TACOMA, Wash. – Five Loggers scored in double figures as Puget Sound finished on top in a 90-89 victory against Willamette University on Friday night in Memorial Fieldhouse. 

The Willamette Bearcats took the first possession and were quickly swatted by freshman Hugo Rutherfurd, Taj Phillips rebounded and took the ball down the court for the first three points of the game. Phillips went 6-of-11 from the floor, while Rutherfurd hit 7-of-13, and Zane Miller sank 6-of-10 dropping 16 points each. Dezman Baker led the rebounding efforts with nine boards with four offensive rebounds adding 12 points and three assists. 

The game started with multiple possession changes, but the Bearcats kept inching away, up by 13 points with 6:54 left on the clock in the first half. However, Miller responded with three baskets to help reduce the deficit to four points going into the second half. The Bearcats outshot the Loggers 38-34. 

Both teams were shooting especially well in the second half, the Loggers went 22-for-34 for a 64.7% shooting rate and the Bearcats finished the half with a 56.7% rate. The Loggers finally tied it up with 15:07 on the clock and then Will Mathews started to get hot, dropping a three-pointer followed by a jumper and adding another three in the next play, but the Loggers were still only leading 58-55.

Puget Sound caught another flame after Ryder Hsiung made two free-throws. Miller, Rutherfurd, Mathews and Phillips combined for an 11-2 run with the Loggers leading by eight points. The Bearcats quickly responded with consecutive 3-pointers, tying it back up 81-81 with 2:16 left in regulation. The two teams were evenly matched going back-and-forth with 12 lead changes and 11 ties. Tied up with six seconds left in the game, the Loggers leave it to Phillips for the three point lead. However, Baker fouls and the Bearcats go 1-for-2 from the free-throw line, followed by Miller getting fouled and making 2-of-2 free throws for a four point lead that finished in victory. 

The Loggers had 39 rebounds compared to the Bearcats who only had 27, Puget Sound made more than twice as many offensive boards. The Loggers managed 27 points off the bench and 25 points from turnovers. Phillips assisted eight baskets, Miller made five steals, and Rutherfurd had eight rebounds adding three blocks in the win. 

The Loggers play at home again tomorrow, Saturday, Jan. 13 at 6 p.m. to take on Lewis and Clark College in Memorial Fieldhouse.