Whitworth men build 29-point lead, hold off La Verne 96-88

Christian Jurlina and Kenny Love scored 22 points apiece and Whitworth rode a 29-point lead in the first half to a 96-88 victory over the La Verne Leopards on Sunday in La Verne, California.

Drew Sears, Ben College and CJ Johnson added 10 points apiece for the Pirates (6-1), who shot 52.5 percent and were even better from the arc, making 11 of 18 for 61.1 percent.

The Pirates had a 29-point lead with 5:44 left in the first half before La Verne cut it to 55-41 at halftime. The Leopards got within seven with 12 minutes remaining in the game but then went scoreless over the next four minutes as Whitworth rebuilt a double-digit lead.

La Verne again closed in, trailing 90-84 with 37 seconds left, but two free throws by Julina and four by Kenny Love held off the Leopards (5-2).

Arnold Hakim scored 27 points for La Verne.