WHITEWATER, Wis. – Jordan Lester made a basket with 53 seconds to play, then rebounded a final miss by Wisconsin-Whitewater's Derek Gray as time expired to enable visiting Whitworth to escape with an 80-79 win in a non-conference men's basketball game on Saturday night.
The Pirates (3-1) trailed by nine in the first half, led by 15 in the second, then had to hold on against the Warhawks (2-1).
Breonte Hunt's free throw just over seven minutes into the game gave UWW an 18-9 lead, it's largest of the contest. Jake Holtz answered with consecutive baskets for Whitworth to spark a comeback. He scored 11 of the Pirates' first 15 points to keep the Bucs in the game early.
JT McDermott's bucket with 3:31 to play in the half gave Whitworth its first lead (33-31) and Miguel Lopez hit a three-pointer with seven seconds left to put the Pirates ahead 40-37 at the break.
Whitewater scored the first six points of the second half to retake a 43-40 lead following a layup by Trevon Chislom. Whitworth answered with a 15-2 run to go up 55-45 following a pair of free throws from Lester. The Pirates took their largest lead at 67-52 on a pair of Miguel Lopez free throws halfway through the second half. The Warhawks quickly cut the lead to 67-60 with eight straight points. Jack Brahm rebounded a free throw and made a jumper to trim the lead to 73-71.
Lester scored four points in the final two minutes for the last Whitworth points. Liam Fitzgerald had a good look at a clinching three-pointer with 21 seconds left, but it rimmed out. Brahm got the rebound and Gray worked for the winning shot. He was well defended in the paint and the shot missed high off the backboard. Lester secured the ball as time expired.
Five Pirates reached double figures in scoring, led by McDermott's 17 points. Lester and Holtz each had 16 and Garrett Paxton scored 14. Lopez added a dozen. Lester led Whitworth with six rebounds, while McDermott dished six assists. Whitworth made 27-59 (50.9%) from the field, but only 5-17 (29.4%) from three-point range. The Pirates survived a 42-26 deficit in rebounds by getting to the free throw line 30 times and making 21.
Gray scored 22 points for Whitewater. Gage Malensek added 12 points and five assists. Hunt grabbed eight boards.
Whitworth will take on its Alumni next weekend in an exhibition before returning to action in California against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps and Pomona-Pitzer on Nov. 26-27.
