holmes. WU added a layup by Mounts and a 3-pointer by Meehan for an 86-78 advantage with 9:09 to go.

Corban pulled within three points two times in the next three minutes, but was unable to catch the Bearcats.

WU owned a 99-93 margin heading into the final three minutes and increased its lead to eight points, 101-93, when Mounts sank two free throws with 1:58 left. The Warriors never got closer than six points the rest of the way.