Whitworth men open NWC play with win

FOREST GROVE, Ore. – The Whitworth men’s basketball team continued its dominance over Pacific on Friday night.

Four Pirates scored in double figures and Whitworth topped the Boxers 65-52 in a Northwest Conference opener. The win was the Pirates’ 11th in a row over Pacific.

Whitworth (7-3) jumped ahead 7-2 to open the game and never looked back. The Pirates led 31-21 at the half. Pacific made just three of its first 23 shots to open the second half. The Boxers made three late 3-pointers to tighten the score, but the game was never in doubt.

Whitworth’s Dustin McConnell had 14 points, eight rebounds and five assists. George Valle added 11 points and 12 rebounds. Colton McCargar and Christian Jurlina both had 12 points.

The Boxers (7-3) were led by Mitch Wettig, who scored 13 points and pulled down 10 rebounds.