FOREST GROVE, Ore. – Whitworth freshman Stephen Behil poured in 27 points to lead visiting Whitworth to a 90-74 win at Pacific University in a Northwest Conference men's basketball game on Friday night at the Stoller Center.

Behil, playing close to his hometown of Camas, Washington, was nearly perfect from the field in leading the Pirates (13-7 overall, 8-3 NWC).  He finished 10 of 11 from the floor and 7 of 8 from three-point range. 

Whitworth jumped out to a 12-4 lead in the first four minutes and the Bucs led for the first 15 minutes until the Boxers (9-11, 4-7) took a 30-28 lead on a three-pointer by Drew Gumin.  The Pirates responded by closing the half on a 10-0 run to lead 38-30 at the break.  Behil had two three-pointers in that run, his first two baskets of the game.  Whitworth made 14 of 29 from the floor in the first half (48%), while the Boxers went 12 of 29 (41%) from the field.  Michael Smith led the Bucs with 11 first half points.

Behil's three extended Whitworth's lead to 43-34 three minutes into the second half and his layup pushed the margin to 49-39.  Pacific got within 58-56 with under nine minutes to play before the Pirates used a 13-0 run to break the game open.  Another Behil trey made it 71-56 with 6:40 to play.  Whitworth's largest lead was 83-63 on Behil's final three-pointer with 1:21 to play.

Behil led four Pirates who scored in double figures.  Sullivan Menard totaled 15 points after going 11 of 11 at the free throw line.  Jake Holtz came off the bench for 14 points and a team-high eight rebounds.  Smith finished with 13 points.  Whitworth finished 27 of 58 (47%) from the floor, 9-23 (39%) from three-point range.  The Pirates only turned the ball over six times.

Jacob Bolger had 20 pints for Pacific, while Gumin scored 12.  The Boxers went 27 of 62 (43.5%) from the field, 10 of 26 (38.5%) from beyond the arc.

Whitworth will finish off the weekend trip with a game at Lewis & Clark in Portland on Saturday night.