Puget Sounds Pulls Away in Second Half to Defeat Bearcats, 100-62

Loggers Remain Undefeated in NWC.

Salem-News.com Sports

TACOMA, WASH. - The University of Puget Sound went on a 16-2 run in the first 3:41 of the second half, as the Loggers pulled away from Willamette University for a 100-62 Northwest Conference victory on Saturday, Jan. 24. Puget Sound, ranked 11th by D3Hoops.com, improved to 15-2 on the season, 8-0 in the NWC. Willamette fell to 8-7 overall, 4-4 in the NWC.

Willamette trailed 45-34 at halftime. The run by the Loggers at the start of the second half gave UPS a 61-36 advantage with 16:19 left in the game.

Puget Sound, which plays an up-tempo, high pressure style, forced 19 Willamette turnovers, but the Loggers also lost the ball 17 times. UPS was called for 24 personal fouls, while the Bearcats finished with 16 fouls.

Jason Foster of UPS led all scorers with 20 points. He was 9 of 10 on field goals. Robert Krauel provided 16 points and Kaleb Shelton scored 10. Antwan Williams earned eight assists, while scoring eight points and achieving three steals.

For the Bearcats, Cameron Mitchell (Jr., Post, Portland, OR/Grant HS/U. of Redlands) put in 13 points and grabbed six boards. Corey Costantino (Sr., Wing, Ashland, OR/Ashland HS) scored 11 points for the 'Cats and Marcus Holmes (So., PG, Seattle, WA/Garfield HS) contributed 10 points. Holmes also grabbed six rebounds.

WU led 14-13 following a 6-0 run that ended with a layup and a jumper by Kyler McClary (Sr., Post, Hillsboro, OR/Glencoe HS). The score was tied at 17-17 with 12:15 left in the half, before UPS surged in front with eight consecutive points. Six points were earned on 3-pointers by Shelton and Colin Koach.

The 'Cats trailed by six points, 33-27, at the 4:17 mark, after a jump shot by Mitchell. Koach and Krauel tallied the next two baskets for UPS, before Costantino provided WU with a jumper and a free throw with 3:11 remaining. The Loggers outscored the 'Cats 8-4 to end the period.

Puget Sound shot 58.9% during the game (43 of 73) and connected on 8 of 20 three-pointers. Willamette shot 40.2% (25 of 62), but converted just one of 11 shots from behind the arc. Both teams struggled at the charity stripe, with UPS sinking 6 of 17 free throws and Willamette making 11 of 28.

The Loggers concluded the night with a 49-36 rebounding edge. Austin Boyce led UPS with seven rebounds. Each team earned double-digit offensive boards, as Puget Sound grabbed 13 and Willamette finished with 11.

After playing five of its first eight NWC games on the road, Willamette will return to Cone Field House for its next two contests. The Bearcats will host nearby rival Linfield College on Tuesday, Jan. 27th at 8:00 p.m. (PST). WU will take on Pacific Lutheran University on Friday, Jan. 30th, also at 8:00 p.m.

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