By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Nico Troplent (Jr., W, Los Angeles, CA/Cathedral HS), in his third year with the Willamette University men's basketball team, has been a key scorer since the start of his freshman season. This year, especially in the last eight games for the Bearcats, he has added strong rebounding to his list of skills. He is Willamette's top rebounder this season.

Troplent is averaging 6.1 rebounds per game to rank sixth in the Northwest Conference. At 6'3", 185 pounds, he doesn't have the size usually associated with great rebounders. He does, however, box out well and he consistently puts himself in the right position to haul down missed shots. In the last eight games, he has grabbed 8.6 rebounds per contest.

He has recorded double-digit rebounds in four of the eight games, including a career-high 14 boards against George Fox University on Jan. 13. He has earned at least seven rebounds in seven of the eight games.

"We have challenged Nico to be able to be the best all-around player on our team and he has responded by dramatically lifting his rebounding numbers from his first two years, Willamette Head Coach Kip Ioane said."

It's a tremendous increase over his first two seasons and a key indicator of his improvement as an overall player. During his freshman year, he averaged 3.0 rebounds per game, and then he earned 3.6 rebounds per contest as a sophomore.

Troplent has continued to be a scorer for the Bearcats. In 2014-15, he provided 9.0 points per game. In 2015-16, he averaged 10.6 points per night. This season, he has contributed 9.8 points per game, including a season-high of 19 points against University of Puget Sound on Jan. 6.

"As a tri-captain, it has been vital to our team for him to lead by example, and his stepping up on the boards has helped us motivate the entire group to find any way possible to help our cause," Ioane commented.

During his career, Troplent has earned 626 points and 252 rebounds. He also has recorded 76 assists and 76 steals. He has played in 64 games with 55 starts.

Troplent and the Bearcats will be back in action on Friday, Jan. 20, when they host archrival Linfield College in a Northwest Conference game at Cone Field House. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. (PST).