Box Score HONOLULU, Hawaii – Kyle Roach scored 22 points to lead Whitworth University to a 75-72 win over 12th-ranked North Central College in a non-conference men's basketball game at Moanalua High School.
The Pirates improved to 4-0 while the Cardinals dropped to 1-2.
Whitworth took its largest lead in the first half at 44-32 with 2:16 to play in the period. North Central rallied to go up 69-68 with 2:29 to play in the game on a jumper by preseason All-American Alex Sorenson. Ben Bishop answered with a basket and a free throw for the Bucs, and after a defensive stop, Jordan Lester hit a pair of free throws to increase the margin to 73-69 with 15 seconds to play. Whitworth clinched the win on a steal by Jared Christy and layup by Ben College with five seconds to go.
Bishop finished with a season-high 17 points for the Pirates, Christy added 14 and six rebounds. Lester totaled 12 points and five assists. Roach went 8-14 from the field, including 4-6 from three-point range. Whitworth made 27-55 (49%) from the field and 33% (6-18) from three-point range.
Sorenson led NCC with 19 points, while Blaise Meredith had 17. Erwin Henry scored 16 and grabbed eight boards. The Cardinals shot 25-54 from the field (46%).
Whitworth will finish off its trip to Hawaii with a game against Arcadia on Saturday.
