By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Daniel Plumer (Fy., PG, North Las Vegas, NV/Democracy Preparatory Academy) of Willamette University scored 20 points for the second consecutive game to start his collegiate career, as the Bearcats took on crosstown rival Corban University, on Saturday, Nov. 16 at Cone Field House. Plumer was 6 of 14 from the field and 7 for 8 at the free throw line. He also provided the Bearcats with seven assists.
Corban, which competes in the NAIA and the Cascade Collegiate Conference, won the game, 114-73, as AJ Hodges scored 18 points and six other Warriors reached double digits. The Warriors improved to 6-1 on the season. Willamette, a member of NCAA Division III and the Northwest Conference, fell to 0-2.
Plumer was joined in double figures by Alec Barba (Jr., G, Dallas, OR/Central HS) and Ben Sutton (Jr., F, Seattle, WA/Ingraham HS). Barba scored 12 points, while hitting 4 of 8 field goals, all from 3-point range. Sutton tallied 11 points on 5 of 10 shooting, and produced seven boards, a blocked shot and one steal. Cade Whicker (Fy., F, Fruit Heights, UT/Davis HS) scored seven points and grabbed seven rebounds.
Hodges connected on 8 of 11 field goals for Corban, including 2 of 4 from 3-point range. Jake Estep tacked on 15 points and was 6 of 8 from the field, while Mauricio Smith, Dominique Lawrence and Tyler Wadleigh each scored 12 points. Wadleigh led the Warriors with five assists. Isiah Quintero grabbed nine rebounds, while Smith registered seven boards.
Willamette led 7-4 following a layup by Whicker with 18:37 left in the first half. After the Warriors tied the score on a 3-pointer by Wadleigh, the Bearcats went on a 6-0 run for a 13-7 advantage. A bit later, Whicker put through a layup to give Willamette an 18-14 edge.
The Warriors responded with four unanswered points, ending with a 3-pointer by Hodges for an 18-18 tie at the 14:36 mark. The team were tied three more times over the next few minutes, ending with a 25-25 deadlock following a layup by Joshua Stubbs (Sr./Jr., W, Eugene, OR/Churchill HS) of Willamette.
Corban broke the tie with a 3-pointer by Estep, which started a 9-2 run for a 34-27 lead. The Warriors added a 13-7 run to expand the margin to 47-34 with 4:36 left in the half. Corban owned a 61-43 lead at halftime. Wadleigh amassed 10 points for the Warriors during the half. Plumer led Willamette in scoring at the break with 12 points and already had five assists for the Bearcats.
A 15-8 run by Corban when play resumed at the start of the second half pushed the lead to 76-51 with 14:21 left in the game. Smith and Hodges each hit a 3-point basket to complete the run.
The Bearcats will play the University of La Verne (Calif.) at Cone Field House on Saturday, Nov. 23. Game time is set for 1 p.m. (PST).