Feb. 9, 2008

Bearcats Rally From Early Deficit to Beat Lutes

Box Score

Josh Dressler - 27 points

SALEM, Ore. - Willamette overcame a quick start by visiting Pacific Lutheran to take an 80-71 Northwest Conference men's basketball victory on Saturday night in Cone Field House.

With the victory, the Bearcats improve to 7-5 in Northwest Conference play and to 9-12 overall, while Pacific Lutheran is now 10-10 overall and 6-6 in the conference.

With Josh Dressler hitting his first five shots, the visiting Lutes raced out to a 22-9 lead nine minutes into the game. From that point on, however, the Bearcats took over, finishing the half with a 26-5 run and taking a 35-27 lead into halftime.

Willamette opened up a double-digit lead early in the second half and kept that margin throughout most of the final period. It's biggest lead of 17 points came when Corey Constantino hit a three-point field goal to make the score 78-61 with 2:56 remaining in the contest.

Dressler had a strong game for the Lutes and led both teams with 27 points. Scott McDaniels was the only other PLU player in double figures, finishing the game with 10 points. Kyler McClary topped the Bearcats in scoring with 19 points while Constantino finished the game with 16.

The game was a foul fest as the Lutes committed 27 fouls leading to a 34-for-43 performance at the foul line for the Bearcats. Willamette committed 24 fouls, but the Lutes were less effective at 19-for-30 on their charity tosses.

Pacific Lutheran returns to action next Friday when it takes on Whitworth at 8 p.m. in another Northwest Conference contest.

-PLU -