SPOKANE, Wash. – Jake Holtz exploded for a season-high 30 points, JoJo Anderson added 20 and a steal to set up the go-ahead basket, and Whitworth knocked off undefeated Elmhurst 74-71 on Saturday night.
Whitworth (6-5 overall, 2-0 NWC) snapped its four-game skid in emphatic fashion knocking off the fifteenth-ranked Blue Jays (11-1 overall, 3-0 CCIW) with a comeback in the final minute. It was the Pirates' first ranked win of the season.
The Pirates used an 8-0 run in the final 36 seconds to pull off the win. Tagen Pearson knocked down a trio of free throws to put the Blue Jays ahead 71-66, but it was all Whitworth from there.
"All of what happened tonight was just guys making plays and having a will to win. Super proud of our guys, they were in it together, made plays as a team," said Jablonski.
Anderson scored the next four, knocking down a pair of free throws before sliding past a pair of defenders for a crafty finish to cut the deficit to 71-70 with 20 seconds to play. With 16 seconds to go, Anderson swiped Pearson on a double team and Sullivan Menard cleaned up Anderson's missed layup with a put back through contact to give Whitworth the 72-71 lead.
Menard knocked down a pair of free throws to extend the Pirates' lead to three with 5.1 second left, and when Pearson's last chance three fell short, Whitworth claimed its biggest win of the season thus far.
Coach Damion Jablonski said his message going in was clear.
"It was straight Ted Lasso- you gotta believe, just believe," said Jablonski. "Put one foot in front of the other. Good things happen when you just keep going, one foot in front of the other."
The Pirates shot 48.3% from the field (54.8% in the second half) as they pulled off the upset to close their non-conference schedule. The Pirates had shot less than 40% in each of their four losses going into the night.
The game featured 19 lead changes and eight ties, yet Whitworth only held the lead for 4:35 throughout.
John Ittounas led the Blue Jays with 25 points, Pearson added 15 but came up short on the potential-game tying shot at the buzzer.
Whitworth returns to action Tuesday in a rivalry game against Whitman.
