By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Ryder Hsiung (Jr., G, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) scored 24 points for Willamette University, while teammate Jack Boydell (Grad., F, Sonoma, CA/Sonoma Valley HS) added 22 points and six rebounds, but Multnomah University defeated the Bearcats, 114-97, on Saturday, Nov. 4. The game was an exhibition contest for the Bearcats and was the regular season opener for Multnomah. The Lions are 1-0 on the season.
Hsiung connected on 7 of 11 field goals and was 3 for 6 on 3-point shots. He also hit 7 of 9 free throws. Boydell was 7 of 14 from the floor and made a trio of 3-point shots. He was 5 for 6 as the line. Gavin Weisweaver (Jr., Boise, ID/Vallivue HS/Treasure Valley CC) tacked on 16 points and led WU with four 3-point baskets. Josiah Frank (Jr., G, Turlock, CA/John H. Pitman HS) scored 10 points.
Also for the Bearcats, Gavin Rippere (Sr., F, Salinas, CA/Salinas HS/Clark College) and Kahiau Bruhn (So., W, Waimanola, HI/Kamehameha Schools-Kapalama) each grabbed eight rebounds, while Caleb Moore (So., G, Wadley, Ga/Washington County HS/Bard College) contributed four assists and two steals.
The Lions were paced by Miles Macadory with a game-high 28 points on 9-for-14 shooting. Macadory was 5 of 8 on 3-point attempts and went 5 for 5 at the free throw line. Kadeem Nelson earned 16 points and four steals for Multnomah. Tyrese Taylor finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds, while Javier Turner scored 14 points and hauled down seven boards. Neyland Block was credited with 11 assists.
Multnomah shot 56.7% for the game (38 of 67), including 63.6% in the first half, when the Lions built a 61-48 halftime lead. The Lions were 11 of 24 on 3-point shots (45.8%), and made 27 of 35 free throws (77.1%). The Bearcats hit 32 of 75 field goal attempts (42.7), including 13 of 37 on 3-pointers (35.1%). Willamette was 20 for 25 (80.0%) at the free throw line.
WU took a 4-0 lead in the first two minutes on a 3-point basket by Boydell and 1 for 2 free throws from Hsiung. A bit later, the Bearcats owned an 8-5 advantage following a layup by Hsiung, but Multnomah scored the next five points, ending with a 3-pointer by Macadory, to move in front, 10-8, at the 15:41 mark.
The score remained close during the next few minutes. A 3-pointer by Hsiung gave Willamette a 20-19 edge with 11:23 left in the half, before Multnomah went on an 8-0 surge for a 27-20 lead. The Bearcats were within two points at 30-28 following a pair of free throws by Boydell with 8:13 on the clock, but the Lions held a 37-28 lead after Neyland stole the ball and scored with 6:41 left in the half.
Willamette moved as close as 40-38 when Moore put in a layup with 4:47 remaining until halftime. The Lions held a 61-48 lead at the break.
The Bearcats reduced the deficit to nine points at 61-52 early in the second half, but couldn't get closer. A 3-pointer by Taylor with 15:50 to go provided MU with a 71-57 lead. The margin was similar for most of the remainder of the game.
Multnomah outscored Willamette by a modest 53-49 margin in the second half to secure the win. The Lions registered 13 steals during the game and finished with a 45-37 rebounding margin.
Willamette is set to open the 2023-24 regular season on Friday, Nov. 10 against Evergreen State College (Wash.) at Cone Field House on the WU campus. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. PST.
