ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Five Whitworth players reached double figures in pointds and the Pirates held Coe College to only 32% shooting from the field in a 73-59 win in Saturday's consolation game of the Lopata Classic hosted by Washington University.
The Pirates (5-1) rebounded after Friday's heart-breaking loss to Wisconsin-Eau Claire in the first round.
Whitworth never trailed and the game was tied only once at 2-2. Sam Lees scored two early baskets for a quick 6-2 advantage and Rowan Anderson made it 13-4 with a three-pointer. Garrett Paxton, who started in place of injured Jordan Lester, scored to increase Whitworth's margin to 19-4 eleven minutes into the game. The Pirates eventually led by 21 points (33-12) after another Paxton layup before Coe scored the final six points of the half, including a four-point play by Jake Eilers.
Whitworth continued to hold the Kohawks at bay for the first minutes of the second half. An Isaiah Hernandez three-pointer made the score 47-29 with 13:35 to play. Coe fought back to within 49-39 after a basket by Zach Niemeyer. JT McDermott ended the Pirates' offensive dry spell with a layup.
The game turned back in Whitworth's favor when Greg Hall was called for a flagrant foul and the Coe bench was issued a technical for arguing the call. Ben College made all four free throws and then McDermott scored a put-back basket for a 57-41 lead. A College three-pointer extended Whitworth's lead back to 63-43 with just over five minutes to play.
Paxton led the Pirates with 17 points, while College added 16. College was selected to the All-Tournament team after scoring 32 on Friday night.
Sam Lees scored 13 points after he missed Friday's game with an injury. McDermott came off the bench for 12 ponts and Hernandez scored a dozen. McDermott grabbed 11 rebounds for a double-double.
Whitworth shot 50% (28-56) from the floor and 36% (8-22) from three-point range. The Pirates held a 44-32 edge in rebounding.
Adam McDermott led Coe with 15 points and Niemeyer came off the bench for 10. The Kohawks finished the game 20-62 from the field, 4-18 from three-point range.
Whitworth will not play another official game until December 16th when the Bucs host Mary Washington College. The Pirates will play an exhibition game at NAIA power Carroll College next Saturday and will host a team of Whitworth alumni on December 7th.