By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

TACOMA, Wash. -- Ryder Hsiung (Jr., G, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) earned 22 points, including five 3-pointers, while Jack Boydell (Grad., W, Sonoma, CA/Sonoma Valley HS) registered 18 points with four trifectas, but the Bearcats lost a hard-fought Northwest Conference game to the University of Puget Sound, 90-89, on Friday, Jan. 12. The win at Memorial Fieldhouse on the Puget Sound campus improved the Loggers to 7-7 overall, 3-2 in the NWC. Willamette fell to 8-6 on the season, 3-3 in the NWC.

Boydell scored on a contested driving layup with 36 seconds remaining to tie the game at 85-85. Taj Phillips of Puget Sound broke the tie on a 3-pointer to the left of the key with six seconds on the clock, giving the Loggers an 88-85 lead. Josiah Frank (Jr., G, Turlock, CA/John H. Pitman HS) sank 1 of 2 free throws for WU with three seconds left to cut the margin to 88-86. Zane Miller increased the Loggers' advantage to 90-86 by converting two free throws. Hsiung hit a 3-pointer as time expired.

Hsiung was 7 of 8 on field goals, including 5 of 6 from 3-point range. He went 3 for 3 at the free throw line. Boydell was 7 of 9 from the field, while hitting 4 of 5 three-points shots. He did not shoot a free throw.

Both teams connected on 12 of 23 three-point attempts (52.2%). The Bearcats and the Logger were exceptionally good  on 3-pointers in the second half, as Willamette went 8 of 13 (61.5%) and PS hit 8 of 11 (72.7%) Hsiung and Boydell each sank three of their 3-point baskets in the second half, as Hsiung tallied 16 points and Boydell earned 15 points.

For the game, Caleb Moore (So., G, Wadley, GA/Washington County HS/Bard College) of Willamette scored 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting and a 4-for-4 night at the free throw line. He also supplied seven assists, five rebounds, and a steal. Moore leads WU with 60 assists (4.3 avg.) and 30 steals (2.1 avg.) this season.

Gavin Weisweaver (Jr., G, Boise, ID/Vallivue HS/Treasure Valley CC) accumulated 13 points and hit 5 of 8 field goals for the Bearcats. Frank added nine points, while Gavin Rippere (Sr., F, Salinas, CA/Salinas HS/Clark College) recorded seven points, five boards, and four assists.

Three Loggers -- Phillips, Miller, and Hugo Rutherford -- each scored 16 points for Puget Sound. Phillips also provided eight assists and four rebounds. Miller was credited with five steals, four assists, and four boards. Rutherford grabbed eight rebounds and led all players with three blocked shots. Dez Baker tacked on 12 points and a team-high nine rebounds, helping PS claim a 39-27 rebounding edge.

Puget Sound was 37 of 72 on field goals (51.4%) and Willamette made 32 of 60 field goals (53.3%). The Bearcats sank 13 of 16 free throws (81.3%), while the Loggers converted 4 of 6.

Willamette held an 11-6 lead with 15:58 remaining in the first half after Moore sank a driving layup. The Loggers scored next on a jumper by Phillips at the 13:51 mark, but Hsiung answered with a 3-pointer, and WU led by four to eight points for just over three minutes. Hsiung added a trifecta with 9:59 to play, giving the Bearcats a nine-point lead at 28-19.

A bit later, Willamette used a 6-0 run on two free throws by Moore, a steal and layup by Moore, and a layup from Rippere, to expand the margin to 34-21 with 6:54 on the clock. The Loggers answered with a 13-4 run, ending on a 3-pointer by Liam Ruttlege with 43 seconds to go, leaving WU with a 38-34 halftime edge.

Hsiung started the second half by putting through a 3-pointer at the 19:38 mark. The Loggers tallied the next five points, but Willamette owned a 45-39 lead after Moore scored on two free throws with 16:42 left. The teams were close the rest of the way although Willamette soon held a 47-42 advantage and Puget Sound led 62-58 with 10:32 to play. WU scored 13 seconds later, and neither team led by more than three points for the next five-and-a-half minutes.

Will Mathews of Puget Sound sank a layup with 5:37 left and Phillips added a 3-pointer at the 5:09 mark, as the Loggers grabbed a 79-71 lead. Boydell quickly answered with a 3-pointer and the Bearcats eventually tied the game at 81-81 on a fast-break layup by Rippere with 2:16 to go.

During the game, there were 11 ties and 12 lead changes. The teams were tied 10 times in the final 15:07.

Willamette will play at Lewis & Clark College on Friday, Jan. 19. Game time in Portland, Oregon, is set for 8 p.m. PST.