By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Cedric Coward (Fy., F, Fresno, CA/Central HS) scored a career-high 30 points and Willamette University mounted a fierce rally from a 25-point deficit in the second half to get as close as three points with just over three minutes left, but Pacific University held on for a 99-90 win on Friday, Feb. 18 at Cone Field House. The Boxers led 64-39 with 17:54 to go, before Willamette stormed back with a 46-24 run to pull within 88-85 on a floating jumper by Jonathan Watts (Sr., W, San Diego, CA/Rancho Bernardo HS) with 3:07 remaining.
Pacific advanced its record to 10-14 overall 6-9 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette slipped to 6-17 on the season, 3-12 in the NWC.
The Boxers also led by 25 points in the first half at 43-18 with 5:49 left. Pacific owned a 52-32 lead at halftime after connecting on 9 of 13 three-point shots. The Boxers regained a 25-point margin with a 12-7 run to open the final 20 minutes. Willamette's massive rally followed, with the Bearcats falling just short.
Coward's previous high was 27 points against Whitman College on Feb. 6. Against Pacific on Friday, he was 12 of 19 from the field, including 2 of 4 on 3-pointers. He went 4 for 4 at the line. Coward also grabbed 13 rebounds, and was credited with five steals, three assists, and three blocks.
Also reaching double-digits in scoring for the Bearcats were Watts, Josiah Frank (Fy., G, Turlock, CA/John H. Pitman HS), and Daniel Plumer (Jr., PG, North Las Vegas, NV/Democracy Preparatory Academy). Watts finished with 19 points, four rebounds, three steals, and an assist. Frank tallied 13 points and was 5 for 7 from the field, while Plumer scored 11 points.
Jacob Bolger of Pacific ended the game with 29 points and was 14 of 16 on field goals. Bolger hauled down seven rebounds and blocked two shots. Mario Mora supplied the Boxers with 26 points, including a strong night from 3-point range as he hit 7 of 11 shots from behind the arc. Lucas Winkler produced 17 points, seven rebounds, 10 assists, and three steals. Trevon Ridley scored 12 points to go with six boards.
The Bearcats trailed by a modest 13-8 margin after Coward scored on a layup with 14:44 to play in the first half. Pacific gradually pulled away, taking a 26-12 lead on a 3-pointer from Mora with 10:18 on the clock, and earning a 34-24 advantage on a 3-pointer by Mora at the 8:26 mark. Mora was 5 for 7 on 3-point attempts in the first half and led all scorers with 15 points at the break. Bolger of Pacific and Coward of Willamette each had 13 points at halftime.
Pacific's surge at the start of the second half was completed with a driving layup by Winkler that gave the Boxers a 64-39 lead. WU reduced the margin to 66-49 after Coward scored on a layup with 15:15 to go. The Bearcats moved with 68-55 with 13:28 left on pair of free throws by Jack Boydell (Jr., F, Sonoma, CA/Sonoma Valley HS).
The Boxers extended their lead to 20 points twice, including 81-61 following a free throw by Winkler with 9:38 on the clock. The Bearcats scored the next 14 points to get within 81-75 on a layup by Coward at the 6:55 mark. WU's surge also included a dunk by Coward, plus one 3-pointer each by Frank and Watts.
About a minute later, Pacific owned an 86-77 lead, but Willamette countered with an 8-2 run to get within one possession at 88-85. The floater by Watts at the 3:07 mark followed an offensive foul by Bolger of Pacific 26 seconds earlier. Watts forced a turnover by Pacific with 2:57 to play, but missed a shot on the ensuing fast-break. The Boxers added a layup by Ridley with 2:36 left to open a 5-0 run for a 93-85 edge with 1:31 remaining. Willamette cut the lead to six points three times, but couldn't get closer.
Pacific hit just 2 of 9 three-point shots in the second half, but finished 11 for 22 overall from 3-point range (50.0%). The Boxers were 38 of 59 from the field (64.4%). The Bearcats shot 44.4% for the game (32 of 72), but connected on 22 of 39 shots (56.4%) in the second half. WU was just 6 of 26 on long-range shots (23.1%). The Bearcats went 20 for 26 (76.9%) at the free throw line.
Willamette will play its final game of the season against nearby rival Linfield University in McMinnville, Oregon. Game time at Ted Wilson Gymnasium is set for 6 p.m (PST).
