Box Score SPOKANE, Wash. – Liam Fitzgerald's three-pointer that could have tied the game was ruled to have come just after the buzzer and visiting Lewis-Clark State held on for a 65-62 win over Whitworth in the first collegiate competition for the Pirates in any sport since March 11.
The game counts as a win for the Warriors (3-0), ranked 7th in the latest NAIA poll. It was an exhibition game for the Bucs, who will officially begin the season in January.
Miguel Lopez posted a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds in his first game in a Whitworth uniform. Rowan Anderson added a dozen points for the Pirates.
Trystan Bradley had his own double-double for LCSC with 22 points and 12 boards, while Damek Mitchell added 17 points.
Whitworth took an early 15-11 lead on a Lopez basket, but then struggled offensively most of the rest of the half. The Warriors went on a 23-4 run over the next eight minutes to go up 34-19 with two minutes left in the first half. The Pirates closed with nine straight points, including a three-pointer by Kea Vargas at the buzzer, to get within 34-28.
Whitworth took its first lead of the second half (46-45) on Jerry Twenge's put back basket with 10:27 to go. But LCSC quickly answered and the Bucs never were in front again. Trailing 63-59, Anderson hit a pull up three with six seconds left to get within 63-62. Mitchell hit a pair of free throws with five ticks left and Anderson brought the ball up court against heavy pressure. A slight fumble on his pass to Fitzgerald affected the timing of the final shot.
Neither team shot well. LCSC made only 39.6% from the field and turned the ball over 24 times. Whitworth missed its first 15 attempts from three-point range and ended 4-28 (14.3%) from beyond the arc and 25-27 (34.7%) from the field overall.
The teams will play a second game at 11:00 am on Saturday morning.
