Box Score PORTLAND, Ore. – Visiting Whitworth got double-figure scoring from eight different players to defeat Lewis & Clark College 92-67 in a Northwest Conference men's basketball game on Friday night.
The 18th-ranked Pirates (14-2 overall, 7-1 NWC) made 58.1% (36-61) of its shots, including 42% (8-19) from three point range, to hit 90 points for the fourth time in five games.
The teams traded leads three times over the first five minutes. Jayden Simpson gave the Pioneers (6-9 overall, 0-7 NWC) a 9-8 lead with a pair of free throws. It was L&C's final lead of the game. Jojo Anderson answered with a three-pointer from the corner and followed with a breakaway layup. Garrett Paxton's free throws put the Pirates ahead 15-9. Leading 20-15, Whitworth used a 13-0 run to create separation. Liam Fitzgerald hit two three-pointers during that run and Rowan Anderson capped it with another trey. Jerry Twenge's layup increased the margin to 41-20 and Whitworth eventually took a 47-30 lead into halftime.
The teams traded baskets over the first ten minutes of the second half, with Lewis & Clark getting to within 15 twice, the final time on a pair of Jack Henderson free throws that pulled his squad within 68-53 with 11:19 to play. Whitworth scored the next 11 points, capped by Fitzgerald's dunk, to open a 79-53 lead with 7:42 to go.
JT McDermott led the balanced attack with 16 points, while Twenge added 14 off the bench. Paxton scored 11, as did Jake Holtz off the bench. Fitzgerald, Miguel Lopez, Jojo Anderson and Rowan Anderson all had 10. Every Pirate that scored in the game reached double figures. The extremely efficient offense was exactly 18 of 31 from the floor in both halves.
Fitzgerald led Whitworth with nine rebounds and Lopez dished five assists. Whitworth finished with a 36-23 advantage on the boards.
Henderson scored a game-high 24 points for the Pioneers. Simpson and Brenden Patrick each had a dozen points. L&C made 42.1% from the field in the game.
Whitworth will conclude its trip to Oregon with a game at George Fox (9-6, 4-2) on Saturday evening.
