By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

WHITTIER, Calif. -- Jack Boydell (Sr., F, Sonoma, CA/Sonoma Valley HS) registered 22 points, seven rebounds, and two assists for the Willamette University men's basketball team on Saturday, Nov. 26 against Whittier College. The undermanned Bearcats, missing two starters, lost to the Poets 112-76. Whittier improved to 3-1 on the season. Willamette dropped to 2-3.

Terry Sherman (So., F, Lake Charles, LA/St. Louis Catholic HS) scored 11 points for the Bearcats on 5-of-8 shooting and provided two assists. Joshua Perez (Sr., W, Los Angeles, CA/John Marshall HS) and Jake Grossman (Fy., W, Henderson, NV/Coronado HS) each hit two 3-point shots on their way to eight points. Levi Basurto (Fy., W, Lahaina, HI/Maui Preparatory Academy) grabbed five rebounds., while Meelad Doroodchi (Jr., F, Mooresville, NC/Pine Lake Preparatory) and Josiah Frank (So., G, Turlock, CA/John H. Pitman HS) both dished out three assists. 

Willamette played without senior wing Jonathan Watts (San Diego, CA/Rancho Bernardo HS) and sophomore guard Ryder Hsiung (Honolulu, HI/Punahou School). Each started the first four games of the season, but Watts was out due an injury suffered against the University of Redlands on Friday and Hsiung was out due to illness.

Boydell has scored in double figures in four of five games this season, including a career-high 34 points at Multnomah University on Nov. 15. He sank 8 of 15 field goals against Whittier, while making 3 of 9 three-point shots. 

Bryant Howing paced the Poets with 30 points as he connected on 12 of 18 shots and went 5 for 5 at the free throw line. Kanal Bagga and Ethan Battistini earned 18 points apiece, while Kevin Dobson chipped in 14 points and Blake Lander scored 12. Bryden Lovdal led Whittier with seven rebounds, while Jude Agbassi finished with six boards. Bagga supplied WC with five assists.

The Poets started strong and shot 62.5% in the first half, while hitting 25 of 40 shots. Willamette shot a solid 18 for 34 (52.9%) in the first half, including nine 3-pointers, but went 2 for 5 on free throws, while Whittier sank 11 of 17 at the line. Whittier led 66-47 at the break.

Willamette was in front 6-5 after Perez sank a pair of 3-pointers in the first 1:12 after the opening tipoff. The Poets countered with a 9-2 run for a 14-8 lead with 17:17 remaining in the half. Cameron Stiepock completed the run with a 3-point basket. A few minutes later, with 12:51 on the clock, the Bearcats moved into the lead at 18-17 after Boydell hit back-to-back 3-pointers.

The Bearcats held a 21-18 lead on a 3-pointer by Frank less than a minute later, and took a 23-20 lead on a jumper by Mason Hoffman (Jr., F, Sammamish, WA/Seattle Preparatory School) with 11:39 on the clock. Whittier tallied the next 10 points in just over a minute to claim a 30-20 advantage. Willamette continued to battle, moving within four shots four times during the ensuing three minutes, including 37-33 on a layup by Sherman. WU reduced the margin to 41-39 at the 6:21 mark on a 3-pointer from Sherman.

Whittier went on an 8-0 run for a 49-39 edge as the clock reached 4:49. The Poets ended the half with a 17-8 surge to build their halftime lead. Whittier gradually added to its margin in the second half.

Up next for the Bearcats will be the Northwest Conference opener against Lewis & Clark College on Friday, Dec. 2 at Cone Field House. Game time is scheduled for 8 p.m. (PST).