WALLA WALLA, Wash. – It was all Whitman College from the get-go in tonight's matchup against Willamette University. The Missionaries flexed their muscles and showed why they are one of the nation's top teams. Every player on the active Whitman roster accumulated points and at least one rebound en route to a 103-52 victory over Willamette.
 
The 12th-ranked Whits jumped out to an early nine point lead before the Bearcats brought the game back to just two points with 13:32 on the clock. From that moment, Willamette (7-15, 4-9 NWC) went cold, Whitman's (19-3, 11-2 NWC) defensive pressure tightened and the Missionaries used a 41-8 run to put the game away before the half.
 
Head coach Eric Bridgeland said the team fed off of the energy from the crowd and the seniors, "Senior Night is tomorrow, but it's almost like Senior Weekend. We have families here and I really feel like our guys fed off that energy and the energy from our seniors."
 
Although, it is Senior Weekend, the young Whitman team got a huge boost from the underclassmen. Sophomores, Tim Howell and Christian McDonald combined for 35 points, while Joey Hewitt added 14 and Jeff Kenney came off the bench and poured in 10. The Missionaries shot nearly 54-percent from the field and held Willamette to just 32-percent shooting on the night.
 
"We had a big focus on rebounding this week, crashing offensive boards and boxing out defensively. That allows us to get out and run and when we're running that is when we are at our best." Senior Tochi Oti said.
 
The game was close through the opening seven minutes, but Whitman was able to figure out a formula to keep Willamette off balance for the rest of the night. "I felt like we had a great week of practice," Bridgeland said. "And tonight wasn't their (Willamette) night and it was our night and that will happen."
 
Whitman entered the half with a 53-18 lead over the Bearcats and kept momentum heading into the second half. As the game continued, Whitman's lead grew bigger and bigger, not because Bridgeland's group was trying to run the score up, but because everything the team was throwing toward the basket was going in.
 
The lead reached 59 at its highest point with just under eight minutes to play. After a big win it can be difficult for a team to keep its focus on the next one, Oti did not seem to think that would be an issue, "We're not going to approach tomorrow's game any differently. We're going to come in with the same attitude we do every game."
 
When asked about his final game at Sherwood Oti reflected saying, "It's going to be a blast. Sharing the night with four of my guys is going to be great. Our program is like a family, really tight-knit and it's really good to have that support." Bridgeland's five words sum up what tomorrow will bring, "It's all about our seniors."
 
The game tomorrow night against George Fox University is set to tip at 6 p.m.