Salem, Ore. - Willamette fell to Whitworth University 81-63 in a Northwest Conference matchup on Saturday night. Josiah Frank scored 20 points for the Bearcats, who led 34-32 at halftime before the Pirates surged ahead in the second half.
The first half featured a back-and-forth contest with both teams exchanging leads multiple times.
Whitworth started strong with Jake Holtz scoring the opening points, contributing to an early 5-0 lead. Frank opened the Willamette scoring with a three-point basket but the Pirates were able to maintain their lead through the opening ten minutes of play until a layup by Caleb Moore tied the score 16-16 with just over nine minutes left.
Whitworth took the lead back moments later, but five straight points by Anujan Tennathur gave Willamette its first lead of the game, 23-22. Again, the Pirates took the lead back, but Tennathur's free throws in the closing seconds of the half sent Willamette to the locker room with a 34-32 halftime lead.
Kai Brown opened the second half with a pair of free throws to push the Bearcat lead to four, but five straight points from Whitworth gave them the lead back at 37-36. A Caleb Moore layup pushed Willamette back in front, but that was followed by a 10-0 Pirate run that gave the visitors a 47-38 advantage.
A three-point basket by Frank cut the Whitworth lead to six at 49-43, but another scoring streak by the Pirates made the score 58-43. The Bearcats cut into the lead a couple of times thanks to long-range jumpers by Ryder Hsiung and Frank, but Whitworth outscored Willamette 49-29 in the second half to earn the win.
The Bearcats finish up their four-game homestand when they host Linfield University on Friday, February 15th. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 pm.
Willamette Top Performers
20 points
4 three-point field goals
2 steals
13 points
6 points
5 assist
2 steals
