Freshman Tyler Gutierrez reached double figures for the second time this season on Tuesday.
Reserves propel Cavs to 76-66 win over Willamette
PORTLAND, Ore. – With 30 points from its bench, No. 13-ranked Concordia University overcame poor free throw shooting to pull away from Willamette 76-66 in a non-conference men's basketball game Tuesday night at Cavalier Gymnasium.
Sophomore
Davis Nuaimi (Fontana, Calif./Etiwanda H.S.) set a new career high with 16 points, including 3 of 3 3-pointers in the first half to keep Concordia (10-2, 1-1 Cascade Collegiate Conference) within striking distance. The Cavaliers had to play catch-up against the NCAA Division III Bearcats most of the first half while they struggled to make shots in the opening minutes.
The teams combined for 19 first-half turnovers, as both sides looked out of sorts early offensively. Willamette (2-5) took its largest lead at 23-19 just after the midpoint of the period, but the margin wouldn't last long. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Nuaimi gave the Cavaliers their first lead, sparking the hosts to an 18-10 run before the break to give Concordia a 37-33 heading to the half.
The Cavs went up six points early in the second half and appeared ready to put the game away before an 8-0 Bearcat run made it a battle again. Willamette forced Concordia into bad shots during the run and staked a 53-49 lead with 11 minutes left. However, as it had most of the season, it was pressure defense that again saved the day for the Cavaliers.
Concordia scored 10 straight in a 16-2 run to finally take control, forcing turnovers with the press and hounding the Bearcats up and down the court. Offensively, the Cavs eventually got into a rhythm by methodically dropping the ball into the post. Willamette had no answer for the size of Justin Searle,
Esvan Middleton (Culver City, Calif./Culver City H.S.) and
Tyler Gutierrez (Beaverton, Ore./Sunset H.S.), sending Concordia to the line 42 times. The Cavaliers could only hit 50 percent of those attempts, but it was enough to keep the visitors at bay for the rest of the contest.
Nuaimi's 16 points led Concordia, which also saw Searle (15), Gutierrez (12),
Anthony Holton (Portland, Ore./Sunset H.S.) (11) and Middleton (10) finish in double figures scoring. Middleton also recorded 10 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season, while Searle's five blocks were a season-high.
Willamette was led by Nico Troplent's 15 points. Brendan McCullough and Brandon Luedtke each scored 12, while Bridger Harlington was the final Bearcat in double figures with 10.
Willamette next plays Wisconsin Lutheran at 4 p.m. local time on Dec. 29 in the D3Hoops.com Classic in Las Vegas, Nev. Concordia faces Warner Pacific at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 19 at home.