A 16-4 run to start the second half led the visiting Pacific University men's basketball team to a 74-62 win over Willamette on Friday night in Salem.
The Boxers (11-12, 5-10 NWC) overcame a 10-point deficit early in the second half as well as a hot shooting Bearcats' squad in the first half in the come-from-behind win. Pacific junior
Nate Olowo (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) had his sixth double double of the season, scoring a game-high 18 points and grabbing a game-high 12 rebounds to lead the Boxers. He was joined in double digits by freshman
Davis Holly (Bend, Ore.) and junior
J.B. Ewell (Portland, Ore.), who added 17 and 11 points, respectively.
The Bearcats (4-20, 2-13 NWC) also had three in double figures including Johnny Verudin, who had 16 to lead Willamette. He was joined by Nico Troplent and Brendon McCullough, who each had 13.
Willamette built a nine-point halftime lead, 47-38, shooting 69.2% (18-for-26) from the field. Verudin and McCullough had 12 and 11 points, respectively in the first 20 minutes. Five-different players for Pacific sparked the decisive run to begin the final 20 minutes. One of the five was Holly, who hit a 3-pointer that put the visitors ahead for the first time since the 11:40 mark of the first half.
The Boxers remained in front for the remainder of the game as much as 12 on three occasions. As they built the lead, one of the key plays was a decisive put-back dunk by Olowo that brought the Pacific faithful to its feet.
Next, Pacific closes out the season with Senior Day on Saturday at 6 p.m. when they host Puget Sound. Earlier this season, the Boxers defeated the Loggers, 81-78 in Tacoma on Jan. 20.
