Feb. 14 NWC Men’s Basketball Wrap (Stories provided by host SID)

Whitworth 104, at Linfield 100 (ot)

McMinnville, Ore. -- Whitworth emerged as the victor in a thrilling three-point shooting festival Friday night at electric Ted Wilson Gym, prevailing 104-100 in overtime to clinch one of three Northwest Conference playoff berths. The Pirates (20-2, 11-2 NWC) remained in first place in the standings while the Wildcats (13-8, 6-6 NWC) slipped one game further back in their quest for a tournament berth.

The two teams combined for 29 three-pointers, 16 by the Pirates, who won for the fifth straight time.

Freshman Paul Hafford poured in 34 points, hitting 10 of 18, including a game-high five three-pointers. All-star forward Bryan Depew had 24 points and Chase Williams added 18 points.

The loss overshadowed a breakthrough 30-point performance by Wildcats guard O.J. Gulley, who has been hampered by injuries for much of the season. Gulley hit 9 of 18 from the field to go with seven assists, five rebounds and three steals. Travis Jones, Nick Fusare and Matt Larson each added 14 points in a losing effort.

The Wildcats led 22-15 after Jeff Dunn connected on an open three-pointer midway through the first half. Linfield extended its lead to double digits after a Larson three-pointer with 5:08 left in the period. Whitworth cut the lead to six on Kyle Jensen's three-point basket with two minutes left, then Hafford nailed another three to make it 39-36 at intermission.

Linfield shot .536 in the first half to the Pirates' .462. The teams combined for 14 three-pointers in the period, including eight by Whitworth. Depew scored 13 of his 24 points in the first half, including a trifecta of three-pointers.

Hafford cut the margin to one, 41-40, with a jumper in the opening minute. Hafford's baseline jumper at the 16-minute mark sparked an 8-2 run that put the visitors in front 50-45. The Wildcats pulled to within two, 54-52, but a series of fast-break layins gave the Pirates a 59-52 advantage.

Whitworth led 64-58 with 8 1/2 minutes left and the Pirates pushed their lead to 10 over the next four minutes. Baskets by Gulley and Rob Jensen pulled Linfield to within six, 80-74, with 3:41 remaining. As time ticked down, the Wildcats inched closer. Gulley's steal and subsequent free throws put the Wildcats within two, 84-82.

Depew missed a 10-footer with 59 seconds left, then Gulley cashed in a three-point play with 45 seconds that gave the Wildcats an 85-84 lead. Hafford was fouled by Larson with 35 seconds left and calmly sank 2 of 3 attempts for an 86-85 Whitworth lead. Nick Fusare made 1 of 2 free throws at the other end to knot the game at 86 with 23 ticks remaining. The Pirates had two shots in the waning seconds but both were off the mark, sending the game to overtime.

The Wildcats outscored Whitworth 8-3 during the first two minutes of the extra session but the Pirates fought back to tie the game at 96 on Jensen's soft shot off the glass. Jensen canned a three with a hand in his face to swing the mo back in the Pirates' favor. Gulley made 1 of 2 free throws with 47 seconds. Johnson's three-point play made it 102-97 but Gulley answered at the other end with a three-point play of his own. The Wildcats couldn't get a decent shot off after that. Depew's free throws with nine seconds provided the final margin.

At Willamette 62, Whitman 49

Salem, Ore. -- Willamette outscored Whitman 14-3 in the final 4:07 Friday to come away with a hard-fought 62-49 Northwest Conference victory over visiting Whitman in Cone Field House.

The win improved the Bearcats’ records to 15-5 overall and 9-3 in the NWC, maintaining their grip on second place. Thirteenth-ranked Whitworth, which won at Linfield on Friday, comes to Salem tomorrow night in what maybe the biggest conference game of the season. Whitman fell to 7-15 and 4-9, respectively.

But Whitman almost took the luster off the Whitworth-Willamette showdown. The Missionaries matched Willamette¹s toughness and forced the hosts into 16 turnovers. Whitman trailed by just two points at 48-46 before the Bearcats went on their run.

Marques Johnson, who had game-highs of 21 points and 16 rebounds, got the streak going with a free throw to make it 49-46. Moments later, B.J. Dobrkovsky hit a three-pointer from the left wing and Miles Sandgathe scored off a driving layup to make it 54-46 with 2:29 left.

After Sandgathe’s score, Whitman’s Cale Will was whistled for a technical foul and Sandgathe converted both charity tosses to stretch the lead to 56-46.

The Bearcats also got 14 points and five assists from Ryan Hepp. Dobrkovsky came off the bench to add 10 points and five rebounds in 22 minutes.

Whitman was led by Casey Nelson’s 13 points and four rebounds off the bench. Mark Bouma was the only other Missionary in double figures with 10 points.

While both teams struggled somewhat from the field (WU 42.3 %; Whitman 35.8%), Willamette converted 15 of 17 free throws and the visitors canned 10 of 13 charity tosses.

Johnson made 8 of 10 shots from the field and 5 of 7 free throws. Sandgathe was held to single digits in scoring (eight points) for just the second time this season.

At Pacific Lutheran 76, Pacific 72

Tacoma, Wash. -- Pacific Lutheran defeated Pacific, 76-72, in a Northwest Conference men’s basketball game at Olson Auditorium Friday night. 

The Lutes scored the most points in a game since an 84-79 victory at Cal State Hayward on Dec. 28, 2002. 

The Lutes went on a 20-2 run in the second half, culminating in two Hazen Hyland free throws with 7:33 remaining, to pull in front 63-50.  That run came immediately on the heels of an 18-3 Boxer run. 

Jonathan Anderson scored 21 points to lead all scorers.  Neil Mendez scored 13 points and Josh Davis had 12.  Hazen Hyland scored 10. 

Dan Lumpkin lead the Boxers 18 points, Brandon Kilgour scored 15, Rahim Tufts had 14 and Joe Van Domelen poured in 12. 

The Lutes improve to 6-7 in NWC play and 9-13 overall.  Pacific fell to 6-7 in NWC and 9-13 overall. 

PLU hosts George Fox at 8 p.m. Saturday.  Mendez, Chris Lane, Micah Rieke and Davis will play their final game at Olson Auditorium before the Lutes go on the road for their final two games, Feb. 21 at Puget Sound and Feb. 22 at Linfield.

At Puget Sound 90, George Fox 72

Tacoma, Wash. -- It was all Loggers Friday night as the University of Puget Sound rolled past the visiting Bruins of George Fox University 90-72.  The Loggers shot 62% from the floor in the first half and took a 58-28 advantage to intermission never allowing the Bruins an opportunity to get back in the game.

The Loggers poured in 9 three-pointers and finished with six players in double figures led by freshman Zach McVey with 22 points.  AJ Williams and Matt Glynn each added 15 points, Chase Curtiss and Aubrey Shelton 11 points and Mario Mendoza 10.  The Bruins had a pair of players in double figures as Kenny Macy hit for 13 and Zach Hollin 10 points.  The Bruins shot 37% (25-68) from the floor on the night and 15-22 (68%) from the free throw line.

Puget Sound ended the evening hitting 54% (36-66) from the floor and just 9-12 from the line.  The Loggers dominated the boards 46-36 as Shelton had 10 rebounds for his double-double performance.  Curtiss added 7 assists to his 11-point performance.

Puget Sound ends a four-game losing streak and improves to 5-8 in the Northwest Conference and 10-12 overall.  The Loggers will host Pacific University at Memorial Fieldhouse on Saturday.  The Bruins head across town to face Pacific Lutheran on Saturday and fall to 1-12 in league and 7-15 overall.