Top-rated Pointers knock off Pirates

The Whitworth men’s basketball team went toe to toe with top-ranked Wisconsin-Stevens Point on Saturday, but the Pointers pulled away late for a 93-75 win at the D3hoops.com Classic in Las Vegas.

Tyler Tillema scored 33 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead WSP (9-0). Colton McCargar scored 19 for the Pirates (5-3).

Whitworth’s Christian Jurlina hit a 3-pointer at the end of the first half to give the Pirates a 45-43 lead. It was the first time this season the Pointers trailed at the break.

But Whitworth’s hot shooting disappeared in the second half. The Pirates made 5 of 10 3s and 12 of 14 free throws in the first half, but were just 1 of 11 from beyond the arc after halftime.

The Pointers, however, got their offense rolling. Wisconsin-Stevens Point made 15 of 26 shots in the second half, including 5 of 11 3-pointers and 15 of 22 free throws.

Dustin McConnell added 10 points and four assists for the Pirates, who play their second game of the tournament tonight against Wisconsin-Platteville.

Women

Whitworth used a 15-0 second-half run to slide past Northwest University 83-78 in a nonconference game in Kirkland, Wash.

The Pirates’ Kayla Johnson scored 24 points for the second straight game and Lexie Zappone matched a career high with 10 rebounds.

K.C. McConnell added 18 points and four steals for the Pirates.

The Eagles (9-6) were led by Sanda Milovic and Domi Mendezona, who scored 16 points apiece.

The Pirates (6-3) open Northwest Conference play at Pacific on Friday.

• Nneka Enemkpali scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Texas Longhorns overwhelmed Idaho and beat the Vandals 87-58 in a nonconference game in Austin, Texas.

The Longhorns (9-3) put the game away early with a 19-0 first-half run. The Vandals (7-7) were held scoreless for nearly 9 minutes.

Idaho’s Alyssa Charlston had 13 points and seven rebounds and Stacey Barr added 12 points and three assists.

• Morgan Freeman scored 24 points and pulled down nine rebounds as Community Colleges of Spokane dominated early and held on late to beat South Puget Sound (1-7) 66-56 at the Skagit Valley Holiday Tournament in Mt. Vernon, Wash.

Riley Holsinger added 18 points and eight boards for the Sasquatch (7-4), who built a 36-19 first-half lead.

• North Idaho caught fire in the second half and raced past Centralia (4-5) 85-63 at the Lower Columbia tournament in Centralia, Wash.

The Cardinals made 18 of 33 second-half shots, including 8 of 16 3-pointers and 13 of 16 free throws.

Kara Staggs scored 23 points and Renae Mokrzycki added 17 points and seven rebounds for North Idaho (14-2).