By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- Bridger Harlington (Jr., Wing, Lake Tapps, WA/Auburn Riverside HS) scored 15 points and Kyle McNally (Sr., F, Salem, OR/Sprague HS) hauled down a career-high 15 rebounds, as Willamette University held off Pacific Lutheran University, 64-55, in a Northwest Conference game on Friday, Feb. 13 at Cone Field House.

Willamette upped its record to 9-14 overall, 7-7 in the Northwest Conference. Pacific Lutheran University slipped to 7-15 on the season, 5-8 in the NWC.

The Bearcats moved into fourth place in the NWC standings, one-half game in front of Pacific University (6-7) and University of Puget Sound (6-7). Pacific lost at Whitman on Friday, 80-56, while Puget Sound won at Linfield College, 76-67. The top four teams in the final regular season standings will advance to the NWC Tournament.

Dylan Foreman of Pacific Lutheran led all players with 26 points on 9 of 12 shooting, including 6 for 6 on 3-point shots. He was the only Lute in double figures. Bryce Miller earned a team-high six rebounds. Miller and Brandon Lester each supplied four assists.

Harlington topped Willamette in scoring, while Brandon Luedtke (Jr., F, Meridian, ID/Mt. View HS) and Brendon McCullough (Fr., G, San Antonio, TX/Home Schooled) each scored 14 points. Luedtke also recorded eight rebounds, two blocks and three steals. Nico Troplent (Fr., Wing, Los Angeles, CA/Cathedral HS) chipped in nine points.

McNally's 15 boards helped the Bearcats outrebound Pacific Lutheran, 46-29, including a 17-5 edge in offensive caroms. McNally's previous high was 12 rebounds against Whitman College two weeks ago on Jan. 30.

Willamette took a 4-0 lead, but Pacific Lutheran earned the next eight points. The Bearcats moved in front 9-8 on a layup by Luedtke with 13:20 remaining in the half. Willamette increased its advantage to 12-8 when Joseph Jackson (Sr., Wing, Hillsboro, OR/Hillsboro HS) made a layup and a foul shot less than a minute later.

PLU countered with a 7-2 run to take a 15-14 advantage with 10:38 on the clock. Harlington put through a 3-pointer for WU at the 9:15 mark to give the lead back to the Bearcats. Harlington's trifecta started a string of eight unanswered points, as Willamette claimed a 22-15 edge with 7:06 left.

The Lutes tied the score two times later in the half, but Willamette broke the second tie for a 28-26 lead on a jumper by Troplent with seven seconds to go. The Bearcats kept the two-point lead at the break.

After PLU tied the scored two more times early in the second half, the Bearcats went on a 6-0 run for a 36-30 lead with 17:43 remaining. McCullough began the run with a jumper and a foul shot, while Harlington added a free throw and McNally completed the run with a layup. The Lutes responded with six points of their own for a 36-36 tie with 13:24 to play.

WU broke the tie with a free throw by McCullough, and then surged out to a 43-36 lead with 9:55 left on the strength of 3-pointers from McCullough and Harlington. Pacific Lutheran reduced the margin to 45-42 after Foreman sank a 3-pointer with 8:48 remaining, but the Lutes never got closer.

Even so, the game was not decided until the final minute of play. Willamette held a strong position after Harlington completed a four-point play on a 3-point basket and a foul shot with 2:18 to go, as WU took a 58-49 lead.

The Lutes, however, received a 3-pointer from Foreman 20 seconds later and added a free throw by Brandon Lester with 1:20 left to pull within 58-53. The Bearcat sank 6 of 8 free throws in the final 1:12 to clinch the victory.

Willamette shot 37.3% from the field (22 of 59) during the game, nearly matching PLU's 38.9% (21 of 54). The Lutes gained an edge from 3-point range, hitting 9 of 18 attempts, while the Bearcats went 6 for 23 (26.1%).

Neither team excelled at the free throw line, but WU took 17 more attempts. The Bearcats converted 14 of 24 free throws (58.3%), while the Lutes finished 4 for 7 (57.1%).

The Bearcats will travel to McMinnville, Ore., on Friday, Feb. 20 to take on archrival Linfield College. Game time at Ted Wilson Gym is set for 8 p.m. (PST). Willamette will close out the regular season with Senior Night at Cone Field House on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 6 p.m.