Whitworth keeps pace in Northwest Conference race with 98-84 win over Puget Sound
The chaff is getting separated from the Whits in the Northwest Conference.
Ben College scored 19 of his game-high 26 points after halftime, and sixth-ranked Whitworth kept pace behind league leader Whitman with a 98-84 men’s basketball victory over Puget Sound on Friday night at the The Fieldhouse.
Whitworth improved to 14-2 and remained one game behind Whitman at 6-1 in conference play. The Pirates host Pacific Lutheran – a 116-63 loser at Whitman on Friday – on Saturday at 6 p.m.
Puget Sound (7-9, 3-4) entered Friday’s game one of a handful of teams within striking distance of the two teams atop the conference, but the Loggers couldn’t keep up with a Whitworth squad averaging 93.7 points per game. Whitworth scored 10 of the contest’s first 12 points to take control early and relied on torrid shooting to keep Puget Sound at arm’s reach.
“We have a really unselfish mindset,” said Pirates guard Jordan Lester, who posted a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. “We just want to win. We want to win our conference, and we want to win a national championship.”
Kyle Roach’s 25-foot 3-pointer gave Whitworth a 50-35 lead with 4 1/2 minutes remaining in the first half. The Loggers responded with their best stretch behind the exploits of Stellan Roberts, who dished out two assists and made two 3-pointers in a 10-0 run that pulled UPS within 50-45. Whitworth carried a 52-45 lead into halftime.
College and Roach have emerged as the Pirates’ top two scorers this season, and they combined to outscore UPS 20-10 early in the second half to put the game away. College scored 12 points during a crucial five-minute run, and Roach was nearly as potent as the Pirates extended their modest lead at intermission to a 72-55 cushion with 12 minutes left.
Roach capped his night with 24 points, and teammate Jared Christy added 13.
Whitworth, already shooting a steady 52.7 percent from the field on the season, knocked down 57 percent (36 for 63) of its shots. The Loggers, who shot a respectable 48 percent (33 for 68), simply couldn’t match that production.
While Whitworth has posted prolific offensive numbers all season, Lester and coach Matt Logie said the team is more focused on its defensive performance.
“Offense is our biggest strength,” Lester acknowledged, “but coming into the year we put an emphasis on defense and working as hard as we can on defense.”
Logie believes that effort is translating into easier opportunities on offense.
“You’ve got to play both sides of the ball,” Logie said. “In the NCAA Tournament, defense is what wins. Our defense has gotten better, and I think that’s why our offensive numbers have increased. We’re getting out in transition, and that’s really big for us.”
Jimmy Wohrer led the Loggers with 22 points, and Cal Hansen contributed 18 points and 11 rebounds. Roberts finished with 13 points.