Pacific (10-15, 4-12 NWC) led 60-57 in a nip-and-tuck second half when Pecht hit the first of six straight points with 2:26 to go. A 15-footer with 1:07 left gave Whitworth (19-6, 13-3 NWC) a 61-60 lead and a lay-up with the short clock winding down made it a 63-60 advantage with 17 seconds to go.
The Boxers lost their final opportunity on a turnover by Ryan Turcott and Young added a punctuation point with a lay-in and free throw as time expired.
With the victory, Whitworth secured no less than second place in the NWC and will host a game in the NWC Playoffs. They await the outcome of Puget Sound’s game with Linfield to see if they will host as the No. 1 or No. 2 seed and earn a possible share of the NWC championship.
Pecht was the only Pirate in double figures, scoring 26 points on 12 of 18 from the field. George Tucker, Kevin Hasenfus and James Jones each had six rebounds as Whitworth held a 33-25 advantage on the boards. Turcott led the Boxers with 16 points.
Whitworth torched the Boxers from the three-point line early as Bryan Williams and Young combined for five long balls to go up 19-9 seven minutes into the first half. Branden Kawazoe was equally as hot in his final game, using a three to start an 8-0 run to give Pacific a 20-19 lead at the 10:15 mark. Pecht took the lead right back on a lay-in and the Pirates held on to take a narrow 33-29 lead into the break.
The Boxers forced six ties in the second half, but could not regain the lead until Ryan Eoff put Pacific up three with his trey with 3:51 to go. Pacific’s shooting went flat from that point, with the Boxers missing their final four shots while Pecht took the Pirates to victory.
Tonight was the final game for two Pacific seniors, Kawazoe and Mison Henley. A third Pacific senior, Jason Townsend missed the final weekend with a family emergency.