Jones Star In Whits’ Ot Win

When Whitworth’s Gabe Jones had the ball on the offensive end of the floor during the 1994-95 season, it was quite common to hear opposing coaches and players yell, “No shooter.”

The not-so flattering remark wasn’t a personal attack on Jones, though. At the time, most teams just didn’t see him as an offensive threat. But times change.

Friday night, Jones erupted for a career-high 30 points and helped send sixth-ranked Whitworth past Linfield 98-96 in a Northwest Conference men’s basketball overtime thriller.

Scott Lucas missed two free throws with 5 seconds left in OT as the Pirates escaped with the win.

Whitworth hit its first 15 shots from the floor en route to a 56-percent shooting clip for the game. The Wildcats shot 53 percent.

Regulation ended tied at 89.

As for Jones, he was 9 for 14 from the floor and 7 for 11 from behind the 3-point line.

The Pirates moved to 17-4 overall, 9-2 in the conference while the Wildcats fell to 10-11, 7-4.

Whitworth 98, Linfield 96 (OT)

Whitworth (17-4, 9-2) - Williams 3-7 4-4 12, Wickers 5-10 7-8 18, Jones 9-14 5-6 30, Dunham 6-11 5-6 17, Arkills 2-4 5-6 9, Weston 1-1 2-2 5, Mix 3-5 1-1 7, Beckman 0-0 0-0 0, Jordan 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 29-52 29-33 98.

Linfield (10-11, 7-4) - Rohlffs 4-6 2-4 11, Lucas 8-10 2-4 20, Bailey 8-19 4-4 24, Dixon 5-14 0-0 10, Henderson 9-15 7-8 25, Doucette 0-1 0-0 0, Curran 1-2 0-0 2, Nietz 1-1 0-0 2, Nelson 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 37-70 15-20 96.

Halftime-Whitworth 52, Linfield 48. 3-Pointers- Whitworth 11-19 (Jones 7-11, Weston 1-1, Williams 2-3, Wickers 1-3, Dunham 0-1), Linfield 7-16 Rohlffs 1-1, Lucas 2-4, Doucette 0-1, Bailey 4-8, Curran 0-1, Dixon 0-1). Rebounds-Whitworth 27 (Dunham 9), Linfield 27 (Dixon 9). Assists-Whitworth 18 (Dunham 6), Linfield 22 (Lucas 7). Fouled out-Williams (Whitworth), Dixon (Linfield).