The Pirates, playing their 2005-06 home opener, improved to 2-1. Whitworth forced the Orediggers (3-5) into 24 turnovers. In addition, the smaller Pirates got to the free throw line 32 times and made 27 attempts. Point guard Bryan Williams led the way with a game high 22 points, and he added five assists and four rebounds. Jon Young and George Tucker each scored 17 points for the pirates, while Lance Pecht added 16 and a team-high eight rebounds.
Montana Tech was led by Luke Harmon's 21 points, six rebounds and four assists. Davin Blixt added 14 points, while 6-11 post TJ Scarbrough scored 11 points, including four dunks. DC Egge finished with 10 points.
Montana Tech outrebounded Whitworth 39-27, but most of that advantage occurred in the first half when the Orediggers had a 23-12 edge on the boards.
Whitworth never trailed in the first half, but there were eight ties before the Pirates went to the locker room with a 33-31 lead.
But Montana Tech used a 7-0 run, including five points by Blixt, early in the second half to take a 40-35 advantage. It would be the Orediggers' biggest lead of the game. But Whitworth retook the lead 46-44 on a lay up by Tucker and never trailed again. The Pirates stretched the lead to 10 points three times in the final ten minutes, and led by as much as 12 points (73-61) after a pair of Williams free throws.
Tech closed to within 73-67 after a pair of put back baskets by Egge. But the Pirates were 8-10 at the free throw line down the stretch.
The Pirates will open Northwest Conference play this weekend at George Fox and Linfield. George Fox, which swept Whitworth on the way to a second place NWC finish last season, will host Whitworth on Friday. The Pirates will play at Linfield on Saturday. Whitworth split with the Wildcats last year.