SALEM, Ore. -
Jacob Fotu scored a game and career high 25 points on a scorching 9-11 shooting off the bench and the Whitman College men's basketball team turned a halftime deficit into an 82-65 blowout win over Willamette in Northwest Conference action on Friday night.
Fotu's work came in only 14 minutes of action and was much needed as the Bearcats scored the game's first 10 points. Aiden von Buchwaldt also aided the Blues off the bench, scoring 13 points on 3-5 shooting from three. Ali Efe Isik added 12 points, five rebounds and four assists.
Josiah Frank scored a team-high 17 points and Kahiau Bruhn added 11 points and seven rebounds off the bench for the Bearcats who shot only 26% in the second half and saw the Blues score 51 points in the period.Â
Whitman quickly erased its 10-point hole to start the game. Efe Isik ignited a 9-0 response, halting the run with a basket then nailing a three pointer to whittle the lead to one point with 14:32 to play. Fotu later scored at the hoop on back-to-back possessions but the Bearcats still continued to lead.
Willamette would later push the lead back up to seven points but, late in the period, Isaiah Amato stuck a jumper to make it a 31-29 score with 1:18 to play. Kai Brown scored at the hoop as time expired and the Blues entered halftime with a four-point deficit.
The Blues took their first lead after consecutive Fotu buckets put them ahead 36-25 early in the second half. The two teams battled back and forth until Fotu became a man possessed. He went on a personal 13-0 run doing most of his damage in the painted area before drilling a three pointer to put his team up 55-49 with 8:30 to play.
The run continued as Amato scored at the hoop and von Buchwaldt nailed a three pointer to extend the lead to double digits at 60-49 with 6:47 to play. The Blues now had firm control when von Buchwaldt put the game to bed, hitting another three ball to give Whitman a 14-point lead with just over three minutes to play.
Whitman will look to sweep the weekend when they tip off at Lewis & Clark on Saturday afternoon at 4:00 p.m.
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