By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Jack Boydell (Sr., F, Sonoma, CA/Sonoma Valley HS) scored a game-high 28 points and contributed eight rebounds for Willamette University in a non-conference battle with Hardin-Simmons University (Texas) in men's basketball on Tuesday, Dec. 20 at Cone Field House. The game was close for most of the contest, with neither team leading by more than five points during the final 18 minutes of the first half or the opening eight minutes of the second half. Hardin-Simmons went on a 15-3 run to take an 81-67 lead with 9:04 remaining and the Cowboys went on to win the game 107-92.

Hardin-Simmons improved to 7-4 on the season. Willamette fell to 3-6 overall. The Bearcats do not play again until Friday, Dec. 30, when they will host Douglas College (Canada) at 4 p.m. (PST).

On Tuesday, Boydell earned his 28 points by hitting 10 of 16 field goals for the Bearcats, including 3 of 7 from behind the 3-point arc. He was 5 for 5 at the free throw line. In addition to grabbing eight rebounds, Boydell also supplied two assists and one steal. He has scored more than 20 points in five games this season, including four of Willamette's last five contests. He has reached double-figure scoring eight times in nine games.

Ryder Hsiung (So., G, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) tacked on 18 points against Hardin-Simmons, as he made 6 of 9 field goals and went 2 for 5 on 3-point attempts. He was 4 for 4 on free throws. Hsiung provided WU with four rebounds, earned three assists, and blocked one shot. Terry Sherman (Jr., F, Lake Charles, LA/St. Louis Catholic HS) scored 10 points, while Josiah Frank (So., G, Turlock, CA/John H. Pitman HS) chipped in nine points and produced a team-high five assists.

Hardin-Simmons was paced by Will Bartoszek with 25 points on 9-for-15 shooting. He also led the Cowboys with four assists, and finished with four rebounds and three steals. Austin Brewer amassed 21 points and a game-high 11 rebounds, while blocking three shots.

Calaway Dykes scored 19 points for HSU as he hit a trio of 3-point shots and went 8 for 8 at the line. Also reaching double figures were Jamison Bosch with 11 points and Steven Quinn with 10. Quinn topped all players with four steals.

The Cowboys took a 7-0 lead on two layups by Batoszek and a 3-pointer by Dykes with 18:39 left in the first half. Willamette responded with a 7-0 run that started with a 3-pointer by Mason Hoffman (Jr., F, Sammamish, WA/Seattle Preparatory School) and continued with a jumper from Boydell and a jumper by Mitch Lind (Fy., G, Midway, UT/Wasatch HS). Just 1:18 went off the clock during Willamette's run.

Neither team could establish a sizable lead during the rest of the half. A short 5-0 surge by Hardin-Simmons gave the Cowboys a 14-9 advantage following a jump shot by Jared Bomer at the 14:48 mark. The Bearcats tallied the next five points and then took a 17-14 lead on a 3-pointer by Boydell with 13:27 on the clock. 

The Cowboys owned a 23-21 edge on a free throw by Quinn with 10:03 remaining. WU tied the game 12 seconds later on a dunk by Gavin Rippere (Jr., F, Vancouver, WA/Salinas HS).

A bit later, HSU grabbed a 33-27 lead on a 3-pointer by Austin Arnold, but the Bearcats countered with a 7-0 run to move in front 34-33 on a pair of free throws by Hsiung when the clock reached 6:07. The tight battle continued, with the Cowboys claiming a 48-47 lead at the break following two free throws by Jason Justice with 47 seconds to go.

Brewer of HSU took three shots early in the second half before scoring on a layup. Quinn added a basket at the 19:14 mark to give the Cowboys a 52-47 edge. Willamette scored the next eight points, including four by Boydell, to take a 55-52 lead with 17:08 left. Each team tacked on a basket before Bosch hit a 3-pointer to tie the score at 57-57.

Bosch scored next on another 3-pointer, as the Cowboys moved into the lead, only to see Hsiung tie the score again with a 3-pointer. WU held its final lead of the game a bit later at 62-61 on a jump shot by Lind as the clock reached 13:39 to play.

About a minute later, the Bearcats were within 66-64 after Sherman put through a jumper. The Cowboys followed with their decisive 15-3 run to build a 14-point margin. Willamette pulled within 81-71 on a 3-point basket from Hsiung with 8:34 remaining, but the Bearcats were unable to get closer.

Willamette shot an impressive 63.3% from the field (19 of 30) in the first half, but slipped to 47.9% for the game (35 of 73). The Bearcats connected on 9 of 23 three-point shots (39.1%) and sank 13 of 19 free throws (68.4%). Willamette achieved a 44-35 advantage on the boards.

The Cowboys shot exactly 50% on field goals (37 of 74), including 8 of 21 (38.1%) from 3-point range. HSU was 25 for 35 (71.4%) at the free throw line, as the Cowboys finished with a 12-point edge on free throws made. Hardin-Simmons forced 19 turnovers resulting in 28 points, while the Cowboys lost the ball just seven times leading to 11 points for the Bearcats.