By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- Cameron Mitchell (Sr., Post, Portland, OR/Grant HS/Univ. of Redlands) fouled out with 2:57 left in his final basketball game for Willamette University on Saturday, Feb. 20, but not until he scored 23 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and earned four assists. Mitchell's efforts led Willamette to a 95-86 victory at Cone Field House over visiting Pacific University.

Mitchell ended his three-years at WU with 1,200 points and 791 rebounds. His performance on Saturday resulted in his 20th double-double this year. He scored 10 or more points in all 25 games. His career scoring and rebounding totals, including his freshman season at the University of Redlands, are 1,342 points and 959 boards.

Willamette shot 53.2% for the game (33 of 62) and made 13 of 21 three-pointers (61.9%), including 8 of 11 in the first half (72.7%).

The Bearcats ended the season with five wins in their last six games. Willamette upped its overall record to 9-16, including 6-10 in the NWC. After starting NWC play 0-7, the Bearcats went 6-3 the rest of the way. WU tied Whitman College for sixth place in the final standings. Pacific concluded the year at 8-17 overall, 4-12 in the NWC.

Pacific opened the game by double-teaming or triple-teaming Mitchell when he received the ball at the low post. In response, WU's outside shooters drained 3-pointers. Marcus Holmes (Sr., G, Seattle, WA/Garfield HS) opened the game with back-to-back threes for a 6-0 lead just 45 seconds into the game.

The Boxers registered the next seven points to surge in front, but Holmes added another trifecta at the 17:18 mark to give Willamette a 9-7 advantage. The three-pointer started an 8-0 run by the Bearcats that also included a jumper by Terrell Malley (Fr., G, Portland, OR/Roosevelt HS) and a 3-pointer by Taylor Mounts (So., Post, Kailua, HI/Iolani School).

Mounts hit his second 3-pointer and Willamette's fifth long-range shot to give the Bearcats a 22-15 lead seven minutes into the game. Another 3-pointer, this time by Mally, increased the margin to 10 points at 29-19 with 11:06 on the clock.

Pacific stormed back with a 10-2 run that left WU with a slim 31-29 lead with 7:57 remaining in the half. Willamette answered with a 10-0 run of its own and led by 12 points just over two-and-a-half minutes later. The Bearcats held a 51-38 advantage at the intermission.

Led by Mitchell, the Bearcats continued to hold a double-digit lead for most of the second half. Even so, WU could not get enough separation in the score to completely pull away from the Boxers. Pacific cut the lead to seven points at 60-53 with 12:44 left, but Willamette owned a 78-66 edge with 5:55 to go.

The Boxers tallied seven points in a row to reduce the deficit to just five points at 78-73. Ross Bartlett completed the run with a 3-pointer as the clock reached 4:48.

A layup by Mitchell and a 3-pointer from Mounts stretched the lead to 83-73 with four minutes left. The margin stayed between eight and 11 points until LeMar Anglin of Pacific scored on a layup and added a free throw at the 1:09 mark. The Bearcats converted 5 of 8 free throws the rest of the way to hold off the Boxers.

Bartlett was Pacific's leading scorer with 25 points. He hit 10 of 12 field goals and made 4 of 4 free throws. He also grabbed 11 rebounds to match Mitchell for game-high honors.

A.J. Gaulton tallied 15 points for the Boxers, while Anglin contributed 14 points. Colin Wester chipped in 12 points, seven boards and three steals.

A total of five Bearcats scored in double figures. Mitchell was followed by Mounts with 18 points, including 5 of 7 on 3-pointers.

Holmes and Malley each provided 17 points for the Bearcats. Holmes scored all 17 of his points in the first half. Ryan Meehan (So., Wing, Beaverton, OR/Beaverton HS/MSU-Billings) scored 10 points and contributed a great work rate at both ends of the floor.

Junior guard Robbie Kunke (Clackamas, OR/Clackamas HS) of Willamette led all players with eight assists. He also achieved five points and five rebounds.

Pacific shot 49.2% on field goals during the game (31 of 63), but made just 4 of 19 three-point attempts (21.1%). Willamette committed three more turnovers than the Boxers (16-13), but the Bearcats attained a 36-34 rebounding edge.

Mitchell scored more than 20 points a total of 16 times this season, including seven times against Willamette's eight conference opponents during the second half of the NWC schedule. He ended the year with 528 points (21.1 avg.) and 312 rebounds (12.5 avg.).