By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
McMINNVILLE, Ore. -- Willamette University junior guard Ryder Hsiung (Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) scored 17 points and connected on five 3-pointers as the Bearcats took on Linfield University at Ted Wilson Gymnasium on Saturday, Feb. 3. Hsiung was one of five Bearcats in double figures, but Linfield built a 40-31 halftime lead and went on to defeat Willamette 89-76.
The Bearcats fell to 12-8 overall and to 7-5 in the NWC. Linfield upped its record to 8-14 on the season, 2-10 in the NWC. The Bearcats and the Wildcats split the season series, as Willamette won 83-60 on Jan. 5 at Cone Field House.
Willamette held a 12-8 lead with 16:37 left in the first half. Hsiung provided the game's first three points on a trifecta, while D'Ante Dean (Jr., F, Nassau, Bahamas/British Columbia Christian Acad./Peninsula College) scored six points during the run.
Linfield tallied the next six points for a 14-12 lead on a jumper by Jack Greenwood. The Bearcats took a 15-14 edge on a layup and foul shot by Kahiau Bruhn (So., W, Waimanalo, HI/Kamehameha Schools-Kapalama) with 13:44 on the clock. WU eventually gained a 23-18 lead when Gavin Weisweaver (Jr., G, Boise, ID/Vallivue HS/Treasure Valley CC) put through a 3-pointer with 9:21 to go in the half.
The teams were tied at 23-23 on a 3-pointer by Linfield's Joshua Ryan at the 6:07 mark, and the Wildcats created a 29-24 advantage roughly a minute later on a 3-pointer by Reece Gibb. The Bearcats responded with a 3-pointer by Hsiung to pull within 29-27. LU countered with a trifecta from Greenwood with 4:05 to play, starting an 11-4 run to end the half.
After the Wildcats scored four of the first five points of the second half, Willamette went on a 5-0 run to cut the margin to 44-37 with 18:30 remaining. The mini-run started with a 3-pointer by Hsiung and was completed with a pull-up jumper in the lane by Weisweaver. Linfield scored the next six points, starting with a 3-pointer from Nick Tripaldi, to extend the lead to 50-37. The Wildcats never led by more than 16 points the rest of the way. Willamette moved as close as 56-46 on a free throw by Dean with 12:29 on the clock and 76-66 on a 3-pointer by Hsiung with 2:57 to go, but the Bearcats couldn't reduce the lead to single digits.
Hsiung has scored in double figures in 13 games this season for the Bearcats. On Saturday, other WU players in double figures were Dean and Josiah Frank (Jr., G, Turlock, CA/John H. Pitman HS) with 11 points each, and Bruhn and Caleb Moore (So., G, Wadley, GA/Washington County HS/Bard College), each with 10 points. Boydell was held to five points and one 3-pointer, but increased his career scoring total to 1,344 points, within eight points of Willamette's top 10. Boydell's record for career 3-point baskets increased to 177.
Dean and Bruhn both hauled down six rebounds for Willamette and combined for significant pressure in the paint. Dean was 4 for 5 on field goals and Bruhn sank 3 of 5 shots. Anujan Tennathur (Fy., G, Cupertino, CA/Saint Francis HS) contributed five boards. Frank led all players with six assists and also recorded two steals.
For Linfield, Greenwood earned 23 points and was 7 of 10 on field goals, including 3 of 4 on 3-pointers. He added four assists and two steals. Jackosn Dupree supplied a double-double with 19 points and 10 boards. Tripaldi registered 10 points and five assists.
The Wildcats shot 49.1% for the game (27 of 55) and made 10 of 26 three-pointers (38.5%). Willamette was 25 of 60 (41.7%) from the field, including 8 of 28 on 3-point attempts (28.6%). The teams shot 53 free throws, with Willamette going 18 of 29 and Linfield hitting 25 of 34. Willamette earned a 39-36 rebounding margin.
Up next for the Bearcats is a home game against Pacific University on Tuesday, Feb. 6. Tipoff at Cone Field House is slated for 8 p.m. PST.
