Casey Nelson and Greg Caldwell scored in double digits for the Missionaries, with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Caldwell was also just one rebound away from a double-double, as he grabbed nine. Sophomore Greg Ricker, who went for 17 in the first meeting between the teams, was held to two points and five assists. Kyle Dalvit finished with nine points and five rebounds, and was a perfect four of four from the free-throw line.
Four players finished with 13 points for the Bearcats. Drew Miller, John Olinger, David Force and Miles Sandgethe each contributed as Willamette shot 44.6 percent from the floor. Sandgethe also led the team with nine boards.
The Missionaries jumped on top early in the contest, taking a 6-2 lead after Dalvit finished a three-point play with a free-throw. The Bearcats responded with five straight, though, and took a 14-8 lead halfway through the first period. A layup by Dalvit and a Nelson jumper cut the lead to two points a minute later. The remainder of the half was controlled by Willamette, as the Missionaries went into the break down 27-20. The Bearcats opened up the second half with six straight before Caldwell hit a free-throw. Four minutes in the Missionaries fell behind by 17 at 37-21. The closest Whitman would get was 54-40 with 8:34 to play as the Bearcats cruised the rest of the way.
Whitman struggled from long range in the first half, but knocked down six of nine attempts during the second period.
The Missionaries play at Lewis & Clark on Saturday night. Willamette will host Whitworth.
Whitman vs Willamette 2/06/04 8:00PM at SALEM, OR, CONE FIELD HOUSE At SALEM, OR, CONE FIELD HOUSE WILLAMETTE 74, WHITMAN 54 WHITMAN (6-12, 2-7 NWC) Nelson, Casey 5-8 1-1 11; Caldwell, Greg 3-11 2-4 10; Dalvit, Kyle 3-5 3-3 9; Warner, Ian 2-5 0-0 6; Pounds, Jacob 2-6 0-0 5; Will, Cale 2-4 0-0 5; Kofler, Erik 2-2 0-0 4; Ricker, Greg 1-4 0-1 2; Airy, Matt 0-2 0-0 0; Moss, Mike 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 20-48 8-12 54. WILLAMETTE (13-5, 8-1 NWC) Miller, Drew 4-7 1-2 13; Sandgathe, Miles 6-15 0-0 13; Olinger, John 3-8 4-4 13; Force, David 6-12 0-1 13; Ralfs, Ryan 3-7 0-0 6; Sublett Jr., Harold 3-7 0-0 6; Garrelts, Brennan 2-4 0-0 4; Stuvland, Brett 1-1 0-0 3; McDevitt, P.J. 1-2 0-0 3; Erickson, Josh 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 29-65 5-7 74. Whitman....................... 20 34 - 54 Willamette.................... 27 47 - 74 3-point goals-Whitman 6-16 (Caldwell, Greg 2-6; Warner, Ian 2-3; Pounds, Jacob 1-3; Will, Cale 1-3; Airy, Matt 0-1), Willamette 11-27 (Miller, Drew 4-6; Olinger, John 3-8; McDevitt, P.J. 1-2; Stuvland, Brett 1-1; Sandgathe, Miles 1-5; Force, David 1-2; Erickson, Josh 0-2; Garrelts, Brennan 0-1). Fouled out--Whitman-None, Willamette-None. Rebounds-Whitman 35 (Caldwell, Greg 9), Willamette 35 (Sandgathe, Miles 9). Assists-Whitman 14 (Ricker, Greg 5), Willamette 18 (Force, David 7). Total fouls-Whitman 9, Willamette 15. A-1500