Whitworth improved to 5-4 overall and 1-0 in the NWC, winning four of its last five games. Linfield fell to 4-6, 0-1 in the conference opener for both teams.
Whitworth used a quick 8-2 run early in the second half to break open a close game and take a 47-36 lead with 16:29 to go. The Pirates extended the lead to as many as 16 points (62-46) with 8:49 to go on a put back basket by Mike Larkin.
Linfield pulled back to within 68-60 when Chris Lewis sank a pair of free throws with 4:44 to play, but the Wildcats could not claw any closer.
Lance Pecht had 18 points and seven rebounds to lead the Pirates in both categories, while Jon Young added 17 points and Bryan Williams chipped in with 16 points and six assists.
Blake Shelton led all scorers with 19 points for the Wildcats. Sam Krieger chipped in with 13 points and six rebounds, while Chris Lewis added 12 for Linfield.
Whitworth will host George Fox University on Saturday night, while Linfield travels to Walla Walla to take on Whitman.
WHITWORTH 75, LINFIELD 64 LINFIELD (4-6, 0-1 NWC) Shelton, Blake 6-16 5-5 19; Krieger, Sam 4-4 5-6 13; Lewis, Chris 4-11 4-6 12; Hildebrandt, Jon 4-8 0-0 9; Hefferon, Eric 2-2 0-0 5; Murphy, Brian 1-1 0-0 2; Mishler, Matt 1-1 0-2 2; Goodman, Jeremy 1-3 0-0 2; Wells, Joe 0-1 0-0 0; Kushiyama, Casey 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 23-49 14-20 64. WHITWORTH (5-4, 1-0 NWC) Pecht, Lance 8-14 2-3 18; Young, Jon 5-13 2-2 17; Williams, Bryan 6-10 3-3 16; Larkin, Mike 4-7 0-2 8; Jones, J.J. 2-9 3-4 8; Tucker, George 3-6 0-0 6; Taylor, Derek 1-1 0-0 2; Fletcher, Mat 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 29-61 10-14 75. Linfield...................... 31 33 - 64 Whitworth..................... 34 41 - 75 3-point goals-Linfield 4-14 (Shelton, Blake 2-7; Hefferon, Eric 1-1; Hildebrandt, Jon 1-4; Lewis, Chris 0-2), Whitworth 7-15 (Young, Jon 5-10; Williams, Bryan 1-2; Jones, J.J. 1-2; Fletcher, Mat 0-1). Fouled out--Linfield-None, Whitworth-None. Rebounds-Linfield 29 (Krieger, Sam 6), Whitworth 34 (Pecht, Lance 7). Assists-Linfield 6 (Hildebrandt, Jon 2), Whitworth 12 (Williams, Bryan 6). Total fouls-Linfield 18, Whitworth 19. A-850