TACOMA, Wash. – Whitworth University pulled away over the final seven minutes of the game to open Northwest Conference play with an 87-63 men's basketball win at the University of Puget Sound on Friday night.

The Pirates won their third straight to improve to 3-3 while the Loggers suffered the loss in their season opener.  The teams will play again on Saturday in Memorial Fieldhouse at 4:00 pm.

Miguel Lopez led six Bucs who reached double figures in scoring with 19 points and seven rebounds.  His free throws capped a 19-5 run that turned a 61-54 lead into an 80-59 advantage with just under three minutes to play.

Rowan Anderson and Garrett Paxton hit three-pointers early to help Whitworth jump out to an 11-4 lead.  Puget Sound answered with a 12-2 run to go ahead 16-13 on Jourdan Joseph's free throws eight minutes into the game.  Trailing 20-18, the Pirates got a three-pointer by Liam Fitzgerald and back-to-back baskets by Brad Lackey during a 7-0 run.  Whitworth never trailed again and took a 41-34 lead into halftime.

Leading 53-44 in the second period, the Pirates used a quick 8-2 run to go up 61-46 on a Lopez basket with just under ten minutes to play.  The Loggers rallied with an 8-0 spurt and cut the margin to 61-54 on a Will Mathews jumper. 

Paxton's layup stopped the run and Lackey followed with five straight points and the Pirates took over the game.  The final margin was Whitworth's largest lead as they steadily pulled away over the final five minutes.

Paxton and Anderson scored 13 apiece as Anderson dished nine assists and Paxton had four steals.  Fitzgerald scored 11, while Lackey came off the bench for a career-high 11 points.  JT McDermott had ten points, seven rebounds and three blocks.  Whitworth shot 56% (35-63) from the field, including 48% (10-21) from three-point range.  The Pirates held a 36-20 advantage in rebounds.

Tyrese Yussef-Willis was the only Puget Sound player in double figures with 15 points.  Cal Hanson had eight points and led the team with five boards.  The Loggers shot 47% (22-47) from the floor and 30% (6-20) from beyond the arc.