By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
GREENVILLE, Ill. -- D'Ante Dean (Jr., F, Nassau, Bahamas/British Columbia Christian Acad./Peninsula College) topped all scorers with 24 points and hauled down a game-high 12 rebounds in a 135-120 loss to Greenville University on Friday, Nov. 17 at H.J. Long Gymnasium. The Bearcats led 59-49 at halftime and held a 95-73 advantage with 11:10 left in the game, but Greenville used a non-stop, full-court press and hit 11 of 15 three-pointers the rest of the way, to rally for the win. Prior to the 3-point surge, the Panthers were just 6 of 34 from 3-point range, including 1 for 9 in the first nine minutes of the second half.
Greenville improved to 2-1 on the season. Willamette fell to 1-2.
Eight players finished with double-digit scoring for the Bearcats. Dean led the way with his 24 points, while Ryder Hsiung (Jr., G, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) and Josiah Frank (Jr., G, Turlock, CA/John H. Pitman HS) each added 16 points. Jack Boydell (Grad., W, Sonoma, CA/Sonoma Valley HS) contributed 15 points. Kahiau Bruhn (So., W, Waimanola, HI/Kamehameha Schools-Kapalama) and Gavin Rippere (Sr., F, Salinas, CA/Salinas HS/Clark College) both tallied 13 points.
Also reaching double figures for Willamette were Caleb Moore (So., G, Wadley, GA/Washington County HS/Bard College) and Gavin Weisweaver (Jr., G, Boise, ID/Vallivue HS/Treasure Valley CC). Moore scored 11 points and Weisweaver chipped in 10 points. Moore provided the Bearcat with six assists.
On the boards, Dean's 12 rebounds were followed by Hsiung and Bruhn with nine rebounds apiece. Hsiung also registered four steals.
Greenville ended the game with five players in double figures. Kiarie Patrick recorded 19 points and a team-high nine rebounds. Ja'Rod Webb scored 15 points, while Grimmett Glenn and Malik Johnson both earned 14 points. Vincent Rodriguez tacked on 10 points to go with five rebounds, six assists, and four steals. Kaidyn Johnosn also provided four steals for the Panthers.
Willamette led by 16 points on two occasions in the first half. The Bearcats were in front 28-12 after Frank completed a traditional three-point play with 13:03 on the clock. A bit later, WU held a 32-16 margin following a layup by Hsiung at the 10:29 mark.
The Panthers cut the lead to nine points several times later in the half and reduced their deficit to 49-41 on a pair of free throws by Johnson with 2:38 to go. Greenville also pulled within eight points at 57-49 when Joseph Craig hit 1 of 2 free throws with 41 seconds left, but WU took a 10-point lead into halftime on a layup by Hsiung as time expired. Greenville was 5 for 25 (20%) on 3-pointers in the first half.
Early in the second half, the Bearcats went on a 7-2 run for a 66-51 lead. The Panthers scored the next five points, and the teams exchanged baskets for a few minutes. The Bearcats led 78-66 after Kendrick Alexander scored on a hook shot with 14:09 remaining for Greenville. Willamette answered with a 17-7 run that included points from five Bearcats and ended with a 3-pointer by Frank for a 95-22 lead.
Greenville's rally followed, as the Panthers heated up from 3-point range. Even with strong long-range shooting in the final 11 minutes, the Panthers finished 17 of 49 (34.7%) during the game from behind the arc. Willamette was 7 of 19 on 3-pointers for the game (36.8%), including 2 for 8 in the second half.
WU shot 57.0% on field goals (45 of 79) and made 23 of 35 free throws (65.7%). Greenville was 45 of 101 from the field (44.6%) and sank 28 of 47 free throws (59.6%). Willamette lost the ball 37 times, while the Panthers committed 17 turnovers.
The game featured 55 fouls with 31 called on Willamette and 24 on the Panthers. The game also included 100 rebounds, as the Bearcats claimed a 52-48 edge on the glass.
Willamette will take on the Webster University Gorlocks on Saturday, Nov. 18 in St. Louis, Missouri. Game time is set for 8 p.m. CST/6 p.m. PST. A Gorlock is a mythical creature designed by Webster staff and students through a contest in 1984.
