Men's Basketball falls to Pirates

SPOKANE, Wash. — Willamette University (6-5, 1-1 NWC) fell to Whitworth University (7-3, 1-0 NWC) 80-67 at Whitworth Fieldhouse on Friday night. Willamette held a brief lead in the first half but trailed 47-41 at halftime. Despite a strong defensive effort with nine steals, the Bearcats were unable to overcome the Pirates' 42 points in the paint.

Whitworth utilized a strong presence in the paint, outscoring Willamette 28-14 in that area to gain an advantage in the first half. The Pirates' defense was pivotal, generating seven steals, which helped them convert turnovers into 14 fast-break points. Despite the Bearcats' effort with six 3-pointers, the home team capitalized on a 19-for-31 shooting performance to lead 47-41 at the end of the half.

Whitworth extended its lead with a strong start to the second half, fueled by a 10-0 run in the opening minutes, highlighted by two 3-pointers from Stephen Behil and Caden Bateman. Willamette struggled from the field, converting just eight of 35 attempts, but found some success off the bench with 11 points. The Pirates capitalized on the Bearcats' shooting woes, securing a 33-26 scoring advantage in the half, closing with a 77-67 lead by the end.

In their next game, the Bearcats will travel to face Whitman College on Saturday, Jan. 3. The matchup will take place at 5 p.m. at the Sherwood Center in Walla Walla, Washington.