Total Team Effort Lifts Warrior Men’s Basketball to 86-73 Victory over Bearcats

12/8/2017 11:33:00 PM

Danny Day, Director of Athletic Communications

SALEM, Ore. – For the sixth-consecutive meeting, the Corban University men's basketball team reigned supreme over its cross-town rival, Willamette University, downing the Bearcats in a non-conference contest, 86-73. The contest was played on the campus of Willamette on Friday evening in the battle for Salem.

Click the 'Play Button' on the photo above for video highlights from the win.

"I was very pleased with our guys gritting it out tonight," said Corban head coach Austin Johnson. "Willamette is a very tough team and hit some big shots. We've had some tough injuries, but in college basketball, it is all about the next guy stepping up, and tonight was an example."

Key in Friday's win for the Warriors was their effectiveness at the charity stripe, as the Warriors went 25-for-28 at the line, and it was Joel Johnson setting the standard for Corban, making 9-of-11. On the evening, Johnson tallied a team-best 19 points and also hauled in 10 boards and shot 5-for-5 from the field.

Corban's largest lead of the game came with 4:17 remaining in the first stanza when the Warriors pushed the advantage to 18 points, riding the hot hand of rookie Jett Sobotta who drained four first-half long-range efforts. Sobotta finished the contest with a career-best 17 points in the triumph to go with six boards.

At the halftime break, Corban led, 37-32, but Willamette would come back and tie the contest in the second half, but the Warriors had the response, and a number of players stepped up, including Chris Martin and AJ Monterossi both nailing some big buckets down the stretch to secure the road win. Monterossi finished the night with 16 points and four assists, while Martin totaled 13 points and four assists.

"Jett Sobotta was huge off the bench looking for his offense and also on the glass," said Johnson. "We'll need more of that from him. Joel was huge and showed what he's capable of when he mentally locks in. We'll have to recover quickly and be ready to play tomorrow."

The Warriors shot 50.0% overall on the night and 42.9% from deep. The 25-for-28 mark from the free-throw line was a season-best performance at 89.3% overall.

Corban (7-3) is back in action on Saturday when it hosts Northwest Indian College. Tipoff is slated for 3 p.m. in the C.E. Jeffers Sports Center.