College Men's Basketball: University of Puget Sound 75, @ Willamette University 74

Willamette had two shots at winning the game. Kunke missed an off balance jumper with two seconds left. Cameron Mitchell (Jr., Post, Portland, OR/Grant HS/U. of Redlands) tipped the rebound and the ball rolled off the rim as time expired.

Saloem-News.com

SALEM, Ore. - The University of Puget Sound men's basketball team finished the 2008-09 Northwest Conference season with an undefeated record -- barely -- as the Loggers rallied from a 15-point deficit with 8:34 remaining to defeat Willamette University, 75-74, at Cone Field House on Saturday, Feb. 21.

UPS concluded the regular season with a 22-2 overall record and went 16-0 in the NWC. The Loggers will host a semifinal game in the NWC Tournament on Thursday, Feb. 26. Willamette, which gave UPS its closest NWC game of the season, ended the year at 12-11 overall, 8-8 in the NWC.

Willamette led 74-70 with 1:52 remaining, after Josh Erickson (Sr., PG, Keizer, OR/McNary HS) hit two free throws. Antwan Williams made one of two free throws for UPS with 1:35 to go. Later, he missed a shot with 1:02 remaining, but the ball rolled to him on the rebound and he scored to cut the WU lead to 74-73.

Kyler McClary (Sr., Post, Hillsboro, OR/Glencoe HS) missed a 3-pointer for the 'Cats with 29 seconds left. Williams drove into the lane with about 10 seconds left and was fouled by WU's Robbie Kunke (So., PG, Clackamsas, OR/Clackamas HS) with eight second on the clock. Williams sank both free throws to give the Loggers a 75-74 lead.

Willamette had two shots at winning the game. Kunke missed an off balance jumper with two seconds left. Cameron Mitchell (Jr., Post, Portland, OR/Grant HS/U. of Redlands) tipped the rebound and the ball rolled off the rim as time expired.

Puget Sound joined Willamette's 1987-88 team as the only men's basketball squads to complete the NWC season with undefeated records. The Bearcats were 10-0 in 1987-88 under then first-year Head Coach Gordie James. The 2008-09 season was James' 22nd at Willamette.

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