Willamette Men Close Season at Whitworth and Whitman

Salem-News.com SPORTS

SALEM - Willamette will travel to eastern Washington this weekend to play its final two games of the season.

The ‘Cats play at Whitworth College in Spokane, Wash., on Friday, then play the next night at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Wash.

Both games are set for 8:00 PM.

Earlier this year, WU defeated Whitman, 89-80, and lost to Whitworth, 79-66, in home games at Cone Field House.

The Bearcats’ game against Whitman will mark the final game for three WU seniors.

Andrus and Stuvland will be making their final appearances in a Willamette uniform, while senior point guard Josh Erickson also will be finishing his WU career, although not on the court.

Erickson played in only two games this year after re-injuring his right knee.

He also missed the entire 2004-05 season with a similar injury.

Bearcat Notes:

• Andrus has reached double digits in scoring in 10 of Willamette’s last 12 games. During those 12 games, Andrus has averaged 12.6 points per game, and shot 55% (44 of 80) from the field, including 51.7% (15 of 29) from 3-point range.
• Andrus was nominated for NWC Player of the Week after averaging 19.5 points and shooting 45.8% (11 of 24) over the Bearcats’ two games last weekend.
• Andrus’ 12-for-12 performance from the free-throw line against George Fox matched the single game school record held by Ross Sovde, who achieved the mark against Pacific on Jan. 16th, 1990.
• Nugent has scored in double figures in nine straight games, and 17 of Willamette’s 23 games this year.

He has produced 20 or more points eight times, including a season-high 34 points against the University of Puget Sound on Dec. 1st.

He is averaging 16.0 points per game for the season, which puts in him in a tie for fifth place in the NWC in scoring.

His 59.0% shooting (135 of 229) ranks fourth best in the conference.

In their win over Linfield, the Bearcats converted 20 of 23 free throws as a team.

The 87% success rate tied for 11th on Willamette’s all-time single game list (min. 20 attempts).

The school record for free throw percentage is .955 (21 of 22) against Whitman on Jan. 23rd, 1999.

This year’s team also has tied for second on the list (.950, 19 of 20, vs. California Lutheran University, Dec. 29th) and for eighth overall (.880, 22 of 25, vs. Whitman, Jan. 20th).

WU concluded its home schedule with an 8-2 record at Cone Field House.

The Bearcats averaged 82.2 points per game at home, while shooting 51.1% from the field and 78.3% at the line.

WU’s only home losses were to Lewis & Clark (currently 16-6, 11-3 in the NWC) and Whitworth (currently 20-3, 10-3 in the NWC).

Willamette leads the Northwest Conference in two statistical categories: free throw shooting at 75.4% (398 of 528), and blocked shots per game at 3.52 (81 total).

Junior post Ian Mansfield is third in the NWC in rebounding with an average of 7.5 boards per game (172 total).

He hauled down a season-high 16 rebounds at Puget Sound on Dec. 1st.

Against George Fox last Friday, he led all players with 11 rebounds.

Willamette teammates Nugent and Kyler McClary are tied for 11th in the NWC in rebounding with an average of 5.4 rebounds per game.

Saturday’s game against Linfield featured 13 ties and 15 lead changes, including eight ties and six lead changes in the first half.

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