Box Score MERCER ISLAND, Wash. – Whitworth made sure Matt Logie's homecoming was a winning one.
Felix Friedt posted another double-double and Dustin McConnell scored a career-high 16 points to lead 8th-ranked Whitworth to a 76-51 win over Calvin College in a game played at Mercer Island High School on Thursday night.
Logie is the Pirates' first year head coach who was a high school star at Mercer Island while leading the Islanders to a pair of state championships.
Neither team shot the ball well, but Whitworth (9-2) dominated the backboards, outrebounding the Knights 47-32, including a 22-9 edge in offensive rebounds. That rebounding lead, along with a 13-7 edge in turnovers, allowed the Pirates to take 21 more shots than Calvin.
Bryan Powell's lay up gave the Knights their final lead of the game (15-14) six minutes into the first half. Whitworth then went on a 15-2 run, including a pair of three-pointers by McConnell, to open a 29-17 advantage with just over seven minutes to play in the opening period. The lead reached 16 points (35-19) on a basket by Friedt before Calvin cut the lead to 37-25 at the half following a lay up by Matt DeBoer.
The Pirates opened their first 20 point lead (48-27) on a three-pointer by Wade Gebbers with 14:32 to play and then held a comfortable lead the rest of the way. Calvin got as close as 17 points several times, the final time on a three-pointer by David Reitema with 6:50 left. But Idris Lasisi answered with a three of his own and Whitworth pulled away over the final six minutes.
Friedt tied his career high with 27 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. McConnell made four three-pointers and surpassed his previous career high of 11 points set earlier this season against Cal Lutheran. He and Gebbers each dished four assists. Mack Larkin grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds. Whitworth shot 41% (31-75) for the game, 28% (7-25) from three-point range.
Tom Snikkers led Calvin (5-5) with 12 points and seven rebounds. DeBoer added 10 points and Bryan Powell scored 10 off of the bench. The Knights shot 43% (23-54) overall and 22% (2-9) from three-point range.
Calvin will play again tomorrow night against Whitman College.
Whitworth is off until January 6th when the Pirates return to Northwest Conference play at Pacific Lutheran University.
