REDLANDS, Calif. – An 18-0 run early in the second half gave visiting Whitworth the breathing room it needed to gain an 80-61 win at Redlands on Wednesday night.

Christian Jurlina scored 26 points to lead the Pirates, who improved to 2-2 this season.  He was part of a hot-shooting three-point night for the Bucs, who made 52% (12-23) of their shots from beyond the arc.  Jurlina also helped Whitworth be very efficient as he had four of 18 overall assists by the Pirates.

"Tonight we moved the ball very well and I give credit to our guys for being very unselfish," said head coach Matt Logie.  "Christian was exceptional in the first half and he helped us get off to a good start."

Whitworth took its largest lead of the first half at 26-15 on a Josh Thayer three-pointer just before the shot clock expired.  Redlands was able to pull back within 29-26 on a pair of free throws by Aljosa Bjekovic, who came into the game averaging 23.8 points and 13.0 rebounds per game.   But the Pirates closed the half on a 14-4 run, including another three-pointer by Thayer, to take a 43-30 lead into halftime.  Jurlina had 18 of his points before halftime.

Redlands opened the second half by pulling within 45-38 on a three-pointer by Bjekovic.  But then Whitworth went on its big 18-0 run.  Jurlina opened the run with a three-point play and Forrest Baker hit back-to-back threes.  Jurlina's final three-pointer of the game gave the Pirates a 63-38 lead with 11:16 to play.

But Redlands was not done.  The Bulldogs climbed back to within 70-56 on a three-pointer by Sean Milligin with just over four minutes to play.  But that is as close as Redlands could get.  Matt Staudacher made Whitworth's final three-pointer of the game from the top of the key with 2:48 to  play, giving the Bucs a 75-58 lead.

Staudacher finished with 13 points, Baker scored 12 and Adam Wilks had 11 for the Pirates, who had four players reach double figures.  Whitworth finished 24-58 (41.4%) from the field.  The Bucs were 20-27 (74.1%) from the free throw line. Four different Whitworth players had five rebounds.

Bjekovic led the Bulldogs with 17 points, but he was only 4-13 from the field.  Milligan also scored 17 and both players led the team with seven rebounds.  Redlands finished the game 18-46 (39.1%) from the field, including 5-11 (45.5%) from three-point range.  The Bulldogs were also 20-27 from the free throw line.

the Pirates forced 21 turnovers by Redlands, while committing only nine.

Whitworth continues its Thanksgiving trip to California with a game at Caltech on Saturday.