Whits men win again

NEWBERG, Ore. – Tailing by seven points late in the first half, third-ranked Whitworth turned the tables on George Fox to win 81-57 in a Northwest Conference men’s basketball game Friday at the Wheeler Sports Center.

Felix Friedt scored 19 points to go with seven rebounds to lead the Pirates (14-0, 5-0), who set a school record for wins to open a season, surpassing the 2006-07 squad which started 13-0.

George Fox led by seven on several occasions in the first half, the final time on a 3-pointer by Cory Clark that gave the Bruins a 37-30 lead with 2:38 to play in the half. But Whitworth outscored George Fox 33-6 over the final minutes of the first half and the opening 10 minutes of the second to open a 63-43 lead.

Michael Taylor added 17 points and six boards for the Pirates and Clay Gebbers had 10 points and eight rebounds as five Pirates finished in double figures scoring.

George Fox hit five of its first seven shots from 3-point range, three by Mike Taylor, to grab the early lead. Taylor led the Bruins with 18 points. Stephen Wiseley added 10 points and six assists for GFU.

Leading 39-37 at the break, Whitworth dominated the second half, outscoring the Bruins 42-20 after halftime. The Pirates made 54 percent from the field in the second half while holding the Bruins to 29 percent, including 1 of 10 from beyond the arc. Whitworth won its 11th straight against the Bruins.