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Whitworth University

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Michael Smith led the Pirates in scoring at UPS
75
Whitworth Whitw 3-4,0-1 NWC
82
Winner Puget Sound PS 4-2,1-0 NWC
Whitworth Whitw
3-4,0-1 NWC
75
Final
82
Puget Sound PS
4-2,1-0 NWC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Whitworth Whitw 30 45 75
Puget Sound PS 31 51 82

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Pirate men fall to UPS in NWC opener

TACOMA, Wash. – Puget Sound scored 24 points off of Whitworth turnovers to defeat the visiting Pirates 82-75 in a Northwest Conference men's basketball opener for both teams on Friday night.

The Loggers (5-2) ended an eight-game losing streak to Whitworth (3-4).

UPS jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead with a pair of three-pointers.  Michael Smith hit two three-pointers back to back to cap an 8-0 run and give the Pirates an 11-8 lead.  Another Smith trey and a layup by JT McDermott gave Whitworth its largest lead of the game at 16-9.  Mussie Teclemariam's three-pointer put Puget Sound back in front 27-25 and the Loggers took a 31-30 lead at halftime.  Whitworth gave up 11 turnovers in the first half.  The Pirates stayed in contention by making 7 of 14 from three-point range.

The Loggers scored the first six points of the second half to go ahead 37-30.  Whitworth responded with a 10-0 run, capped by three-pointers from Rowan Anderson and Smith, to go in front 40-37.  UPS came back with an 8-0 run, including a three-pointer by Drew Gillette, for a 45-40 lead.  The Pirates led for the last time after Jerry Twenge's free throws made the score 54-52 with 9:03 to play.  The Loggers scored six straight points, capped by Taj Phillips' three-point play, and never trailed again. 

Whitworth was still within 67-64 with 3:33 to go when UPS got another 6-0 run to open up a 73-64 advantage with 2:03 to play.  The Pirates could not recover, getting within five points twice, but no closer. 

Smith and Twenge led Whitworth in scoring with 22 and 20, respectively.  McDermott added 13 points and a team-high eight rebounds.  The Pirates committed 18 turnovers in the game, which directly led to 24 points for Puget Sound.  Whitworth finished the game 20-47 (43%) from the floor and 12-26 (46%) from three-point range. 

Teclemariam had 20 points for the Loggers, while Phillips filled the stat sheet with 18 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.  UPS finished the game 23-56 (41%) from the field and 7-21 (33%) from beyond the arc.  The Loggers were 29-39 from the free throw line.

Whitworth will try to split its conference opening weekend when the Pirates play at Pacific Lutheran on Saturday.

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