Kyle Roach scores 27 points, leads Whitworth to narrow win at George Fox

NEWBERG, Ore. – Kyle Roach scored a game-high 27 points and the seventh-ranked Whitworth Pirates squeaked past the George Fox Bruins 88-85 on Friday in a Northwest Conference men’s basketball game.

Whitworth (12-2, 4-1) moved into second place in the conference standings, a game behind Whitman. The Pirates bounced back after a loss to the fourth-ranked Blues on Tuesday.

George Fox (10-4, 4-1) cut a 15-point halftime deficit to two points on two occasions in the second period.

Jordan Lester added 13 points and Isaiah Hernandez had 12 for the Pirates.

Mason Green-Richards had 24 points for George Fox with four 3-pointers. Ryan Lacey and Jackson Januik added 14 points apiece.

Both teams were comfortable on the offensive end as the Pirates shot 58 percent from the floor while the Bruins were a shade less than 50. Whitworth ranks third in NCAA Division III in field-goal percentage.

Jared Christy grabbed 10 rebounds for Whitworth, which won the rebounding battle 35-29, but committed 21 turnovers with only 16 assists.