The Pirates shot 51.5% from the field and 54.5% from three point range to improve to 7-8 overall and 3-4 in the NWC. Whitman shot 41.8% from the floor and made only 3/14 (21.4%) of its three pointers to fall to 3-13, 1-6. The Missionaries also finished with 14 turnovers to only eight for the Pirates.
Whitman led 18-15 midway through the first half when Whitworth went on a 15-2 run to take a 30-20 lead. Lance Pecht started the rally with three straight baskets and Jon Young finished it with back to back three pointers. The Pirates went on to lead 43-31 at halftime.
After Kyle Born hit a free throw to pull Whitman back with 11 at the start of the second half, Bryan Williams answered with five straight points for the Pirates and Whitworth led by 20 soon after. The 26 point final margin matched the largest lead of the evening for Whitworth.
Young led the hosts with 20 points, 17 of which came before halftime when he made five of his six three point shots. Pecht added 15 points and J.J. Jones scored 11, both coming off of the bench. Williams added eight assists and 10 points, all the points coming in the second half. Mike Larkin led the Pirates with seven rebounds.
Born posted his fourth double double of the season to lead Whitman with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Erik Kofler added 15 points as the Missionaries attempted to use their height advantage with the two post players. Matt Kelly finished with 12 points and Greg Ricker dished seven assists.
Both teams return to action this weekend at Willamette University. Whitworth will play on Friday night and Whitman follows on Saturday.
WHITWORTH 86, WHITMAN 60 WHITMAN (3-13, 1-6 NWC) Born, Kyle 8-13 3-6 19; Kofler, Erik 5-7 5-6 15; Kelly, Matt 4-13 3-4 12; Hazel, Aaron 2-5 0-0 4; Warner, Ian 1-4 0-0 3; Peterson, Mike 1-1 0-0 3; Ricker, Greg 1-7 0-1 2; Brandal, Garth 1-3 0-0 2; Parker, Nick 0-1 0-0 0; Moss, Mike 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 23-55 11-17 60. WHITWORTH (7-8, 3-4 NWC) Young, Jon 7-14 0-0 20; Pecht, Lance 7-10 1-3 15; Jones, J.J. 5-7 0-0 11; Tucker, George 4-9 2-3 10; Williams, Bryan 4-10 0-0 10; Wyatt, Kevin 2-2 0-0 5; Simons, Rob 2-3 0-1 5; Fletcher, Mat 1-1 0-0 3; Taylor, Derek 1-4 1-2 3; Bennett, Adam 1-3 0-0 2; Larkin, Mike 0-3 2-2 2. Totals 34-66 6-11 86. Whitman....................... 31 29 - 60 Whitworth..................... 43 43 - 86 3-point goals-Whitman 3-14 (Warner, Ian 1-3; Peterson, Mike 1-1; Kelly, Matt 1-7; Ricker, Greg 0-1; Moss, Mike 0-1; Born, Kyle 0-1), Whitworth 12-22 (Young, Jon 6-12; Williams, Bryan 2-4; Jones, J.J. 1-2; Fletcher, Mat 1-1; Wyatt, Kevin 1-1; Simons, Rob 1-2). Fouled out--Whitman-None, Whitworth-None. Rebounds-Whitman 35 (Born, Kyle 12), Whitworth 35 (Larkin, Mike 7). Assists-Whitman 15 (Ricker, Greg 7), Whitworth 19 (Williams, Bryan 8). Total fouls-Whitman 14, Whitworth 14. A-675