SALEM, Oregon – The University of Northwestern men's basketball team returned to play after a brief Christmas break as they traveled to the West coast for a pair of weekend contests in Oregon. The Eagles matched up with Willamette University in Friday night action at Cone Field House where they took on the Bearcats. The Eagles came back from a first half deficit to score 64 points in the second half and secure a 99-90 final victory.
 
Northwestern improves to 6-5 on the year as Willamette falls to 2-8 this season. The Eagles last faced the Bearcats during the 2014-15 season when they dropped a seven-point battle on neutral territory at Colorado College.
 
After trailing by two at the half, Northwestern's offense proved unstoppable. Caleb Hageman (Charles City, Iowa/Charles City) and Anderson Bazile Jr. (Houston, Tex./San Antonio Reagan) propelled the Eagles second half scoring efforts, finishing with 28 points apiece. All 28 of Bazile's points came in the final 20 minutes, sparked by a perfect 13 of 13 shooting from the free throw line (the fourth most FT makes in a single game in school history).
 
In fact, it was the Eagle's 27 of 30 shooting from the charity stripe that ultimately clinched the west coast win. The Eagles went up by as much as 11 points (5:36 remaining) before the Bearcats cut the lead to two. Northwestern made 12 straight free throws down the stretch to ride out the win.
 
Brady Peterson (Princeton, Minn./Homeschool) and Tanner Youngberg (Pocahontas, Iowa/Pocahontas Area) also finished with double digit scoring. Youngberg added 13 points and pulled down a team-best 12 rebounds, his sixth double-double this season. Peterson added 15 points shooting 4-7 from the field and a perfect six for six from the line. Michael Moore (Twinsburg, Ohio/Twinsburg) dished out five assists in the contest.
 
Northwestern will return to action tomorrow when they take on Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon. Tipoff is slated for 3 p.m. (Pacific Time) against the Boxers. Follow the game live at the following links.
 
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