By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- Caleb Moore (So., G, Wadley, GA/Washington County HS/Bard College) provided Willamette University with 12 points, nine rebounds, and four assists, helping the Bearcats rally from a 13-point deficit in the second half to pull within 57-56 with 5:03 remaining, but Webster University held on for a 71-61 win on Saturday, Nov. 18. The game was part of the 2023 Webster Tip-Off Classic.
Willamette earned a 53-47 rebounding edge, but the Bearcats had a difficult shooting night at Grant Gym on the Webster campus. The Bearcats were 22 of 75 from the field (29.3%) and converted 7 of 33 on 3-point attempts (21.2%). Willamette was 10 for 15 (66.7%) at the free throw line.
The Gorloks of Webster experienced just enough offensive success, shooting 37.3% overall (25 of 67) and making 18 of 24 shots at the free throw line (75.0%), to offset going 3 for 19 on 3-pointers (15.8%). Webster held a slim lead in turnovers, as the Gorloks forced Willamette into 15 turnovers, while the home team lost possession 12 times.
Moore led the Bearcats on offense and was supported Ryder Hsiung (Jr., G, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School), who scored 10 points, and by Kahiau Bruhn (So., W, Waimanola, HI/Kamehameha Schools-Kapalama) and Josiah Frank (Jr., G, Turlock, CA/John H. Pitman HS), who each contributed nine points. Jack Boydell (Grad., W, Sonoma, CA/Sonoma Valley HS) finished with eight points.
Bruhn matched Moore on the glass with nine boards. Gavin Rippere (Sr., F, Salinas, CA/Salinas HS/Clark College) and D'Ante Dean (Jr., F, Nassau, Bahamas/British Columbia Christian Acad./Peninsula College) each grabbed seven rebounds. Bruhn led Willamette with three blocked shots, while the Bearcats blocked six shots overall.
For Webster, Jason Coleman recorded 15 ponts, including 8 for 10 at the free throw line. Markus Becton scored 13 points for the Gorloks, and Booker Simmons added 10 points. Alpha Diallo led all players with 11 rebounds, while Justin Ugo controlled 10 boards to go along with nine points. Nate Jones supplied six points, five assists, four rebounds, two blocked shots, and one steal.
The Gorloks started the game with a 16-2 run that included five points by Josh Luster and four points from Jemard Sykes II. Willamette's only points during the run were scored by Bruhn on a fast-break dunk that made the score 4-2 before Webster achieved the next 12 points. Later, Webster held a 27-13 lead with 8:48 to play in the first half following a jumper made by Simmons and the Gorloks were in front 35-22 at the 3:41 mark.
Willamette was resilient and produced an 11-2 surge that reduced the lead to 37-34 at halftime. Willamette's run started with a jump shot by Frank and a 3-pointer from Boydell, and ended with a layup and a free throw by Moore with 1:00 left. Neither team scored in the final minute of the half.
In the second half, Webster never trailed. Even so, Willamette was within 46-40 after Frank hit a 3-pointer for the Bearcats with 14:07 remaining. Webstere's lead expanded to 55-42 with 11:53 left, as Coleman scored on a layup. The Bearcats responded with an 14-2 run that featured scoring by six Willamette players. Hsiung pulled the Bearcats within four points on a 3-pointer as the clock reached 6:05. Bruhn completed the offensive outburst with a successful 3-point shot that cut Webster's lead to 57-56 at the 5:03 mark.
The Bearcats were unable to gain the lead, as the Gorloks tallied the next five points on a pair of jumpers by Simmons, plus a free throw by Ugo with 3:20 to go. Frank scored next for Willamette to reduce the margin to 62-58 with 2:05 remaining, but Webster closed the game with a 9-3 run.
Willamette will remain in St. Louis and complete its three-game road trip at Grant Gym on Sunday, Nov. 19 against Westminster College (Mo.). Game time is scheduled for 12:30 a.m. CST/10:30 a.m. PST.
