SPOKANE, Wash. – Michael Smith scored 18 points to lead Whitworth to a 73-60 win over visiting Sul Ross State in the Pirates' men's basketball home opener on Thursday night in the Whitworth Fieldhouse.

The Bucs (1-2) picked up their first win of the season and will look for their second victory when they host California Lutheran next Tuesday.

Whitworth jumped out quickly, taking an 8-2 lead on a three-pointer by Rowan Anderson.  Stephen Behil converted a put-back basket to give the Pirates their first double-digit lead at 16-6 nearly seven minutes into the game.  The Lobos (0-2) fought back to within 22-18 on a three-pointer by Caelyb Kerley and trimmed the margin to 24-23 after a layup from Vince Peralez.  Anderson answered with a three-pointer for the Bucs and Whitworth led 34-28 at the break.  Sul Ross State could have been closer, or in the lead, if the Lobos had done better than 3-10 at the free throw line in the first period.  Anderson had 14 first half points for the Pirates.

After Trey Nelson opened the second half with a three-pointer for the Lobos, Whitworth used a 9-0 run to take control.  Smith started the run with a three-pointer.  Another Smith trey made it 51-36 and his final three-pointer gave the Pirates their largest lead of the game (60-39) with 11:30 to play.  Whitworth kept the margin at 17-18 points until the final two minutes of the game and the final margin is as close as the Lobos got after the Pirates' big run.  Whitworth made 54% from the field in the second half.

Anderson finished with 15 points and JT McDermott posted 11 points and 11 rebounds with all of his scoring coming after halftime.  Jerry Twenge also scored 11 giving the Pirates four in double figures.  McDermott, Anderson and Twenge all dished five assists apiece. 

Julian Paredes led SRSU with 16 points and seven rebounds, while Kerley came off the bench for 11 points. 

The Lobos never led in the game and Whitworth finished with a 42-31 edge in rebounds.