By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
FOREST GROVE, Ore. -- Jack Boydell (Fy., F, Sonoma, CA/Sonoma Valley HS) scored 32 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for Willamette University, but the Pacific University Boxers outscored the Bearcats, 124-113, in a Northwest Conference men's basketball game on Friday, Jan. 24 at the Stoller Center. Pacific improved to 5-11 overall and 2-5 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette dropped to 1-15 overall, 0-7 in the NWC.
The Bearcats trailed 71-57 at halftime. Willamette went on a 14-5 run to reduce the margin to 76-71 on a 3-pointer by Justus Eaglesmith (Jr., G, Sparks NV/Spanish Springs HS) with 16:36 left in the game.
Pacific extended its lead to 85-73 at the 14:26 mark when Davis Holly hit a 3-pointer, but the Bearcats rallied again to pull within 87-81 on a layup by Boydell. Pacific's lead was 93-86 after Boydell hit a 3-pointer with 11:16 to go and added a layup with 10:32 remaining.
The Boxers scored the next five points on a 3-point basket by Nick Drynan and a jumper by Andy Isokpehi for a 98-86 edge. The Boxers maintained a double-digit lead the rest of the way. WU ended the game with a 10-2 run, including Boydell's final points on a 3-pointer with 45 seconds left.
Willamette's school record for scoring is 46 points by Erik Clarkson against Southern Oregon on Dec. 7, 1991. Boydell finished four points short of the top six scoring performances in Bearcat men's basketball history.
Joining Clarkson in the top six are:
Mike Cashman, 41 points against Warner Pacific College, Nov. 30, 1973
Doug Holden, 40 points (opponent not available), 1972
Bob Lundahl, 38 points against Lewis & Clark College, 1969
Ed Grossenbacher, 38 points against Linfield College, 1960
Cameron Mitchell, 36 points against University of Puget Sound, Feb. 23, 2008
Boydell's 32 points represent the fourth 30+ performance by a Bearcat during the past two seasons and it was the second 30+ effort for Willamette this year. Last season, Jordan Jenkins ('19) scored 32 points against Puget Sound on Feb. 9, 2019, just four days after scoring 31 points against Pacific (Feb. 5). This season, Daniel Plumer (Fy., PG, North Las Vegas, NV/Democracy Preparatory Academy) tallied 30 points against Nebraska Wesleyan University on Nov. 30, 2019.
On Friday, Boydell connected on 13 of 15 field goals and hit 6 of 7 shots from 3-point range. He did not make a trip to the free throw line. Cade Whicker (Fy., F, Fruit Heights, UT/Davis HS) added 18 points and grabbed nine boards for the Bearcats, while Plumer earned 17 points. Alec Barba (Jr., W, Dallas, OR/Central HS) scored 16 points, while going 6 for 9 from the field, including 4 for 6 on 3-pointers.
Eaglesmith achieved 14 points and made three 3-point shots for Willamette. Ben Sutton (Jr., F, Seattle, WA/Ingraham HS) scored six points, grabbed seven rebounds and recorded four assists. Dylan Streett (Fr., G, Santa Barbara, CA/Bishop Diego HS) also provided seven rebounds.
Holly paced the Boxers with 29 points on 10-of-17 shooting. He was 5 for 8 on 3-point attempts. Holly also was credited with seven rebounds, four assists and three steals. Drynan chipped in 22 points and 9 of 12 from the field, 4 for 6 from behind the arc. Isokpehi put through 14 points and grabbed six boards, while John Rigatti scored 13 points and hauled down seven rebounds.
Pacific started the game with a 17-1 streak that included a trio of 3-point baskets, including two by Holly. Barba sank a 3-pointer for the Bearcats with 17:18 left in the half to slow the Boxers' momentum. Isokpehi tacked on a jumper at the 16:34 mark to give Pacific a 19-4 margin, but the opening surge was over. Willamette eventually pulled within 22-12 on a layup by Eaglesmith with 14:25 remaining. A bit later, the Bearcats trailed 28-14, but responded with a 17-6 run that cut the deficit to 34-31 with 8:44 on the clock. The run included points from five Bearcats and ended with a 3-pointer by Boydell.
Willamette also moved within three-points at 38-35 on a layup by Boydell with 7:25 to go. The Boxers scored the next seven points, all by Drynan on a layup, a jumper, and a 3-pointer, for a 45-35 lead. The Bearcats cut the lead to 61-55 on a 3-pointer from Barba at the 2:05 mark, but Pacific concluded the half with a 10-2 run.
The Bearcats shot 57.7% for the game (45 of 78), including 53.3% from 3-point range (16 of 30). Willamette's 16 successful 3-pointers set a school record, breaking the 15 three-pointers scored by the Bearcats just six days ago (Jan. 18) at Linfield. WU also gained a 45-42 rebounding margin against the Boxers. The Bearcats were unable to overcome 22 turnovers that helped Pacific gain a 35-12 advantage in points off turnovers. WU converted just 7 of 16 free throws (43.8%).
Pacific was 46 of 92 (50.0%) from the field and connected on 16 of 37 field goals (43.2%). The Boxers made 16 of 20 free throws (80.0%) and committed just 11 turnovers.
Willamette will host the University of Puget Sound on Saturday, Jan. 25. Tipoff at Cone Field House is scheduled for 6 p.m. (PST).
