By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University grabbed a 70-69 lead on layup by Daniel Plumer (Fy., PG, North Las Vegas, NV/Democracy Preparatory Academy) with 6:27 to play, but the University of Puget Sound answered by hitting back-to-back 3-point shots to start an 8-0 run, and the Loggers went on to defeat the Bearcats, 93-84, in a Northwest Conference game on Saturday, Jan. 25. The win at Cone Field House, advanced the Loggers to 9-8 on the season, 3-5 in the NWC. Willamette fell to 1-16 overall, 0-8 in the NWC.
Plumer topped all scorers with 28 points for the Bearcats. He was 10 of 19 from the field, including several spectacular plays. Two of his baskets were from 3-point range. Plumer also contributed seven rebounds, three assists and five steals. Cade Whicker (Fy., F, Fruit Heights, UT/Davis HS) supplied the Bearcats with 20 points, a game-high 15 rebounds, two assists and two steals. Whicker was 8 of 12 from the field. Jack Boydell (Fy., F, Sonoma, CA/Sonoma Valley HS) chipped in 10 points.
For the season, Plumer had accumulated 288 points for an average of 16.9 points per game. He has provided Willamette with double-digit scoring in 15 of 17 games, including each of the last seven games. He has registered 20 or more points six times.
Two players tied for Puget Sound's scoring lead in Saturday's game, as John Misel and Kobe Elsner each put through 21 points. Misel was 5 of 6 on 3-point shots, and also earned seven boards, two assists and four steals. Cal Hansen was credited with 11 points and hauled down 14 rebounds for the Loggers. Puget Sound received 10 points apiece from Jourdan Joseph and Jewell Day.
Plumer started the scoring with a 3-pointer just 12 seconds into the game. The Loggers answered with a 3-pointer by C.J. Geathers with 18:41 on the clock. The teams were tied again at 5-5, before Misel converted a 3-pointer to put Puget Sound in front with 17:06 to play in the half.
A bit later, Puget Sound held a slim 12-11 lead after Justus Eaglesmith (Jr., G, Sparks NV/Spanish Springs HS) scored in the paint for Willamette at the 14:50 mark. The Loggers scored the next eight points, ending with 3-pointers by Day and Misel, to increase the margin to 20-11 with 13:39 remaining.
Willamette pulled within 26-21 on a 3-pointer by Eaglesmwith with 8:27 left, but the Loggers followed with a 7-0 run. Puget Sound eventually led 38-23 with 3:55 to go in the half, after Joseph sank two free throws. The Bearcats ended the half with a 13-5 offensive surge to cut the lead to 43-36 at the half. Plumer, Boydell, and Alec Barba (Jr., W, Dallas, OR/Central HS) each hit a 3-pointer during the run.
The first basket of the second half was a 3-pointer by Misel of Puget Sound, and the Loggers held a 10-point lead two more times over the next three minutes. The Bearcats used a 6-0 run to pull within 50-46 on a 3-pointer from Eaglesmith at the 15:46 mark. The lead was reduced to 51-48 on a basket by Plumer with 14:49 on the clock. WU soon cut the margin to 52-50 on another field goal by Plumer nearly a minute later.
Puget Sound added a 3-pointer by Day, and the Loggers remained in front as the teams exchanged baskets for several minutes. A 3-point shot by Eaglesmith with 6:56 to go tied the score for Willamette at 68-68. Joseph made 1 of 2 free throws a couple of seconds later to give Puget Sound a 69-68 lead, but Plumer scored on a layup to put WU in front, 70-69, with 6:27 left.
A 3-pointer by Misel at the 6:21 mark returned the lead to the Loggers, and a 3-pointer by Elsner at the 5:32 mark increased the lead to 75-70. Elsner tacked on a jumper to complete the 8-0 run. The Bearcats moved within five points six times in the final 4:30, but couldn't get closer.
The Loggers made 29 of 57 field goal attempts (50.9%) and converted a solid 10 of 21 from 3-point range (47.6%). Puget Sound also sank 25 of 34 free throws (73.4%), while Willamette hit 9 of 16 free throws (56.3%. The Bearcats were called for 26 fouls. The Loggers picked up 14 fouls.
Willamette shot 47.8% from the floor (33 of 69), as the Bearcats made four more field goals than the Loggers. WU was 9 of 26 on 3-pointers (34.6%). The Bearcats finished the evening with a 40-37 rebounding edge, a 40-34 lead in points in the paint, and a 15-6 advantage in second-chance points.
Up next for Willamette is a Northwest Conference game at Lewis & Clark College on Tuesday, Jan. 28. Game time in Portland, Oregon, is slated for 8 p.m. (PST).
