The Boxers improved to 5-7 overall and 2-2 in the NWC with the win, which ended a four-game losing streak to the Pirates (9-5, 2-3). After a 16-game home winning streak, Whitworth has dropped the last two at home.
Pacific took a commanding 38-21 halftime lead. The Boxer held the Pirates to 25% (6/24) shooting from the field and 8% (1/12) from the three-point line. Meanwhile Pacific was making 50% (14/28) from the floor. Freshman guard Brandon Kawazoe scored 12 of his team high 18 points in the first half. He scored five straight points on a 7-0 run that turned a 16-12 lead into a 23-12 advantage.
But Whitworth responded with a nearly perfect half of their own, making 61% (17/28) of their shots, including 5/10 from three point range to rally. Whitworth actually took a five-point lead at 59-54 on a lay up by Depew with 6:09 to play, but then the Pacific defense tightened up again and scored the next seven points to retake the lead 61-59 on two free throws by Kawazoe with 43 seconds left. However Whitworth's freshman point guard Bryan Williams scored on a driving shot in the key with 15 seconds left and the Boxers could not get a shot before the end of regulation.
Joe Van Domelen hit a lay-up with 1:10 to play to give the Boxers a 70-66 lead, but Pacific made only 2/4 free throws in the final minute, giving Depew his chance at the game-winning shot. Erin Gram got the rebound and dribbled out the final two seconds to preserve the win.
In addition to Kawazoe's 18 points, Nick Kelsey came off of the bench for 13 points and Gram finished with 11 points. Van Domelen had 10 points, while B.J. Anderson led all player with 13 rebounds.
Depew had a game-high 24 points and added 10 boards. Depew moved past Jim Doherty and into second place on the Whitworth men's basketball all-time scoring list. He has 1,742 career points and Doherty finished with 1,726 from 1951-53. Rod McDonald is the all-time leader with 1,807 points.
John Gebbers had 12 points before fouling out in the second half. Scott Bierlink and Williams each scored 11 and Williams finished with six assists.
The Boxers will try to make an Eastern Washington sweep when they travel to Whitman College on Saturday night. Whitworth will take on Linfield, which will also try to sweep in Eastern Washington after the Wildcats won 63-57 at Whitman on Friday.
PACIFIC (ORE.) 72, WHITWORTH 70 PACIFIC (ORE.) (5-7, 2-2 NWC) Kawazoe, Branden 5-7 6-8 18; Kelsey, Nick 3-8 5-6 13; Gram, Erin 5-11 0-0 11; Van Domelen, Joe 4-6 2-2 10; Tufts, Rahim 3-12 2-4 8; Anderson, B.J. 4-6 0-2 8; Burns, Phil 1-2 2-4 4; Gram, Brian 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 25-55 17-26 72. WHITWORTH (9-5, 2-3 NWC) Depew, Bryan 10-13 4-6 24; Gebbers, John 4-9 4-4 12; Williams, Bryan 4-9 1-2 11; Bierlink, Scott 4-12 1-3 11; Young, Jon 3-11 0-0 8; Svennungsen, Pete 0-1 2-2 2; Larkin, Mike 1-1 0-1 2; Humphrey, Rhett 0-1 0-0 0; Johnson, Robert 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 26-59 12-18 70. Pacific (Ore.)................ 38 23 11 - 72 Whitworth..................... 21 40 9 - 70 3-point goals-Pacific (Ore.) 5-16 (Kelsey, Nick 2-5; Kawazoe, Branden 2-3; Gram, Erin 1-3; Gram, Brian 0-1; Tufts, Rahim 0-4), Whitworth 6-26 (Young, Jon 2-10; Williams, Bryan 2-5; Bierlink, Scott 2-4; Humphrey, Rhett 0-1; Svennungsen, Pete 0-1; Gebbers, John 0-3; Depew, Bryan 0-2). Fouled out--Pacific (Ore.)-Van Domelen, Joe; Gram, Erin, Whitworth-Gebbers, John; Young, Jon. Rebounds-Pacific (Ore.) 38 (Anderson, B.J. 13), Whitworth 36 (Depew, Bryan 10). Assists-Pacific (Ore.) 13 (Tufts, Rahim 5), Whitworth 20(Bierlink, Scott 6). Total fouls-Pacific (Ore.) 19, Whitworth 22. A-1157