Whitworth Men Pull Rank On Missionaries, 80-68

Whitworth took a giant leap in the latest NAIA Division II men’s basketball poll Tuesday and then justified the ranking with a convincing 80-68 NCIC win over Whitman College.

The Pirates moved up 14 spots from No. 22 to No. 8 and are the highest-ranked NCIC team.

Whitworth (11-4, 7-2) shot 62 percent (17 of 27) from the field in the first half to take a commanding 42-23 lead. Ryan Nelson hit 4 of 4 3-pointers and the Pirates held the Missionaries (7-9, 4-5) to just 7-of-33 shooting.

Ben Heimerman and Nelson led the Pirates with 18 points each. Heimerman also had 10 rebounds.

The Pirates will play host to Willamette on Friday and George Fox on Saturday. Both games start at 8 p.m.

Jeff Mix, who sat out Tuesday’s game because of a sprained ankle, could be available this weekend.

Whitworth 80, Whitman 68

Whitworth (11-4, 7-2) - Ramey 0-0 0-0 0, Weston 2-4 5-6 10, Schulz 4-9 1-2 9, Nakanishi 0-1 1-2 0, Nelson 6-8 1-2 18, Heimerman 7-12 4-5 18, Sullivan 0-0 0-0 0, McDaniel 0-0 0-0 0, Jordan 5-7 1-1 11, Jones 3-4 1-3 7, Ruebel 3-6 0-0 7. Totals - 30-51 13-19 80.

Whitman (6-9 4-5) - Hendry 3-6 0-0 8, Rough 3-13 0-0 8, Bighorn 0-0 0-0 0, Justice 2-7 1-2 5, Washington 3-12 2-4 8, Evans 9-19 4-8 22, Keyser 2-7 1-2 6, Wyatt 3-6 3-4 11, Rukavina 0-0 0-0 0. Totals - 25-70 11-20 68.

Halftime - Whitworth 42, Whitman 23. 3-point goals - Whitworth 7-11 (Nelson 5-6, Weston 1-1, Ruebel 1-2, Jordan 0-1, Heimerman 0-1), Whitman 7-20 (Wyatt 2-2, Hendry 2-4, Rough 2-6, Keyser 1-4, Justice 0-1, Washington 0-1, Evans 0-2). Totals Fouls - Whitworth 20, Whitman 20. Rebounds - Whitworth 35 (Heimerman 10), Whitman 35 (Evans 10). Assists - Whitworth 17 (Jordan 5), Whitman 21 (Hendry 2, Rough 2, Wyatt 2). Fouled out - Jones, Washington, Wyatt.