PORTLAND, Ore. – Ben College scored 30 points to lead visiting Whitworth to an 89-77 win over Lewis & Clark in a Northwest Conference men's basketball game on Friday night at the Pamplin Center.
The 9th-ranked Pirates improved to 11-1 overall and 3-0 in the NWC with their seventh straight win and 11th win in a row over the Pioneers (4-8, 0-3).
College went 9-14 from the floor, including 3-8 from three-point range, and 9-11 at the charity stripe for his 30 points. He added three steals on the defensive side.
The Pirates never trailed and the game was never tied after Ben Bishop converted a three-point play on Whitworth's opening possession. Kevin Crosno's three-pointer made it 15-9 and a Sam Lees basket gave the Bucs their first double-digit lead (21-11) just under seven minutes in. L&C pulled within 29-27 on Zeke Crawford's layup. Whitworth outscored the Pioneers 18-5 over the final seven minutes of the first half to take a 47-32 lead at the break.
The Pirates used a balanced scoring effort in the first half. Jordan Lester led the way with nine points while Isaiah Hernandez had eight points off the bench. College and Kyle Roach scored seven apiece.
College scored 23 of his points in the second half to help Whitworth withstand an early L&C rally. The Pioneers got within 49-40 early in the period on Daelon Floyd's layup. Jared Christy scored back-to-back baskets to extend the Bucs' margin back to 65-51 and Whitworth eventually led 87-69 before the Pioneers finished with a late flourish. College scored 11 straight points late in the second half.
Lester ended with 13 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Bishop and Roach totaled ten points apiece. Christy led all players with 13 rebounds. Whitworth shot 48.4% (31-64) from the field, but got to the free throw line 26 times where the Bucs made 20 shots.
Floyd led Lewis & Clark with 20 points while Crawford chipped in 15. The Pioneers shot 50.8% (32-63) from the field, but only 4-13 from three-point range and 9-13 from the free throw line.
Whitworth will return to action on Tuesday night when the Pirates host Whitman at 8:00 pm in a match-up of top-ten teams.