Men’s basketball: Pirates claim seventh-straight NWC championship

Kenny Love came away with a steal with 4 seconds left and Whitworth edged Pacific Lutheran 73-71 to claim its seventh straight Northwest Conference title Saturday in Parkland, Washington.

The Lutes had two chances at the end to win or tie. Bryce Miller’s jumper with 14 seconds left was blocked out of bounds by Whitworth’s Drew Sears. Love came away with the game-clinching steal on Pacific Lutheran’s ensuing possession.

Christian Jurlina led the Pirates (24-1, 15-1) with 18 points, George Valle had 15 and Love and Drew Sears each added 10.

Whitworth made 17 of 20 free throws, including 12 of 14 in the second half, to hold off the Lutes (16-9, 9-7).

Pacific Lutheran’s Brandon Lester made 5 of 8 3-pointers and led all scorers with 24.

The Pirates enter the NWC tournament as the No. 1 seed and will host fourth-seeded George Fox Thursday at 7 p.m.

North Idaho 80, Snow 67: Braian Angola-Rodas poured in 36 points and the Cardinals (30-0, 15-0) came alive in the second half and completed a perfect regular season with a win over the Badgers (14-16, 6-9) in a Scenic West Athletic Conference game in Coeur d’Alene.

Angola-Rodas made 11 of 19 shots, 11 of 14 free throws and added five rebounds and four assists. NIC led by a point at halftime, but outscored Snow 51-39 in the second half.

Norbert Janicek led the Badgers with 21 points and 10 rebounds.

The top-seeded Cardinals earned a first-round bye in the Region 18 tournament and will play Friday against Snow or Utah State-Eastern.

CC Spokane 102, Columbia Basin 65: Race Martin led five players in double figures with 22 points and the Sasquatch (25-3, 11-1) overwhelmed the Hawks (12-13, 6-6) in a Northwest Athletic Conference game at Spokane Falls Community College.

Jake Love added 21 points and seven rebounds for the Sasquatch, who made 18 of 40 3-pointers. CCS plays at Yakima Valley on Wednesday.

The Sasquatch have just two remaining regular-season games before the NWAC tournament.