SPOKANE, Wash. – It was only the second game of the season, but Whitworth's 74-68 win over Redlands had the atmosphere and feel of a post-season contest on Saturday night in the Whitworth Fieldhouse.
The Pirates, ranked 19th in the D3hoops.com preseason poll, went 2-0 at the Tip Off Classic presented by Quality Inn Oakwood. Redlands (0-1) will take on Pacific (Ore.) on Sunday at 4:00 pm in the tournament's finale.
Jordan Lester led Whitworth in points (14), rebounds (11) and assists (7) for the second straight game, one night after posting the Pirates' first triple double since 2009 in a win over Greenville (Ill.).
After the Bulldogs scored the game's first basket, Whitworth scored nine straight, capped by Garrett Paxton's three-pointer. The Pirates led 35-20 with 6:36 to go after two free throws from Rowan Anderson. Redlands closed the half on an 18-4 run to pull within 39-38. Colin McCarthy rebounded a free throw and scored at the buzzer for the Bulldogs. Paxton led Whitworth with 12 points in the opening period, but after making their first three three-pointers, the Pirates missed their next nine. Justice Marmara had nine points for Redlands in the first half.
Whitworth reestablished itself early in the second half, opening a 52-45 lead on Liam Fitzgerald's three-pointer four minutes into the period. After the Bulldogs got back within 54-52, the Pirates used a 10-2 run to go up 64-54 with 7:33 left. Lester had five points in the spurt. Redlands answered with eight straight, including six by Marmara, to get back within two. Darne Duckett's three-pointer tied the game at 66-66 with 3:31 to play. The teams were still tied at 68-68 when Anderson cut for a layup with 1:45 to go. After three straight stops by the Pirates, JT McDermott iced the game with two free throws with 11 seconds left.
Miguel Lopez had 13 points and five boards for Whitworth. Paxton finished the game with 12 and Fitzgerald had 10. The Pirates made 46.6% (27-58) from the field, but only 4-20 (20%) from three-point range. Whitworth finished with a 38-31 edge in rebounding and only had 13 turnovers against Redlands' pressure defense.
Marmara led the Bulldogs with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Duckett totaled 13 points. Redlands mde 47.4% (27-57), including 30% (6-20) from beyond the arc.
Whitworth travels to Wisconsin next weekend for games against Wisconsin-Platteville (#5 in D3hoops.com preseason poll) and Wisconsin-Whitewater.
