The Missionaries fell just short of avenging a 78-64 loss to the Boxers earlier this season in Walla Walla.
Neither team was able to establish a big lead in the first half. The Boxers led early 9-4 but the team's battled back and forth for much of the half. Nick Parker drained a three to give Whitman its largest lead with seven minutes remaining, at 25-18. The Boxers fought back to tie the game at 30-30 with just over two minutes to play, but Whitman went into the half up 34-33.
The second half was played just as tight as the first, and the teams were tied for the eighth time at 54 apiece with 9:06 on the clock. Neither team led by more than four points for the rest of the game. With 1:18 to play, Pacific held a 66-62 advantage. Greg Ricker then drove through the lane for a layup, though, and assisted on a Kyle Dalvit jumper after a Boxer turnover to force the game's 10th tie with 32 seconds left. Pacific scored on the ensuing possession, however, and converted a free-throw in winning 69-66.
Whitman's two senior post players, Casey Nelson and Kyle Dalvit, paced the offense with 15 and 14 points, respectively. Nelson was six of 12 from the field while Dalvit hit four of his five attempts, and nailed all six of his free-throws. Nelson was also the team leader in rebounding, with seven. Point-guard Greg Ricker also hit the double-digit mark, scoring 12 on a perfect six for six from the floor.
The Missionaries hit a lofty 62.5 percent of their shots during the contest, and held Pacific to 47.4 shooting. The Boxers, though, fired off 17 more shots than Whitman. The Missionaries also committed 16 turnovers, while forcing the Boxers into nine miscues.
Whitman went 10 for 13 from the free-throw line, and hit six of 11 from long range. The Boxers shot just five free-throws - making four - and were 11 of 28 from beyond the arc.
The Missionaries finish up the season with two games in Walla Walla. They will take on Whitworth on Tuesday, and then host George Fox in the season finale on Saturday.
Whitman vs Pacific (Ore.) 02/21/04 8:00 pm at Pacific Ath. Center, Forest Grove, Ore. At Pacific Ath. Center, Forest Grove, Ore. PACIFIC (ORE.) 69, WHITMAN 66 WHITMAN (6-17, 2-12 NWC) Nelson, Casey 6-12 2-2 15; Dalvit, Kyle 4-5 6-6 14; Ricker, Greg 6-6 0-1 12; Airy, Matt 2-4 2-2 7; Caldwell, Greg 2-2 0-0 6; Will, Cale 1-3 0-0 3; Parker, Nick 1-1 0-0 3; Peterson, Mike 1-2 0-2 2; Kofler, Erik 1-2 0-0 2; Pounds, Jacob 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 25-40 10-13 66. PACIFIC (ORE.) (10-12, 6-7 NWC) Kawazoe, Branden 7-15 1-1 20; Gram, Erin 5-11 1-1 14; Anderson, B.J. 6-9 1-1 13; Kelsey, Nick 3-7 0-0 9; Burns, Phil 3-4 1-2 7; Tufts, Rahim 2-9 0-0 4; Dougherty, Tim 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 27-57 4-5 69. Whitman....................... 34 32 - 66 Pacific (Ore.)................ 33 36 - 69 3-point goals-Whitman 6-11 (Caldwell, Greg 2-2; Will, Cale 1-3; Airy, Matt 1-2; Nelson, Casey 1-2; Parker, Nick 1-1; Pounds, Jacob 0-1), Pacific (Ore.) 11-28 (Kawazoe, Branden 5-12; Gram, Erin 3-5; Kelsey, Nick 3-7; Tufts, Rahim 0-4). Fouled out--Whitman-None, Pacific (Ore.)-None. Rebounds-Whitman 25 (Nelson, Casey 7), Pacific (Ore.) 22 (Kelsey, Nick 4; Kawazoe, Branden 4). Assists-Whitman 13 (Peterson, Mike 3), Pacific (Ore.) 16 (Gram, Erin 5). Total fouls-Whitman 12, Pacific (Ore.) 16. A-1000