Byk Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

FOREST GROVE, Ore. -- Terry Sherman (So., F, Lake Charles, LA/St. Louis Catholic HS) led Willamette University with 17 points and six rebounds, but Pacific University defeated the Bearcats, 99-68, on Friday, Feb. 10 at the Stoller Center. Sherman was 7 of 15 from the field and 2 for 5 on 3-point shots. He has scored in double figures in four of Willamette's last six games.

Pacific upped its season record to 10-12, while improving to 5-8 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette dropped to 5-16 overall, 1-12 in the NWC.

Following Sherman on WU's scoring chart was Jack Boydell (Sr., F, Sonoma, CA/Sonoma Valley HS) with 10 points. Boydell, who has scored at least 10 points in 19 of 21 games this season, increased his career total to 1,037 points. He is averaging 19.8 points per game in 2022-23.

Josiah Frank (So., G, Turlock, CA/John H. Pitman HS) added eight points and five rebounds for the Bearcats. Levi Basurto (Fy., W, Lahaina, HI/Maui Preparatory Academy) also hauled down five boards.

The top scorer for Pacific was Jacob Bolger with 26 points, as he connected on 9 of 13 field goals and made 8 of 9 free throws. The Boxers were 21 of 27 (77.8%) at the free throw line, while Willamette sank 9 of 14 free throws (64.3%)

Lucas Winkler supplied a double-double for the Boxers by scoring 19 points and grabbing a game-high 13 rebounds. Walker also recorded eight assists and seven steals. Antoine Stitt, Ethan Moss, and Truman Young each tallied nine points for Pacific.

Willamette scored first on a layup by Frank just moment's after Basurto won the opening tip. The Boxers registered the next three points on their way to a 9-4 lead with 16:43 on the clock. The early run by Pacific ended with a traditional three-point play by Isaiah Africano. WU cut the deficit to 9-8 a bit later on a fast-break jumper by Boydell and the Bearcats took an 11-10 advantage on a 3-pointer by Frank with 13:34 left in the half.

Stitt answered with a 3-pointer for Pacific to return the lead to the Boxers. Willamette's Meelad Doroodchi (Jr., F, Mooresville, NC/Pine Lake Preparatory) tied the game at 13-13 with a layup, but Pacific tacked on the next four points. After WU moved within 17-15 on a pair of free throws by Kenny Wright Jr. (Jr., G, Dallas, TX/R.L. Turner HS), Moss connected on a 3-pointer for Pacific with 11:34 to play. The 3-pointer started an 8-2 run as the Boxers grabbed a 25-17 margin.

The Bearcats trailed 30-23 following a layup by Boydell at the 7:46 mark. Pacific answered with a 10-0 run that included four points each by Bolger and Dimitri Cohen for a 40-23 edge with 2:38 left. The Boxers held a 44-26 lead with 1:49 to go, but the Bearcats earned the last four points of the period to cut the margin to 44-30.

Willamette scored four of the first six points in the second half to move within 46-34 on a free throw by Boydell with 18:25 remaining. Pacific expanded its lead to 56-36 at the 15:33 mark following a 3-pointer by Winkler. The Boxers led by double digits the rest of the way, but Willamette did cut the margin to just 11 points at 69-58 with 8:03 left on a layup by Jordan Pearce (Jr. F, Meridian, ID/Meridian HS). The Boxers replied with a 9-0 run to stop Willamette's comeback.

For the game, Pacific shot 49.3% from the field (33 of 67) and hit 12 of 28 three-point shots (42.9%). The Boxers claimed a 45-38 rebounding margin. Willamette was 26 of 68 on field goals (38.2%) and converted just 7 of 24 long-range shots (29.2%). The Bearcats outscored the Boxers 34-32 in the paint. and held a 14-10 advantage in second-chance points as both teams recorded 11 offensive boards.

The Bearcats will play Pacific Lutheran University on Saturday, Feb. 11 at Cone Field House in Salem, Oregon. Game time is slated for 6 p.m. (PST). It will be Senior Day for Willamette, as the Bearcats will honor the seniors on the men's basketball, women's basketball, and cheerleading teams.