SPOKANE, Wash. – Garrett Paxton and Miguel Lopez each tallied career-highs in scoring to lead 16th-ranked Whitworth to a 102-89 win over visiting Willamette in a Northwest Conference men's basketball game on Friday night at the Whitworth Fieldhouse.
The Pirates (16-2 overall, 9-1 NWC) shot nearly 63% from the floor and better-than 52% from three-point range to defeat the pesky Bearcats (5-12, 2-7).
Whitworth came out on fire, making 12 of its first 14 shots from the field and five of its first six three-pointers to grab a 12-point advantage at the second media timeout. Paxton made his first three three-pointers and already had 11 points. Leading 36-20, the Pirates used a quick 8-0 run, capped by a Jake Holtz layup, to forge a 44-20 lead. Whitworth led by 28 (53-25) with five minutes left in the first half. The Bearcats refused to quit and pulled within 55-33 on Kenny Wright's jumper before Jojo Anderson gave Whitworth a 57-33 lead with a basket at the buzzer. The Pirates made 67% (25-37) from the field in the first half, 58% (7-12) from three-point range. Paxton had 16 first half points, including four three-pointers.
Willamette immediately cut into the lead after halftime, pulling within 61-42 two minutes in on a jumper from Jack Boydell. Whitworth rebuilt a 72-44 lead on Jerry Twenge's three-pointer, yet the Bearcats kept clawing back. Cedric Coward's jumper trimmed the deficit to 76-54. Trailing 80-61, Willamette used an 8-0 run to pull within 80-69 on a Jonathan Watts three-pointer with 8:52 to play, forcing a Pirate timeout. Willamette got to within ten points, but never trailed by less than double digits down the stretch. JT McDermott's short jumper with 2:34 to go re-established a 97-80 margin.
Paxton scored 26 to surpass his previous career high of 23 earlier this season against UPS. Lopez totaled 23 to break his previous career-best of 22 at Puget Sound last season. McDermott finished with 17 points, Twenge had 15 and Holtz came off the bench for 12 and a team-high seven rebounds. Rowan Anderson dished nine of Whitworth's 24 assists. The Pirates finished the game 42-67 (62.7%) from the floor and 12-23 (52.2%) from three-point range. The Bucs were only 6-12 (50%) from the free throw line.
Coward, only a freshman, led Willamette with 24 points and 11 rebounds. Watts scored 15 as Willamette made 33-65 (50.8%) from the floor and 10-31 (32.3%) from beyond the arc. The Bearcats were 13-15 (86.7%) from the free throw line.
Whitworth has Saturday off and will return to action at Linfield and Pacific on February 4-5.
