Tacoma, Wash. - Willamette Men's Basketball made a strong comeback against the University of Puget Sound on Friday night but fell just short of the Loggers, losing 81-79. Kai Brown led the Bearcats in scoring with a career-high 28 points and was followed by Anujan Tennathur with 16 points, also a career-high.
Puget Sound opened the game by scoring the first four points and held the lead throughout the opening twenty minutes of play. The scoring combination of Josiah Frank and Kai Brown kept Willamette close, but a UPS layup with just under four minutes to play put the Loggers up 40-21, the largest lead of the half. Willamette ended the half on a 12-2 run, five points each coming from Brown and Tennathur, and cut the Puget Sound lead to nine at 42-33 as the game went to halftime.
The Bearcats continued to cut into the Logger lead in the second half thanks to continued scoring by Brown and seven early points from D'Ante Dean. Willamette got with a basket on several occasions, but UPS was able to maintain the lead for most of the half until an Aadem Isai three-pointer tied the game at 66-66 with just over six minutes left. The Loggers quickly took the lead back but Willamette tied it up on a layup by Frank with 2:24 remaining. With Puget Sound holding a two-point lead late, the Bearcats were unable to connect on a few final shots, and the game ended 81-79.
D'Ante Dean (12) and Josiah Frank (10) were the other Bearcats scoring in double figures for Willamette. Dean led the Bearcats in rebounds with 11, followed by Kahiau Bruhn with seven. Dean also led the team with three assists, while Frank added two.
The Bearcats will play their final game of the season at home on Saturday, February 22nd when they take on Pacific University at 4:00 p.m. Before the game, Willamette will honor its four student-athletes who are playing the final game of their careers: D'Ante Dean, Josiah Frank, Dylan Green, and Ryder Hsiung.
Willamette Top Performers
28 points
3 steals
12 points
11 rebounds
3 assists
16 points
5 rebounds
