By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Jack Boydell (Sr., F, Sonoma, CA/Sonoma Valley HS) scored a career-high 34 points and barely missed a triple-double for Willamette University in a non-conference men's basketball game at Multnomah University on Tuesday, Nov. 15. He supplemented his scoring with 10 rebounds and eight assists. Despite Boydell's exceptional night, Multnomah defeated the Bearcats, 97-80, at Lytle Gymnasium.
The Lions advanced their record to 2-1 on the season. Willamette fell to 1-1.
Boydell's previous scoring high was 32 points at Pacific University on Jan. 24, 2020. During Tuesday's game at Multnomah, he scored 18 points in the first half and 16 points in the second half. He finished 13 of 23 on field goals, including 5 for 12 from 3-point range. He was 3 for 3 at the line.
Joining Boydell in double figures were Ryder Hsiung (So., G, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School), Mason Hoffman (Jr., F, Sammamish, WA/Seattle Preparatory School), and Jonathan Watts (Sr., W, San Diego, CA/Rancho Bernardo HS). Hsiung scored 16 points and was 4 of 8 on 3-points shots, Hoffman tallied 11 points while going 4 for 5 from the field and hitting all three of his 3-point attempts. Watts contributed 10 points and seven rebounds. Levi Basurto (Fy., W, Lahaina, HI/Maui Preparatory Academy) grabbed seven boards, while Mitch Lind (Fy., G, Midway, UT/Wasatch HS) was credited with six rebounds and three assists.
Zach Richardson led Multnomah with 21 points to go with four assists and two steals. Charles Jones scored 16 points and produced five assists and four steals. Tyrese Taylor amassed 15 points on 6-for-7 shooting. Taylor Peppinger added 14 points and a game-high five steals. Neyland Block scored 13 points and hauled down eight rebounds, while accumulating eight assists, two blocked shots, and three steals.
The Lions scored the game's first 10 points and held a 10-3 lead after Boydell tallied his first points on a 3-point shot with 17:14 remaining in the first half. Hsiung tacked on another 3-pointer, as WU pulled within 10-6. A bit later, the Bearcats moved within a single basket at 11-9 when Watts sank a 3-pointer with 15:57 on the clock. Multnomah countered with a 9-0 run for a 20-9 lead and held a 24-11 margin following a dunk by Jones at the 14:02 mark.
Willamette trailed by 12 points, 30-18, on a layup by Basurto with 8:33 left in the half, but the Lions scored the next eight points for a 38-18 lead with 6:31 to go. The teams nearly matched each other in scoring over the remainder of the half, with WU holding a slim 14-12 edge until Boydell put through a 3-point shot with 22 seconds left, leaving Multnomah with a 50-35 advantage at the break.
Boydell hit baskets to pull the Bearcats within 14 points three times in the first six minutes of the second half, but the Bearcats were unable to get closer. After Boydell cut the margin to 59-45 on a layup with 14:10 left in the game, the Lions responded with a 9-0 run to grab a 68-45 lead with 12:40 remaining.
Turnovers played a key role in the game as Willamette lost the ball 29 times, while Multnomah finished with 12 turnovers. The Lions scored 44 points from Willamette's turnovers and the Bearcats registered 13 points off turnovers. WU gained a 51-43 rebounding margin.
Each team out shot the other team in one half of the game. In the first half, the Lions shot 50.0% (18 for 36) and WU shot 34.3% (12 for 35). In the second half, Willamette improved to 43.6% (17 of 39) while Multnomah fell off to 35.9% (14 of 39).
For the game, Multnomah shot 42.7% with the Bearcats at 39.2%. Multnomah was 25 of 32 (78.1%) at the free throw line and the Bearcats sank 8 of 12 free throws (66.7%).
Willamette will return to action on Wednesday, Nov. 23 at the University of La Verne (Calif.). Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m. (PST).
