ATHERTON, Calif. – A lot more went right for Menlo College offensively, but the Oaks still came up short in a 92-79 loss to visiting Willamette in a non-conference contest on Friday night at Haynes-Prim Pavilion.

Despite easily having its best scoring output of the season, Menlo’s burgeoning attack was matched 3-pointer-for-3-pointer by the Bearcats, who also controlled the game on the inside. Willamette outrebounded the Oaks by nine, getting a combined 49 points and 24 rebounds from 6-foot-7 Cameron Mitchell, 6-foot-5 Kyler McClary, and 6-foot-6 Tain Cantrell.

Trailing by as many as 15 points in the second half, Menlo used some hot outside shooting to make things interesting. Julian Harris hit back-to-back 3-pointers less than three minutes into the half to pull the Oaks within nine points of Willamette. The margin got no closer until Ari Goldman brought the home crowd to its feet by sinking a 3-pointer of his own off a Tim Kees offensive rebound and assist. Goldman drained another long-range bomb following a Bearcats free throw to make it a 66-61 game with less than eight minutes to play.

The Oaks trailed by seven points when the wheels started to fall off. Willamette scored off back-to-back Menlo turnovers and again after a pair of missed free throws to stretch its lead to 78-65 with under four minutes to play, effectively ending the Oaks chances for a comeback.

Brandon Cochran scored a season-high 17 points inside for Menlo while Tim Kees had 16 points and six rebounds. Goldman scored 14 with Harris adding 11, including three 3-pointers.

McClary had 22 points and six rebounds, Mitchell had 19 and 10, and Marcus Holmes netted 13. Cantrell chipped in eight points and as many rebounds for the Bearcats.

Menlo, 0-5, begins California Pacific Conference play next Thursday versus William Jessup at 8 p.m. Willamette is 2-3 and will play the Bendigo Braves of Australia on Sunday at 4 p.m. inside Haynes-Prim Pavilion.