Box Score
By Ben Zimmerman
SALEM, Ore. -- Despite facing numerous deficits large and small, Whitman's 65-59 victory over Willamette in the Northwest Conference men's basketball opener for both teams here Friday vindicated each breathless, flop-sweating tenet of head coach Eric Bridgeland's high-octane offensive philosophy.
The Missionaries never decelerated. They played fast, frenetic, fearless ball; sometimes risky, usually at a scoreboard disadvantage.
But Willamette never seized treadmill control from the Missionaries, and obliged Whitman by mimicking its style and tempo.
Advantage -- and critical conference road win: Whitman.
Matt Mounier's 28-foot 3-pointer at the 6:44 mark of the second half gave Whitman (6-4, 1-0 in conference) the lead for good, capping a comeback from a 14-point deficit. Mounier's willingness to square up and launch from the boonies, when he had misfired on 7 of 9 previous long-range attempts, was an example of why Whitman trailed for most of the game -- but also won.
Philip Chircu and Tochi Oti (six rebounds, three assists) shared team-high scoring honors with 13 points apiece and were among five Whitman players to crack double-figures in the point column. Mounier (11 points, five rebounds, three assists), Evan Martin (12 points) and Josh Duckworth (11 points) joined them.
Mounier's go-ahead 3 capped a long climb out of the 46-32 hole Whitman dug itself during a listless start to the second half. The comeback began on a jumper by Clay Callahan that rattled in as the shot clock droned and picked up steam after free throws and a 3-pointer by Chircu. Oti slashed into the paint and kissed a left-handed layin off the window to pull the Missionaries within seven points, 48-41, then stole the ball in the backcourt and scored.
Mounier answered a Willamette basket with a deep 3-ball. Left alone in front of his own bench, Callahan measured and buried a 3-pointer to make it 51-49, Willamette, and Duckworth's finger-roll tied it up moments later. The teams traded baskets over the next two minutes, and Willamette's Avery Manu, who led all scorers with 16 points, converted a put-back for a 57-58 lead.
Cue Mounier from long range.
Oti's lefty runner gave Whitman a three-point lead, 60-57, with 4:39 left. Manu countered to shave the lead to one point, but Martin's offensive rebound after Duckworth split a pair of free throws (for a 61-59 advantage) allowed Whitman to run clock and forced Willamette to foul. Callahan's nifty over-the-top pass to a cutting Duckworth for an easy layin made it a four-point game, and Martin hit two free throws to seal it.
Whitman made 22 of 57 shots and attempted 22 3-pointers, making eight. It held Willamette to 23-of-50 shooting and forced 20 turnovers.
Whitman visits Pacific at 6 p.m. Saturday in Forest Grove, Ore.
BOX SCORE
