By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

McMINNVILLE, Ore. -- The Willamette University men's basketball team matched one of the Northwest Conference's top teams in archrival Linfield University on Saturday, Feb. 19 at Ted Wilson Gymnasium, giving the Wildcats quite a battle for most of the game. The Bearcats and the Wildcats were tied 55-55 at halftime, and Willamette led 73-71 with 10:34 left in the contest. The teams were tied for the 11th time with 8:42 left, but the Wildcats pulled away to defeat Willamette, 99-85.

Jonathan Watts (Sr., W, San Diego, CA/Rancho Bernardo HS) topped Willamette with 22 points, a career-high 15 rebounds, and three steals. He was 7 of 14 from the field and 7 for 9 at the free throw line. Cedric Coward (Fy., F, Fresno, CA/Central HS) provided 20 points, 11 boards, two assists, two blocks, and two steals. Jack Boydell (Jr., F, Sonoma, CA/Sonoma Valley HS) added 19 points and four boards. Daniel Plumer (Jr., PG, North Las Vegas, NV/Democracy Preparatory Academy) supplied seven points and four assists.

It was the 19th double-double of the season for Coward, ending with a string of 15 consecutive games. Coward scored 466 points this year and averaged 19.4 points, 12.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.8 blocks, and 1.5 steals per game. He ranks third in the NWC in scoring and is the NWC leader in rebounds and blocked shots. He is fourth in the conference in assists.

Willamette ended the game with a 46-31 rebounding margin, including a 20-4 edge in offensive boards. Watts and Coward combined for 26 total rebounds and 10 offensive rebounds.

In addition to 11 ties, Saturday's game included six lead changes -- five in the second half. WU gained a 30-12 advantage in second-chance points, while Linfield earned a 20-9 edge in points off turnovers.

"Our guys played their guts out tonight," Willamette Head Men's Basketball Coach Kip Ioane said. "I am so proud of how they rose to the moment and battled the league co-champion wire to wire."

Willamette concluded the season at 6-18 overall, 3-13 in the NWC, while Linfield improved to 18-6, 13-3 in the NWC. The Wildcats finished the regular season tied with Whitworth University (20-4, 13-3 NWC) and Pacific Lutheran University (18-7, 13-3 NWC) for the NWC regular season championship. Linfield, Whitworth, and Pacific Lutheran will also be competing in the NWC Tournament next week. The tournament will be held at Linfield, with the semifinals set for Thursday, Feb. 24 and the championship slated for Saturday, Feb. 26. The Wildcats will take on Whitman College (11-13, 9-7 NWC) in one semifinal match-up, while Whitworth will take on the Lutes in the other semifinal.

Against Willamette, Max Lomnen of Linfield scored 22 points on 8-of-11 field goals and 5-of-7 free throws. Dempsey Roggenbuck chipped in 18 points and blocked two shots. Trey Bryant was credited with 16 points, five boards, and six assists. Jackson Dupree contributed 12 points, while Carson Bonine tallied 10 points and five assists.

The Wildcats owned the lead for most of the first half, but never led by more than eight points. Linfield was in front 13-6 with 15:01 on the clock following a layup by Bryant. The Wildcats went up 21-13 when Bryant sank a jump shot with 13:13 remaining. A bit later, the Wildcats held a 32-25 margin after a steal and layup by Lomman at the 9:32 mark.

Willamette forced the game's first tie at 39-39 on a 3-pointer from Coward with 5:22 to play. Linfeld added a free throw before WU countered with a short 5-1 run that created a 44-41 lead when Coward hit a pair of free throws with 3:32 left. The teams stayed close for the remainder of the half, including three more ties. Willamette was ahead 55-51 on two more free throws by Coward with 1:13 to go, but a dunk by Roggenbuck and a layup by Bryant allowed Linfield to tie the score at halftime.

For most of the second half, the intense battle continued with neither team leading by more than four points. Willamette held a couple of two-point margins, including 73-31 on a jumper by Watts. When Watts forced a 77-77 tie with 8:42 on the clock it was the sixth tie of the second.

Linfield went on a 22-8 closing run to secure the win. Even so, the Wildcats were in front by just seven points, 84-77, with 5:04 remaining. The Wildcats gradually achieved the final margin.

Willamette shot 39.2% from the field (29 of 74), but made eight 3-pointers compared with five trifectas for the Wildcats. In addition, the Bearcats sank 19 of 23 free throws (82.6%), while Linfield converted 14 of 22 free throws (63.6%). Linfield hit 40 of 65 shots (61.5%).