PORTLAND, Ore. – Michael Smith scored 27 points to lead visiting Whitworth to a 75-60 win at Lewis & Clark in a Northwest Conference men's basketball game on Saturday night at the Pamplin Sports Center.

The victory sets up the Pirates (14-7 overall, 9-3 NWC) with a chance to move into a tie for first place in the NWC standings with a victory over visiting Whitman on Tuesday in the season's second "Battle of Whits" match-up.

Jack Henderson gave the Pioneers (12-9, 6-6) their only lead of the game (3-2) by hitting a three-pointer on their first possession.  Whitworth answered with a 13-2 run to open a 15-5 lead only five minutes into the game.  Smith scored five of those points.  L&C got back within 19-13 before a 9-2 spurt, capped by Stephen Behil's three-pointer, put the Pirates up 28-15. Leading 38-27, Whitworth closed the half on a 9-0 run to open a 47-27 lead at the break.  Smith had a three-point play in the that rally and finished with 18 points in the opening half.  Whitworth made 19 of 31 (61%) from the floor in the first half, including 5 of 7 (71%) from three-point range.  The Pirates held the Pioneers to 11 of 32 (34%).

Ty Edwards scored inside in increase Whitworth's lead to 57-31 just over three-minutes into the second half.  The Pirates eventually led by as many as 27 points on three occasions in the final period, the final time (68-41) on a Jake Holtz breakaway dunk off a steal with just over eight minutes to play.  L&C was able to trim the margin from 24 to 15 over the final four minutes of the game.

Smith finished 10 of 17 from the floor, including 3 of 5 from three-point range.  JT McDermott added 11 points, while Holtz finished with 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds.  Whitworth's shooting cooled off in the second half, but the Pirates still finished 29 of 59 (49%) from the floor and 7 of 15 (47%) from three-point range.  Sullivan Menard, starting at point guard in place of Rowan Anderson who was injured on Friday, dished six assists as the Bucs had 17 assists on 29 made baskets.

Henderson led L&C with 15 points.  The Pioneers shot 38% from the field and 32% from beyond the arc.

Whitworth swept both games against L&C this season and has won the last 18 games in the series.