SALEM, Ore. -- Neither team led by more than a possession for most of the second half as the Lewis & Clark Pioneers lost a tight, road match-up to the Willamette Bearcats, 82-78, on Saturday night.

Through 11 ties and eight lead changes, and with neither team leading by double digits, the Pios were up five with about 14:00 left in the second half. Willamette eventually captured the lead and never yielded it.

Brenden Patrick led all Lewis & Clark scorers with 24 to match his season high. Jack Henderson added eight points and 13 rebounds.

Follow the Lewis & Clark Pioneers on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | #PiosMBB | #RollPios | #chamPIOns

Key Moments

The Bearcats (5-9, 2-4 NWC) went ahead by two with 2:28 left in the game. Jack Boydell scored, two of his team-best 17 points, and Willamette led 73-71. 

Scores by Jayden Simpson, who finished with 17, and Henderson on a second-chance opportunity kept the Pios within striking distance. The latter brought Lewis & Clark to within three with 32 seconds left.

Lewis & Clark (6-8, 0-6 NWC) used a 10-0 run in the middle of the first half to secure a five-point lead. 

Deeper Look

• Willamette hit 10 3-pointers on 23 tries (43 percent) and shot 71 percent from the free-throw line (10 of 14), both better percentages than Lewis & Clark
• The Bearcats outscored the Pios, 17-4, off the bench, led by Meelad Doroodchi's six points
• Lewis & Clark used three reserves the whole game
• Willamette also held a 15-4 edge in fastbreak points
• On 5 of 12 shooting, Ryan Cibull scored 14 on three 3-pointers and added two assists
• Jalen Lowery had 11 points, one of four Pios in double figures, on 4 of 7 shooting to go with seven rebounds
• Henderson had three steals

Looking Ahead

Lewis & Clark returns home to face Whitworth and Whitman next weekend.